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Change of Clothes
Read prayerfully and carefully all of Zechariah 3; look at the steps in the process. This is how God’s people, though sinners, are saved. What can you learn about the plan of salvation through the vision here?
In verses 3–5, before the new clothes are placed on Joshua, the old filthy ones are removed. According to the text, that means that the Lord has “removed your iniquity from you” (vs. 4, NKJV). What, though, does that mean in the life of the person redeemed? Was Joshua now sinless, perfect in heart and soul and mind, never to fall or sin again? Was that the state Joshua had to reach before the change of garments could be placed on him? If so, what hope would any of us have?
Instead, what it means is that the guilt and condemnation that belonged to him had been taken away. Talking about Joshua here, Ellen White said: “His own sins and those of his people were pardoned. Israel were clothed with ‘change of raiment’—the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. The miter placed upon Joshua’s head was such as was worn by the priests and bore the inscription, ‘Holiness to the Lord,’ signifying that, notwithstanding his former transgressions, he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 469.
What does “the Angel of the Lord” say to Joshua in verse 7 after the change of clothes, and why is that order so important?
It was only after the special clothing was given him that Joshua received the admonition to obey the Lord and walk in His ways. This point mustn’t be overlooked: the righteousness of Christ was granted to him by faith, was credited to him apart from his walking in “My ways” or from keeping “My command.” Those commandments came after because, had they come before, it would have been to no avail. Apart from being covered in those “rich robes” (Zech. 3:4, NKJV), all his efforts would have left him in nothing but the same filthy garments he started with.
| WEDNESDAY | May 25 |
Read prayerfully and carefully all of Zechariah 3; look at the steps in the process. This is how God’s people, though sinners, are saved. What can you learn about the plan of salvation through the vision here?
In verses 3–5, before the new clothes are placed on Joshua, the old filthy ones are removed. According to the text, that means that the Lord has “removed your iniquity from you” (vs. 4, NKJV). What, though, does that mean in the life of the person redeemed? Was Joshua now sinless, perfect in heart and soul and mind, never to fall or sin again? Was that the state Joshua had to reach before the change of garments could be placed on him? If so, what hope would any of us have?
Instead, what it means is that the guilt and condemnation that belonged to him had been taken away. Talking about Joshua here, Ellen White said: “His own sins and those of his people were pardoned. Israel were clothed with ‘change of raiment’—the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. The miter placed upon Joshua’s head was such as was worn by the priests and bore the inscription, ‘Holiness to the Lord,’ signifying that, notwithstanding his former transgressions, he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 469.
What does “the Angel of the Lord” say to Joshua in verse 7 after the change of clothes, and why is that order so important?
It was only after the special clothing was given him that Joshua received the admonition to obey the Lord and walk in His ways. This point mustn’t be overlooked: the righteousness of Christ was granted to him by faith, was credited to him apart from his walking in “My ways” or from keeping “My command.” Those commandments came after because, had they come before, it would have been to no avail. Apart from being covered in those “rich robes” (Zech. 3:4, NKJV), all his efforts would have left him in nothing but the same filthy garments he started with.
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