“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” Zechariah 3:1
The Christian, or believer, often fails to take into account that he is in a spiritual battle, one where there is opposition to doing the will of God. That opposition can come from within the heart, if there is less than a total surrender to God. But there is an opposition from without also, one that uses temptation, oppression, condemnation, and lies to mount a hindrance to the advancing of the kingdom of God.
In the book of Daniel we read where a messenger of God was opposed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia,” for twenty-one days, to hinder him from delivering his message. It would be by the superior strength of Michael, the arch-angel, that this opposing force was overcome. We discover in the temptations of Christ, that “opposition” would come in a different form, that of temptation, the enemy Satan using the lie to seek to persuade the Jesus to submit to another authority than that of His Father. Satan would even use the beloved Simon Peter, who at one point was not seeking the things of God, but the lesser considerations and reasonings of men. When we get to the Apostle Paul’s writings, we are faced very clearly with the nature of this spiritual conflict, which must be recognized for what it is, spiritual and not of the flesh. This does not mean that there will not be ramifications, or effects, that are natural, and of flesh and blood. But it does mean that in this warfare, this particular type of conflict, spiritual weapons must be used, and this by the Spirit. Satan is no respecter of the ways and means of men, for he has overcome all of them, and uses them at his discretion. But there is for the Christian, not only a declaration and example of the victorious life over Satan, but several clear illustrations where the enemy has been overcome, and this proven from a historical standpoint.
One of the great examples of how even the most spiritual person, who is a seeker and lover of God, can fall prey to Satan’s schemes, and resistance, is discovered in the life of David. We read the account in 1 Chronicles 21:1, where, “…Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked (or enticed) David to number Israel.” It was not the will of God for David to do this, because, first of all, God had not ordered it to be done. And secondly, the reason for not doing it was so that Israel would NOT trust in her numbers, but only in God. The result of this failure to trust in God resulted in great suffering, and a temporary halt in the blessing of God. But that would not remain the case, since God would again stir up David, and the people, to pursue the matter of the building of the temple.
In the case of a later building of the temple, after the destruction of Solomon’s temple, and the exile of Israel, the rebuilding was clearly put to Israel by the prophets, Zechariah and Haggai. However, the endeavor would be opposed by the enemy. The tactic of Satan here was to condemn Joshua the high priest at that time, concerning his sin. In the third chapter of the book of Zechariah, we see Joshua standing before the Lord with Satan at Joshua’s right hand accusing, and opposing him. Satan knows that God will NOT bless the man who is “clothed with filthy clothes,” a symbol of unconfessed, and unpardoned sin. To walk in communion with God, there can be NO controversy with Him. So, Joshua is neutralized, for he cannot believe God and serve him faithfully, unless he is thorougly cleansed from sin. In James’ epistle, we are provided with a clear picture of what is required: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (4:8) When Joshua was cleansed thoroughly, the blessing returned.
Dear Father, Cleanse us now entirely. In Jesus’ name, Amen.