“Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My servant the BRANCH.” Zechariah 3:8
The book of Zechariah has been seen by some as a very difficult one to understand, especially in regard to prophecy. However, though we may not understand some of the details, and their application, we can with great assurance see clearly the broad strokes of the Master’s hand as He paints pictures which communicate to us His ways, His dealings with men, and the certain realization of His promises. These pictures also carry forth an application of the great and broad strokes of salvation, of forgiveness of sins and restoration of the soul, but primarily find their purpose in the unveiling of the Messiah’s work of redemption, and the effect of that work on His people, in this case, a spiritual fellowship of brethren, united by a calling from God to be priests, ministers of the covenant, and intercessors for the people of Israel. How does this relate to the matter of what Paul calls a “fellowship in the gospel?” (Phil. 1:5)
First, the whole matter begins with the high priest, Joshua, who is found to be unclean, having permitted himself to accumulate unforgiven sins of disobedience, or neglect, this being illustrated by the dirty, soiled clothing that he is wearing before “the Angel of the Lord.” (Zech. 3:1,3) He stands before God absolutely neutralized by the accusations of Satan. It may very well be the case that his fellow priests also are in a like condition, though Scripture seems to deal specifically, and only with Joshua. The picture we see is a moving one, for God rebukes the enemy of our souls, that of Joshua, and all believing men. Somewhere in the deep recesses of Joshua’s heart there is found repentance, regret, and a personal renunciation of all sin, and this by the grace of God. For, at this moment, God gives the command to remove the soiled clothes and replace them with clean ones. In that brief command, Joshua is forgiven, cleansed from sin before God, and restored and delivered from an unbelieving heart, to be enabled to repulse the enemy, and his accusations. But the picture does not stop here, for as soon as Joshua is restored to fellowship with God, and communion with the Father and Lord Jesus Christ, He is given a charge, being admonished very clearly and powerfully by God. The call of the eternal God, the Lord of Hosts, is very simple: “If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command (Christ’s charge…), then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts.” (3:7) With the command of God being embraced, yielded and submitted to, comes remarkable promises of communicated authority from God. That authority is for the blessing of multitudes, for it pertains to the true worship of God, the maintaining of it, and its spread throughout the nation, and the world. Over five hundred years later, the Apostle Paul will instruct his “son in the faith,” Timothy, in the same manner: “I urge you in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.” (1 Timothy 6:13,14)
Like Joshua, and those companions before him, those of like mind and heart, intent on serving while waiting for the Messiah’s coming, there were brethren who were around Timothy, faithful men to whom he must commit the great truths of the Gospel, and a knowledge of God’s ways. Their fellowship was based on a common and true knowledge of God, and also by a life of faith lived in the living Christ and Messiah. Their mission was to fulfill the will of God individually, and together, aiming at being clean and blameless, abiding consistently in fellowship with Christ. Christ’s mission became their mission, worshipping God and preaching the gospel by the Spirit.
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.