By Him we bear fruit. Zechariah 3.6-10
Return from Exile: Zechariah 1-3 (6)
Pray Psalm 93.1, 2.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
Sing Psalm 93.1, 2.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
The Lord in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love—
His reign is sure!
Read Zechariah 3.1-10; meditate on verses 6-10.
Prepare
1. What did God promise to do?
2. What did God say of Joshua?
Meditation
In Zechariah’s vision, the high priest Joshua represents the redeemed and restored people of God. But he also—following the pattern of Zechariah’s prophesies—points to a greater reality yet to come.
In the second part of this vision, the Lord speaks to Joshua, promising to make him, on condition of continued righteousness, a judge and ruler over the people of God (v. 7). The offices of priest and king are to be combined in Joshua, that is, in the One of Whom Joshua is here a symbol.
Joshua and those priests with him are a sign of the coming Branch (v. 8). The Branch is the Servant of the Lord (v. 8), Who comes to take away the sin of God’s people “in one day” (v. 9). This is He of Whom Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied, Who would come in righteousness to serve the Lord and bear the wrath of God for our sin (Jer. 33.15; Is. 53). From this Branch God will cause His glory to “branch out” under the rule of His Priest/King (cf. Zech. 6.12, 13), bringing peace to the earth.
Thus, Joshua also symbolizes Jesus. He is given a Kingdom and made a High Priest to God. And in the Kingdom of the forgiven, where the Spirit of God (“seven eyes”, v. 9) brings the mysteries of grace to all the faithful, all are invited to come and rest in the shade of His grace (v. 10).
The mention of inviting others to sit under our vine and fig tree is a reference to the grace that flows through one another under the rule of the righteous Branch. God’s people sustain an economy in which grace, not money, is the coin of the realm and sharing and caring, rather than competition and advantage, are the order of the day. When our churches today are no longer captive to worldly ways, this is how we will appear to our neighbors. And then the grace of God will branch out from us once again.
Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“And then the grace of God will branch out from us once again.”
Our daughter Kristy used to run a thriving bow business for cheerleaders. Now, since her girls are all grown up, she does not pursue it with the same gusto. However, recently she volunteered to work at a sports- centered vacation Bible school in her town, and one of the activities was cheerleading. So, Kristy unpacked her equipment, got out leftover fabric, and constructed exquisitely beautiful bows for each of the participants.
They will never forget the Jesus they experienced through the hands of Kristy.
“Come sit under my Jesus vine and fig tree.”
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Last week, our daughter Ashley attended a memorial service for her husband’s grandmother. It doubled as a family reunion. One of the young participants is a cousin to Ashley’s children. She would be spending her birthday attending an event honoring a lovely woman who was almost 100, whom she knew vaguely. Ashley, who has amazing baking skills and who had already been tapped to make desserts for 60 people, decided to make a birthday cake for this young child. It was exquisitely decorated and emblazoned with her name: Celia.
I’m sure that young child will never forget the Jesus she experienced through the hands of Ashley.
“Come sit under my Jesus vine and fig tree.”
And who will ever forget the love we experience when this beloved BRANCH says to us: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11.28-30). Gladly will I sit under that vine and fig tree with Him.
We have many things to invite others to experience whilst they sit with us under our Jesus vine and fig tree:
We can invite them to know Jesus (Rom. 6.23).
We can invite them to serve Jesus (Lk. 9.23).
We can invite them to experience the grace of Jesus (Eph. 2.8, 9):
Grace experienced through Him and through us (Eph. 2.10).
In this weary and sin-stricken world, the grace of Jesus shines brightly through those who are not captive to the world, but whose tender hearts are captive to their Savior.
“In that day”—today—the LORD said, “everyone will invite his neighbor” to experience this (Zech. 3.10).
For reflection
1. What role does welcoming others play in your work in your Personal Mission Field?
2. How is the Branch—Jesus—branching out through you into your world?
3. Whom will you encourage today to be a more consistent servant of the Lord?
As then Christ condescended to become the servant of men, it is no wonder that he is called the servant of God. John Calvin 1509-1564), Commentary on Zechariah 3.6-10
Pray Psalm 93.3-5.
What trials or challenges are you facing today? Give them to the Lord. Commit yourself to His Word, to follow Him in all your ways. Set the Lord Jesus before you, exalted in glory, and keep Him there throughout the day.
Sing Psalm 93.3-5.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies,
strong though they be, God on His mighty throne
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.
Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure—holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
Lord, evermore.
T. M. and Susie Moore
Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.
