Behold, look what Yehovah has done!

Zechariah 3:1-4: And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the angel of Yehovah said unto Satan, Yehovah rebuke you, O Satan; even Yehovah that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spoke unto those [attending angels] that stood before him [the angel of Yehovah], saying, Take away the filthy garments from him [Joshua]. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with festive garments.

Note: The angel of Yehovah is acting as Yehovah's agent and under the Hebrew law of agency the agent speaks and acts as if it were the principle speaking and acting.

Note: The festive garments (this word is used only here and in Isaiah 3;22) speak of purity, glory and joy, but their chief significance is that they speak of the reinstatement of the nation to their original calling (see Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6).

Note: Joshua clothed in filthy garments; “is it not a perfect picture of Israel today? A priest; but defiled and unclean.

Israel will remain in that condition until her true High Priest and Messiah returns and then she will put on festive garments.

Now let us turn to the Prince of Peace, to the true High Priest, and the lord Messiah Jesus, of whom Joshua was a type.

We have seen how Yehovah dealt with Joshua; and this is the same way he deals with any sinner according to His sovereign choice in grace. For of every person who has been brought to Yehovah, it can be truly said: “Yehovah has chosen you”. That choice was made before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1). But look at the sinner as he actually appears before Yehovah, it is with filthy garment, such as Joshua wore. Every righteousness of the sinner is only filthiness before God. And he/she is helpless to alter his/her condition. If left to himself/herself and his/her own efforts, he/she would be that way until resurrected at the White Throne Judgment; and not having their names written in the book of life will be cast into the Lake of Fire and destroyed, the memory of them forgotten.

But thanks be to  Yehovah; His anointed one Jesus, by his sin offering sacrifice, made it possible for him/her to be clothed with new garments (festive grarment), even with the robe of Jesus own righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; 2 Corinthians 5:2) When so forgiven and cleansed by Yehovah , the sinner becomes immediately a priest before Him with a priestly service and ministry as part of the body [the called-out Assembly] of the Messiah who is himself the great High Priest.

Redeemed ones are truly men and women of wonder, for even the angels desire to look into these things (Ephesians 3:10). A godly walk on the foundation of redemption is enabled by  the work of God; a godly and consistent testimony completes it as well.

Behold, what Yehovah has done. Amazing Grace how sweet it is!