按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t they be given into his hands。
The high priest cannot defend himself or his people from Satan's accusations。 He does not claim that Israel is free from fault。 In filthy garments； symbolizing the sins of the people； which he bears as their representative； he stands before the Angel； confessing their guilt； yet pointing to their
584
repentance and humiliation； and relying upon the mercy of a sin…pardoning Redeemer。 In faith he claims the promises of God。
Then the Angel； who is Christ Himself； the Saviour of sinners； puts to silence the accuser of His people； declaring； 〃The Lord rebuke thee； O Satan； even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee： is not this a brand plucked out of the fire？〃 Verse 2。 Long had Israel remained in the furnace of affliction。 Because of their sins they had been well…nigh consumed in the flame kindled by Satan and his agents for their destruction； but God had now set His hand to bring them forth。
As the intercession of Joshua is accepted； the command is given； 〃Take away the filthy garments from him；〃 and to Joshua the Angel says； 〃Behold； I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee； and I will clothe thee with change of raiment。〃 〃So they set a fair miter upon his head； and clothed him with garments。〃 Verses 4； 5。 His own sins and those of his people were pardoned。 Israel was clothed with 〃change of raiment〃the righteousness of Christ imputed to them。 The miter be placed upon Joshua's head was such as was worn by the priests；and bore the inscription； 〃Holiness to the Lord〃 （Exodus 28：36）； signifying that notwithstanding his former transgressions； he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary。
The Angel now declared to Joshua： 〃Thus saith the Lord of hosts； If thou wilt walk in My ways； and if thou wilt keep My charge； then thou shalt also judge My house； and shalt also keep My courts； and I will give thee places
585
to walk among these that stand by。〃 Zechariah 3：7。 If obedient； he should be honored as the judge； or ruler； over the temple and all its services； he should walk among attending angels； even in this life； and at last he should join the glorified throng around the throne of God。
〃Hear now； O Joshua the high priest； thou； and thy fellows that sit before thee： for they are men wondered at： for； behold； I will bring forth My Servant the Branch。〃 Verse 8。 In the Branch； the Deliverer to come； lay the hope of Israel。 It was by faith in the coming Saviour that Joshua and his people had received pardon。 Through faith in Christ they had been restored to God's favor。 By virtue of His merits； if they walked in His ways and kept His statutes； they would be 〃men wondered at；〃 honored as the chosen of Heaven among the nations of the earth。
As Satan accused Joshua and his people； so in all ages he accuses those who seek the mercy and favor of God。 He is 〃the accuser of our brethren； 。 。 。 which accused them before our God day and night。〃 Revelation 12：10。 Over every soul that is rescued from the power of evil； and whose name is registered in the Lamb's book of life； the controversy is repeated。 Never is one received into the family of God without exciting the determined resistance of the enemy。 But He who was the hope of Israel then； their defense； their justification and redemption； is the hope of the church today。
Satan's accusations against those who seek the Lord are not prompted by displeasure at their sins。 He exults in their defective characters； for he knows that only through their transgression of God's law can he obtain power over them。
586
His accusations arise solely from his enmity to Christ。 Through the plan of salvation； Jesus is breaking Satan's hold upon the human family and rescuing souls from his power。 All the hatred and malignity of the archrebel is stirred as he beholds the evidences of Christ's supremacy； and with fiendish power and cunning he works to wrest from Him the children of men who have accepted salvation。 He leads men into skepticism； causing them to lose confidence in God and to separate from His love； he tempts them to break the law and then claims them as his captives； contesting Christ's right to take them from him。
Satan knows that those who ask God for pardon and grace will obtain it； therefore he presents their sins before them to discourage them。 Against those who are trying to obey God； he is constantly seeking occasion for complaint。 Even their best and most acceptable service he seeks to make appear corrupt。 By countless devices； the most subtle and the most cruel； he endeavors to secure their condemnation。
In his own strength； man cannot meet the charges of the enemy。 In sin…stained garments； confessing his guilt； he stands before God。 But Jesus； our Advocate； presents an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him。 He pleads their cause； and by the mighty arguments of Calvary； vanquishes their accuser。 His perfect obedience to God's law has given Him all power in heaven and in earth； and He claims from His Father mercy and reconciliation for guilty man。 To the accuser of His people He declares：
587
〃The Lord rebuke thee； O Satan。 These are the purchase of My blood； brands plucked from the burning。〃 And to those who rely on Him in faith； He gives the assurance； 〃Behold； I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee； and I will clothe thee with change of raiment。〃 Zechariah 3：4。
All who have put on the robe of Christ's righteousness will stand before Him as chosen and faithful and true。 Satan has no power to pluck them out of the hand of the Saviour。 Not one soul who in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy's power。 His word is pledged： 〃Let him take hold of My strength； that he may make peace with Me； and he shall make peace with Me。〃 Isaiah 27：5。 The promise given to Joshua is given to all： 〃If thou wilt keep My charge；。 。 。 I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by。〃 Zechariah 3：7。 Angels of God will walk on either side of them； even in this world； and they will stand at last among the angels that surround the throne of God。
Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing scenes of the great day of atonement。 The remnant church will then be brought into great trial and distress。 Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts。 Satan numbers the world as his subjects； he has gained control even of many professing Christians。 But here is a little company who are resisting his supremacy。 If he could blot them from the earth； his triumph would be complete。 As he influenced
588
the heathen nations to destroy Israel； so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God。 Men will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law。
Those who are true to God will be menaced； denounced； proscribed。 They will be 〃betrayed both by parents； and brethren； and kinsfolks； and friends；〃 even unto death。 Luke 21：16。 Their only hope is in the mercy of God； their only defense will be prayer。 As Joshua pleaded before the Angel； so the remnant church； with brokenness of heart and unfaltering faith； will plead for pardon and deliverance through Jesus； their Advocate。 They are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives； they see their weakness and unworthiness； and they are ready to despair。
The tempter stands by to accuse them； as he stood by to resist Joshua。 He points to their filthy garments； their defective characters。 He presents their weakness and folly； their sins of ingratitude； their unlikeness to Christ； which has dishonored their Redeemer。 He endeavors to affright them with the thought that their case is hopeless； that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away。 He hopes so to destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations； and turn from their allegiance to God。
Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God's people to commit； and he urges his accusations against them； declaring； that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection； and claiming that he has the right to destroy them。 He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God。 〃Are
589
these；〃 he says； 〃the people who are to take my place in heaven； and the place of the angels who united with me？ They profess to obey the law of God； but have they kept its precepts？ Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God？ Have they not placed their own interests above His service？ Have they not loved the things of the world？ Look at the sins that have marked their lives。 Behold their selfishness； their malice； their hatred of one another。 Will God banish me and my angels from His presence； and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins？ Thou canst not do this； O Lord； in justice。 Justi