My Servant The Branch | Zechariah 3:6-10

Scripture

• Zechariah 3:6–10

About this sermon

Introduction: God’s plans for His people Israel are plans for ultimate and final good. The promises made to their fathers; God will fulfill. But He will do this in a way wherein He produces what HONORS HIM. Those unconditional promises will not be fulfilled in a DISOBEDIENT people. Those unconditional promises will not be fulfilled in a REBELLIOUS people. God will not just put His truthfulness on display, He will put His power on display. He will put His saving power, His redeeming power, on display by the people He PRODUCES when He fulfills His promises. THE OBEDIENCE GOD COMMANDS — GOD PRODUCES. Not in a way that BYPASSES man, but in a way that TRANSFORMS HIM. Each of these visions given to Zechariah underscores that truth in one way or another. This 4th vision is not an exception. We saw the first part of it last Sunday evening. Making use of the high priest Joshua (representing the redeemed in Israel) in this vision, we saw the Angel of the Lord rebuke Satan — turning away the devil’s accusations — based on sovereign love, and the sovereign CHOICE to FORGIVE. Joshua, representing redeemed Israel, is a brand delivered from the fire. His filthy garments of sin were replaced with the festal robes of acceptance with God. HE REPRESENTS A FORGIVEN PEOPLE. HE REPRESENTS A JUSTIFIED PEOPLE. But what was GRANTED in the first part of the vision, is followed BY RESPONSIBILITY and PROMISE in the 2nd part of the vision. And, what is ESPECIALLY on display is THE PROMISE OF THE ONE who will bring it all to pass. Both the responsibility and the promises are only possible BECAUSE OF A PERSON. It is that PERSON who is CENTRAL in the last half this vision. HE IS THE PERSON WHO EXPLAINS THE FORGIVENESS. HE IS THE PERSON WHO EXPLAINS THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE IS THE PERSON WHO EXPLAINS THE OBEDIENCE PRODUCED IN THE PEOPLE FORGIVEN AND JUSTIFIED. HE IS THE PERSON WHO FULFILLS EVERY UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE MADE BY GOD TO A PEOPLE — BECAUSE GOD HAS CHOSEN TO LOVE THEM AND PUT HIMSELF ON DISPLAY BY HIS WORK IN THEM. We will examine this under two headings. (1) A charge and a promise (vs.6-7) and (2) A sign and a promise (vs.8-10) I. A CHARGE AND A PROMISE (vs.6-7) Once again, we meet with the pre-incarnate Christ, as the angel of Yahweh is the one testifying to Joshua. What he testifies amounts to a single promise, but the promise is put forth in a way that communicates a charge. A. THE CHARGE The charge is put forth with two elements mentioned. 1. TO WALK IN THE WAYS OF GOD 2. TO KEEP THE RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN One has to do with personal faithfulness. The second, while including personal faithfulness, extends to functional faithfulness. BE FAITHFUL AS A MAN OF GOD. BE FAITHFUL AS AN ENTRUSTED SERVANT. Together these two elements represent covenant faithfulness. B. THE PROMISE The promise for that faithfulness has to do with the privilege of ongoing priestly service. 1. THE PRIVILEGE OF GOVERNANCE 2. THE PRIVILEGE OF MANAGEMENT 3. THE PRIVILEGE OF ACCESS — Those standing seem to refer to angels as opposed to his “friends” (fellow countryman, neighbor; likely fellow priests) who are seated in this vision (vs.8).

Topics

• Humility
• Service & Ministry