1 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a log snatched and rescued from the fire?”
Zechariah 3:1-2 (AMP)
Spiritual warfare
What an interesting glimpse into spiritual warfare we have here. We see something similar in Job 1:9 where Satan accuses Job. Satan, the Angel of the Lord (Messiah) and a representation of Joshua are all standing together. Messiah rebukes Satan in the name of God Almighty.
Satan’s Job
One of Satan’s jobs is to accuse God’s children. [Note: since he is not God, Satan can only be in one place at a time. For us, it is Satan’s demons who accuse us – through self-condemning thoughts.] Here, Satan stands next to Joshua, the high priest of Israel, and accuses him (and Israel by extension) – probably about their sins that lead to captivity but maybe also their cessation of the temple rebuilding.
The Advocate
When Satan makes his accusations,the Lord of hosts is there to counter. He does not deny the accusations, but He declares the work that He has done. I like how the JFB Commentary describes this interaction: “If the issue rested on Jerusalem’s merit or demerit, condemnation must be the award; but Jehovah’s “choice” (John 15:16) rebuts Satan’s charge against Jerusalem”.
Chosen and plucked
Clarke’s commentary explains this well: “While the Jews were rebuilding their temple, their adversaries endeavoured to stop the work, Ezra 5:3-4, &c. This vision is therefore calculated to give them the strongest encouragement that God, after plucking them as brands out of the fire (or captivity of Babylon,) would not now give them up, but would continue to prosper and favour them”.
Rest assured
When Satan makes his accusations, our Savior is there to rebut. Rest assured that He has paid the price for our punishment. Though the accusations are true, the rest of the story is – the penalty has been paid!
