But in order that
Jerusalem (the centre of God's dealings in Israel) should
be thus re-established in blessing, something more than
the mere exercise of God's power was necessary. The
people were guilty and polluted. How could they be
brought into the presence of God, and clothed with glory,
in such a condition? Nevertheless they must be there in
order to be blessed. Moreover this is the history of
every sinner. It is this question, so important, so
essential, that is solved in chapter 3. Joshua, the high
priest, who represents the people (it is not a question
here of interceding, but of answering for them), stands
before the presence of Jehovah—before "the
angel of his presence," that is to say, before God
as He manifested Himself in Israel since the departure
from Horeb. Satan, the adversary to the blessing of God's
people, stands there to resist him. How is this to be
answered? Joshua could not do it. He was clothed in
filthy garments. It is Jehovah Himself who, unknown to
them, undertakes the cause of His people (as He did in
the case of Balaam), and employs divine authority against
their adversary. Jehovah had chosen Jerusalem—had
plucked the people as a brand out of the fire; and Satan
desired to cast them into it again. The will of Jehovah
was to save them, all guilty and polluted as they were.
Nevertheless the defilement existed and was unbearable to
God. But God was acting in grace; and thus acting, since
He must needs remove the sin from before His eyes (for
this very reason, that it is unbearable to Him), He puts
away the sin and not the sinner. He makes sin to cease
from before Him. He takes it away, and, clothing Joshua
with new garments wrought of God, and according to His
perfection, makes Him a priest before Him. This will be
the position of Israel in righteousness, and in service
before God—a nation of priests, clothed in the
righteousness which their God has given them. We
anticipate them in this in a higher and heavenly way.
Joshua as a type
of Christ: the foundation stone
Verse 7 puts Joshua, as
the representative of the people, under responsibility
for the time being. If faithful, he should have a place
in the presence of Jehovah of hosts. Verse 8 treats him
as a type of Christ, having the nation of priests
associated with Himself in the blessing that shall be
accomplished in the last days. The foundation-stone that
was laid before the eyes of Joshua was but a feeble image
of that true stone, the immovable foundation of all the
blessing of Israel, of all the government of God in the
earth. Jehovah Himself stamps it with its true character.
It should represent the thoughts of Jehovah Himself in
His government. It should have, or rather it should be,
the signet of God; and the iniquity of the earth should
be definitively taken away by the absolute, efficacious,
and positive act of God. In this stone shall be seen also
the perfect intelligency of God. The seven eyes shall be
there.
The eyes of
Jehovah
I would add a few words on
this expression. In 2 Chronicles 16 we find the eyes of
Jehovah represented as running to and fro throughout the
whole earth, to shew Himself strong in behalf of those
whose heart is perfect towards Him. This is the
faithfulness of God in taking cognisance of all things in
His ways of government. In Zechariah, the eyes are found
upon the stone that is laid in Zion. It is there that the
seat of that government is placed which sees everything
and everywhere. In verse 10 of the next chapter these
eyes, which behold all things, which run through the
whole earth, are said to rejoice when they see the
plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel, that is to say, the
house of Jehovah's habitation entirely finished. In this
case they are not presented as established in the seat of
government upon earth, but in their character of
universal and active oversight, and in this providential
activity, never resting until Jehovah's counsels of grace
towards Jerusalem are accomplished; and then they shall
rejoice. The active intelligence of providence finds its
full delight there in the accomplishment of the
unchangeable purpose of the will of God. Finally these
eyes are again seen in Revelation 5, in the Lamb exalted
to the right hand of God, who is about to take possession
of His inheritance of the earth. Here it is the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth; for the
government is in the hands of the Lamb, although He has
not yet exercised it in the earth, of which He is about
to be put in possession.
Peace fully
established by the Prince of Peace, the Branch
I return to our chapter.
When the seat of Jehovah's perfect government shall be
set up in Jerusalem, and the iniquity of the land of
Israel shall be taken away, then peace shall be fully
established, and each one shall rejoice in the peace of
his neighbour, and each one be neighbour in heart to all.
It is the Prince of Peace who reigns there.
All this hangs upon the
introduction of Christ the Branch. Here He is not
presented as king. It is His Person which is introduced,
and the effect of His intervention. Observe that the word
does not say that iniquity is taken away, until the
effect of the work of Christ is applied by faith in Him,
a faith which, with respect to Israel, depends on sight.
Their hearts will have been previously drawn to Jehovah,
as were the remnant by the preaching of John the Baptist;
but the peace that flows from iniquity being taken away,
and the joy of complete deliverance, comes after. They
will then sing, "Unto us a son is born."
Zechariah 3 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Joshua as a type of Christ: the foundation stone
Verse 7 puts Joshua, as the representative of the people, under responsibility for the time being. If faithful, he should have a place in the presence of Jehovah of hosts. Verse 8 treats him as a type of Christ, having the nation of priests associated with Himself in the blessing that shall be accomplished in the last days. The foundation-stone that was laid before the eyes of Joshua was but a feeble image of that true stone, the immovable foundation of all the blessing of Israel, of all the government of God in the earth. Jehovah Himself stamps it with its true character. It should represent the thoughts of Jehovah Himself in His government. It should have, or rather it should be, the signet of God; and the iniquity of the earth should be definitively taken away by the absolute, efficacious, and positive act of God. In this stone shall be seen also the perfect intelligency of God. The seven eyes shall be there.
The eyes of Jehovah
I would add a few words on this expression. In 2 Chronicles 16 we find the eyes of Jehovah represented as running to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards Him. This is the faithfulness of God in taking cognisance of all things in His ways of government. In Zechariah, the eyes are found upon the stone that is laid in Zion. It is there that the seat of that government is placed which sees everything and everywhere. In verse 10 of the next chapter these eyes, which behold all things, which run through the whole earth, are said to rejoice when they see the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel, that is to say, the house of Jehovah's habitation entirely finished. In this case they are not presented as established in the seat of government upon earth, but in their character of universal and active oversight, and in this providential activity, never resting until Jehovah's counsels of grace towards Jerusalem are accomplished; and then they shall rejoice. The active intelligence of providence finds its full delight there in the accomplishment of the unchangeable purpose of the will of God. Finally these eyes are again seen in Revelation 5, in the Lamb exalted to the right hand of God, who is about to take possession of His inheritance of the earth. Here it is the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth; for the government is in the hands of the Lamb, although He has not yet exercised it in the earth, of which He is about to be put in possession.
Peace fully established by the Prince of Peace, the Branch
I return to our chapter. When the seat of Jehovah's perfect government shall be set up in Jerusalem, and the iniquity of the land of Israel shall be taken away, then peace shall be fully established, and each one shall rejoice in the peace of his neighbour, and each one be neighbour in heart to all. It is the Prince of Peace who reigns there.
All this hangs upon the introduction of Christ the Branch. Here He is not presented as king. It is His Person which is introduced, and the effect of His intervention. Observe that the word does not say that iniquity is taken away, until the effect of the work of Christ is applied by faith in Him, a faith which, with respect to Israel, depends on sight. Their hearts will have been previously drawn to Jehovah, as were the remnant by the preaching of John the Baptist; but the peace that flows from iniquity being taken away, and the joy of complete deliverance, comes after. They will then sing, "Unto us a son is born."