"Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest." [Zech 6:11]

There came a day, “in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius,” [Zech 1:1] when Zechariah was blessed by heaven with certain visions and prophecies. One such vision was that of Joshua the high priest. We read,

“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before The Angel of The LORD, and satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And The LORD said unto satan, 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?” [Zech 3:1-2]

The vision showed to Joshua and The LORD’s reaction to satan’s accusations, is the same that we can expect too. Just as The LORD defended Joshua against the accuser of the brethren, satan, so too The LORD defends us, rebuking our enemy and saying in effect, “I have chosen whom I have chosen; I love whom I love.” But the vision goes on.

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment.” [Zech 3:3-4]

Here, we can gather yet more encouragement. For The Angel of The LORD, who here forgives sins and who is undoubtedly therefore Christ Jesus, is shown to be Joshua’s savior, removing those filthy, sin-laden rags, and in place of them, clothing him with clean linen: the very righteousness of God. It is the same treatment that we have received from our Lord, who has taken away our blood-stained garments, and given us His shining, pure-white garments of righteousness; as it is written, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;” [Isa 1:18] and again, “and to [the Bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” [Rev 19:8]

But, as it relates for our encouragement for today, let us see what Zechariah says, who stands looking onward at the vision.

“And I said, let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And The Angel of The LORD stood by.” [Zech 3:5]

In the excitement of the vision, and the glories being unveiled, stirred up perhaps by love, Zechariah sought to add to the beauty being bestowed upon Joshua, and said, “let them set a fair mitre upon his head.” It is a good word; for through it, we see a selfless example to follow. And the example is this – that when The Lord begins to work in another persons’ life, restoring them and blessing them, let us be those who are not jealous nor envious, but instead those who seek only to add more blessing to that person. Let us say, in effect as Zechariah, “Lord, bless them more; be even more gracious and merciful to them.” But though Zechariah’s heart was good toward his brother, let us see that soon after his vision, a time came when The Lord sought to use Zechariah in Joshua’s life tangibly, and not just in spirit only. For we read in our verse for today The LORD’s words to Zechariah, “Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest.” [Zech 6:11] Let us see that whereas Zechariah, even in good spirits, desired Joshua to have the addition of a fair mitre, that The LORD desired even more: crowns of silver and gold. And the same is true of you, dear brother or sister. Whatever others may regard you as worthy to receive: perhaps a fair mitre – The LORD would look down upon you with more favor than that. Others may look down upon you with disdain, seeing your lack; or, some may look upon you favorably. Whatever the case, whatever your experience has been: do know, precious Christian, that The Lord Jesus’ thoughts and desires for you are much better and much more. When others limit our abilities and/or what we are worthy to receive, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we can take heart that The Lord does not, for our abilities are not based in what we can or cannot do, but rather in what The Lord is able to do; and as it is written, “[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” [Eph 3:20] And even when our brethren do not limit us, but rather encourage us and view us favorably, we may still take comfort and strength, because though their heart toward us is good: yet God’s heart toward us is better still.

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