A picture to see Satan, Lord what is it we seek?
A glorious bright angel with a temperament that’s weak?
A piece of shattered garbage? A hateful bit of trash?
An energising spirit with whom everyone will clash?
There is a sort of picture in Zechariah chapter three.
To illustrate the character of whom we want to see.
A man in filthy clothing. A turban that is stained.
Unable to do anything for he had been profaned
An angel was before the Lord upon that special day.
Pointing out the evil of the High Priest in a way
That wasn’t complimentary. It may have been obscene.
But one thing that was certain. His garments were unclean.
There was no way to wash them. There also was no time
To cleanse this man called Joshua and take away His crime.
And that is just what happened. The High Priest’s clothes were changed.
He put on a new turban, no more was He estranged.
The devil couldn’t point to any sin upon the man
Who had become the new High priest as part of God’s new plan.
The devil’s voice was silenced; accusations were behind.
The voices of the universe in no way could they find
Another way to criticise, this God appointed priest.
This gives a little foretaste of how sin would be released.
The high priest was a sinner. The same as you and me.
His vestments were all spotted by the blood of Calvary.
His lifestyle didn’t justify the spotlessness required
To be the sort of Saviour, a Holy God desired.
But this was not a problem. They changed his spotted clothes.
They clothed him with God’s righteousness and made of him a rose
Then standing right before them was a sinner who was cleansed.
His garments of unrighteousness had met their final ends.
So here there is a picture of Jesus, you and me.
He gives us the clothing of His perfect purity.
What He does with those we wore, it matters not a bit,
Because His perfect righteous becomes a perfect fit.
It’s God Who says whose Holy. It’s not on what is seen.
He takes a filthy garment and makes it “squeaky clean”.
We know that it was spotted by the journey of this life.
But Father makes it possible to live as Jesus’ wife.
Not because we’re worthy. That never will be true.
But by the precious garment that He gives to me and you.
Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 09 July 2011
