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by a revelation of His infinite compassion and love。
In vision Zechariah heard the angel of the Lord inquiring； 〃O Lord of hosts； how long wilt Thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah； against which Thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years？ And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me；〃 Zechariah declared； 〃with good words and comfortable words。
〃So the angel that communed with me said unto me； Cry thou； saying； Thus saith the Lord of hosts； I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy。 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease： for I was but a little displeased； and they helped forward the affliction。 Therefore thus saith the Lord； I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies： My house shall be built in it； 。 。 。 and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem。〃 Zechariah 1：12…16。
The prophet was now directed to predict； 〃Thus saith the
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Lord of hosts； My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad； and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion； and shall yet choose Jerusalem。〃 Verse 17。
Zechariah then saw the powers that had 〃scattered Judah； Israel； and Jerusalem；〃 symbolized by four horns。 Immediately afterward he saw four carpenters； representing the agencies used by the Lord in restoring His people and the house of His worship。 See verses 18…21。
〃I lifted up mine eyes again；〃 Zechariah said； 〃and looked； and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand。 Then said I； Whither goest thou？ And he said unto me； To measure Jerusalem； to see what is the breadth thereof； and what is the length thereof。 And； behold； the angel that talked with me went forth； and another angel went out to meet him； and said unto him； Run； speak to this young man； saying； Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein： for I； saith the Lord； will be unto her a wall of fire round about； and will be the glory in the midst of her。〃 Zechariah 2：1…5。
God had commanded that Jerusalem be rebuilt； the vision of the measuring of the city was an assurance that He would give comfort and strength to His afflicted ones； and fulfill to them the promises of His everlasting covenant。 His protecting care； He declared； would be like 〃a wall of fire round about；〃 and through them His glory would be revealed to all the sons of men。 That which He was accomplishing for His people was to be known in all the earth。 〃Cry out and shout； thou inhabitant of Zion： for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee。〃 Isaiah 12：6。
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Chapter 47
Joshua and the Angel
The steady advancement made by the builders of the temple greatly discomfited and alarmed the hosts of evil。 Satan determined to put forth still further effort to weaken and discourage God's people by holding before them their imperfections of character。 If those who had long suffered because of transgression could again be induced to disregard God's commandments； they would be brought once more under the bondage of sin。
Because Israel had been chosen to preserve the knowledge of God in the earth； they had ever been the special objects of Satan's enmity； he was determined to cause their destruction。 While they were obedient； he could do them no harm； therefore he had bent all his power and cunning to entice them into sin。 Ensnared by his temptations； they had transgressed the law of God and had been left to become the prey of their enemies。
Yet though they were carried as captives to Babylon； God did not forsake them。 He sent His prophets to them with
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reproofs and warnings； and aroused them to see their guilt。 When they humbled themselves before God and returned to Him with true repentance； He sent them messages of encouragement； declaring that He would deliver them from captivity； restore them to His favor； and once more establish them in their own land。 And now that this work of restoration had begun； and a remnant of Israel had already returned to Judea； Satan was determined to frustrate the carrying out of the divine purpose； and to this end he was seeking to move upon the heathen nations to destroy them utterly。
But in this crisis the Lord strengthened His people 〃with good words and comfortable words。〃 Zechariah 1：13。 Through an impressive illustration of the work of Satan and the work of Christ； He showed the power of their Mediator to vanquish the accuser of His people。
In vision the prophet beholds 〃Joshua the high priest；〃 〃clothed with filthy garments〃 （Zechariah 3：1； 3）； standing before the Angel of the Lord； entreating God's mercy in behalf of his afflicted people。 As he pleads for the fulfillment of God's promises； Satan stands up boldly to resist him。 He points to the transgressions of Israel as a reason why they should not be restored to the favor of God。 He claims them as his prey； and demands that they be given into his hands。
The high priest cannot defend himself or his people from Satan's accusations。 He does not claim that Israel is free from fault。 In filthy garments； symbolizing the sins of the people； which he bears as their representative； he stands before the Angel； confessing their guilt； yet pointing to their
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repentance and humiliation； and relying upon the mercy of a sin…pardoning Redeemer。 In faith he claims the promises of God。
Then the Angel； who is Christ Himself； the Saviour of sinners； puts to silence the accuser of His people； declaring； 〃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？〃 Verse 2。 Long had Israel remained in the furnace of affliction。 Because of their sins they had been well…nigh consumed in the flame kindled by Satan and his agents for their destruction； but God had now set His hand to bring them forth。
As the intercession of Joshua is accepted； the command is given； 〃Take away the filthy garments from him；〃 and to Joshua the Angel says； 〃Behold； I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee； and I will clothe thee with change of raiment。〃 〃So they set a fair miter upon his head； and clothed him with garments。〃 Verses 4； 5。 His own sins and those of his people were pardoned。 Israel was clothed with 〃change of raiment〃the righteousness of Christ imputed to them。 The miter be placed upon Joshua's head was such as was worn by the priests；and bore the inscription； 〃Holiness to the Lord〃 （Exodus 28：36）； signifying that notwithstanding his former transgressions； he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary。
The Angel now declared to Joshua： 〃Thus saith the Lord of hosts； If thou wilt walk in My ways； and if thou wilt keep My charge； then thou shalt also judge My house； and shalt also keep My courts； and I will give thee places
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to walk among these that stand by。〃 Zechariah 3：7。 If obedient； he should be honored as the judge； or ruler； over the temple and all its services； he sho