Introduction: The news this week is that the head of the
International Monetary Fund, and the man leading in the polls for
the office of President of France, sexually attacked a woman
cleaning his hotel room. Assuming this is true, how does such a
thing happen? How can such a sophisticated, important, refined man
engage in such horrible behavior? Can we safely laugh and point?
Or, are you and I capable of such things? God’s answer is “yes,”
this should be a moment of truth for all of us. In Romans 3:10-18
Paul quotes the Old Testament statement that we are all “worthless.”
No one is righteous. We are all destined to burn ( Malachi 4:1). Our
lesson this week is about being plucked from that fire. That sounds
like an important goal! Let’s dive into our Bible study and find
out more.

  1. The Road to God’s House


    1. Read Zechariah 1:1. Who is Darius? (Read Daniel 5:30-6:2.
      He is the King of the Medes who defeated Babylon.)


    2. Read Zechariah 1:2-6. What happened when God was angry
      with their ancestors? (They were taken into captivity by
      Babylon and that captivity continued with the
      Medes/Persians.)


      1. How many of us, because of poor choices, find that
        we are slaves to sin?


    3. Read Haggai 1:1. Notice the time frame. How does it
      compare to Zechariah 1:1? (It is the same year! We have
      two prophets of God giving messages to His people.)


    4. Read Haggai 1:2-6. What pattern are we seeing in the
      messages of these two prophets? (When we pay no attention
      to God, we have problems. It is hard to prosper.)


    5. The last part of Zechariah 1:6 reports that God’s people
      acknowledged that they deserved the bad things that they
      received – and they repented of their sins. Read
      Zechariah 1:16-17. What is God’s attitude towards us when
      we repent? (He wants to show us mercy. He wants to bless
      us.)


    6. What is God’s specific goal for Jerusalem? (Both the
      prophecies of Zechariah and Haggai speak about rebuilding
      God’s house (the temple). God will join His people)


  2. Entering God’s House


    1. Read Zechariah 2:10-13. When verse 11 says “many nations”
      to whom is it referring? (God says that God’s people are
      not simply the Hebrews. Rather, all sorts of nations and
      races will “be joined with the Lord in that day and will
      become My people.” We can enter God’s house and live with
      Him!)


      1. The question is, How do we enter God’s house?


    2. Read Zechariah 3:1. Is Joshua a good or bad guy? (Read
      Ezra 3:2-4. Joshua is not only the High Priest, he is
      reinstating the sacrifices and the feasts as directed by
      Moses. He is truly a good guy.)


      1. If he is a good guy, why is Satan accusing him?
        (Read Hebrews 9:7. The High Priest carried the sins
        of the people. In essence, we are being accused by
        Satan.)


    3. Read Zechariah 3:2-3. Is Satan right to accuse Joshua?
      (Yes. Not only does he have “filthy” clothes on, but his
      hair is on fire. (Well, some part of him is on fire.))


      1. What does being “filthy” and on fire symbolize?
        (Read Revelation 20:15. Joshua is sinful – very
        sinful. He is close to being burned up for his
        sins.)


      2. Is there any argument that Satan is not right to
        accuse Joshua? (Satan is much worse! However, Satan
        is not on trial.)


      3. How does God react to these allegations against an
        obviously dirty guy? (God rebukes Satan!)


      4. Think about this a moment. If this is some sort of
        trial situation, and God is the Judge and Satan the
        accuser, why would Satan accuse Joshua if he is
        going to be rebuked for it?(I doubt that Satan
        thinks he is winning argument points with God. The
        question is whether he is winning argument points
        with you?)


    4. Read Zechariah 3:4. What did it take for Joshua to be
      sin-free? (A heavenly declaration.)


      1. What are the “rich garments” given to Joshua? (Read
        Matthew 22:11 and Revelation 7:9. They are a symbol
        of righteousness.)


      2. What role does Joshua have in the forgiveness of his
        sins and our sins? (The High Priest was an
        intercessor. He stood before God in God’s house (the
        temple) bearing the sins of the people.)


    5. Read Hebrews 8:1-2 and Hebrews 9:24-26. How does the
      story of Joshua and our understanding of the sanctuary in
      heaven apply to us today? (We are saved the same way. We
      are filthy. We come before our Lord confessing our sins
      and requesting His intercession. He takes away our sins
      as easily as removing a garment. He gives us His
      righteousness as easily as putting on a garment.)


    6. Read Zechariah 3:5. Who is speaking? (Zechariah.)


      1. What authority does he have to order that Joshua be
        given a “clean turban?” (Commentators indicate that
        this was a prayer, or a request, rather than a
        command.)


      2. What symbolism do you find in the account of a
        person asking for a clean turban after being given a
        robe of righteousness? (I did not find any
        commentators that agree with me, but here is my
        thought. What is the first thing you want to do
        after being shown grace? You want a change in your
        attitude, your thinking. Your mind is where sin
        begins. Like King David you want a “pure heart”
        ( Psalms 51:10).)


    7. Read Zechariah 3:6-7. Last week we studied Jesus’ parable
      of the Good Samaritan. Jesus told the story of the
      Samaritan in response to the question ( Luke 10:25), “How
      do I go to heaven?” Is this another instruction on how
      to go to heaven? (“Those standing here” are heavenly
      beings.)


      1. Are we back to salvation by works? The Good
        Samaritan might be a mythical figure, a seemingly
        unreachable goal. But, this language is clear – we
        are called to some sort of action.)


      2. What do you think it means to “govern [God’s] house
        and have charge of [God’s] courts?” (A high priest
        would “govern” God’s house. A chief judge would have
        charge of God’s courts. But see, 1 Corinthians 6:2.)


        1. Does this change the “go to heaven” meaning of
          the text? (God is not simply telling us how to
          go to heaven, He is telling us how to achieve a
          high rank in heaven. Those “standing here” were
          in the very presence of God.)


      3. To what kind of action are we called? (Walking and
        keeping requirements.)


        1. What does the symbolism of “walking” suggest?
          (Not a moment by moment analysis of your
          actions, but rather the general direction of
          your life.)


        2. What does “keeping requirements” suggest?
          (Obeying God’s commands.)


    8. What should we conclude about the path to salvation? (The
      forgiveness of sin and the robe of righteousness are not
      based on our works. They are based on us coming before
      God for forgiveness, and then God gives us righteousness.
      Period. However, our life does not stop there. We pure
      minds. We need to respond to God’s love with a life
      generally in accord with His will. We need to pay
      attention to His commands and try to keep them.)


      1. Do our righteous works make a difference? (Our works
        will not save us, but this suggests that they affect
        our status in heaven! This is not the only text of
        this nature. Consider, among others, Matthew 5:19
        and Matthew 6:19-20.)


    9. Read Zachariah 3:8-9. God tells us to pay special
      attention at this point. Why? (Because this story
      symbolizes the future. God is about to tell us our
      future.)


      1. Who is this “Branch?” (Read Jeremiah 23:5-6. Jesus!)


      2. Who is the “Stone?” (Read Daniel 2:44-45. The Stone
        can also be a reference to Jesus.)


        1. Notice that the Stone has “seven eyes.” What
          does that teach us about the future? (That
          Jesus has perfect vision. He is watching our
          life, watching out for us.)


      3. In the future, “the sin of this land” is removed in
        one day. Did that happen? (Yes! When the Branch,
        the Stone, died in our place and rose to eternal
        life! Praise God!)


    10. Friend, last week and this week we talked about how you
      can be saved by grace alone. There is nothing you can do
      to earn your salvation. After our salvation, God calls us
      to walk in His ways and be obedient to His commands. In
      light of what Jesus has done to save your life, and the
      lives of those you love most, will you determine today to
      ask for purity of mind so that pure actions will follow?


  3. Next Week: The Prodigal’s New Clothes.