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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
them from their captivity and restore them to His favor. It was this
that Satan was determined to prevent. A remnant of Israel had already
returned to their own land, and Satan was seeking to move upon the
heathen nations, who were his agents, to utterly destroy them.
As Joshua humbly 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 that people should not be restored to the favor
of God. He claims them as his prey and demands that they be given
into his hands to be destroyed.
The high priest cannot defend himself or his people from Satan’s
accusations. He does not claim that Israel are free from fault. In his
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 repentance and humiliation, relying upon the
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mercy of a sin-pardoning Redeemer and in faith claiming 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?” Israel had long 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. In their
penitence and humiliation the compassionate Saviour will not leave
His people to the cruel power of the heathen. “A bruised reed shall He
not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench.”
As the intercession of Joshua is accepted, the command is given,
“Take away the filthy garments from him,” and to Joshua the Angel
declares, “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.” His own sins
and those of his people were pardoned. Israel were clothed with
“change of raiment”—the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.
The miter placed upon Joshua’s head was such as was worn by the
priests and bore the inscription, “Holiness to the Lord,” signifying that,
notwithstanding his former transgressions, he was now qualified to
minister before God in His sanctuary.