Homilist Zechariah 3:8-10 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold… I. The world wants a MORAL HELPER, and in the Gospel one is provided. Morally, man is enslaved, diseased, exiled, lost to the great uses and purposes of his being. God has provided a great Helper, here called His "servant the Branch." In Isaiah we have these words, "Behold My servant whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth." He is the "Branch," God is the Root, and all holy souls are branches, deriving their life, beauty, and fruitfulness from Him; but Christ is the "Branch," the oldest Branch, the largest Branch, the strongest Branch, the most fruitful Branch, etc. He is the Branch on which there hang clusters of perennial fruits for the "healing of the nations." II. The world wants DIVINE GUARDIANSHIP, and in the Gospel it is provided. "Behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes." What is here meant by the "stone"? Not the foundation stone of the temple, which was now being rebuilt, for that had been laid long before. "The stone," says Keil, "is the symbol of the kingdom of God, and is laid by Jehovah before Joshua, by God's transferring to him the regeneration of His house and the keeping of His courts (before lip-hire in a spiritual sense, as in 1 Kings 9:6, for example). The seven eyes which watch with protecting care over this stone are not a figurative representation of the all-embracing providence of God; but, in harmony with the seven eyes of the Lamb which are the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 5:6), and with the seven eyes of Jehovah (Zechariah 4:10), they are the sevenfold radiation of the Spirit of Jehovah (after Isaiah 11:2), which show themselves in vigorous action upon this stone, to prepare it for its destination." Perhaps the meaning is, that upon the kingdom of Christ, here symbolised by the stone, God's eyes are fixed (engraven) with deep, and settled interest. "The eye is the natural hieroglyphic for knowledge; and 'seven' as every reader of the Bible is aware, is the number used to denote completeness, perfection. Seven eyes denote the perfection of observant knowledge; and as the 'eyes of Jehovah' mean Jehovah's observation and knowledge, His 'seven eyes' express the perfection of both — omniscient observation." Two thoughts are suggested — 1. God has a special interest in Christ and His followers. His eyes are on the "stone," there in all their completeness, seven. He has a general interest in the universe, but a special interest here. 2. God has a settled interest in Christ and His followers. The eyes are said to be engraven on the stone, not written in mere ink. III. The world wants MORAL PURIFICATION. In the Gospel it is provided. The iniquity of the land of the Jews was multiform, aggravated, immeasurable; but in one day provision should be made for its removal; the day on which Christ died upon the Cross. "Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." IV. The world wants SPIRITUAL REPOSE. In the Gospel that is provided. Mr. Henry says, "When iniquity is taken away — 1. We reap precious benefits and privileges from our justification; and 2. We repose in a sweet tranquillity, and are quiet from the fear of evil." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. |
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