Get Your Garments

Is it just me or is anyone else getting up most mornings unsure as to what to wear because you just don’t know what the weather is going to be-not even in mid-February.  It snowed two weeks ago yet yesterday's temperature was somewhere in the low 60's.  Just a few months ago, I let my youngest son wear shorts on Christmas Eve not because he is a crazy teenager but because it was warm enough!  There have been days these past few months where I have worn just a sweatshirt or long sleeve tee outside. The "light" wear was not because of hot flashes, either!  It is really absurd.  This is the world we live in.  It seems obvious that there have been significant changes to our atmosphere that are affecting the climate globally.  So thank goodness for our weather apps, right! I check my weather app first thing in the morning just so I know how to dress. What garments am I allowing my kid to wear as he goes out the door to school?  (I know we don’t use the word garments but just humor me, you know I like to word play).

In a recent post, I discussed the believer’s role as kings and priests.  This post is a follow-up to that one because as I read through some of the passages in Zechariah the garment change that took place in chapter 3 stood out to me. The priests of the bible had very specific instructions to follow in ministering before the Lord.  Those instructions also included their attire, their garments.  All priests had particular garments.  The same is true for the office of a king.  It is expected that a king would have royal garments.  So as believers, as kings and priests, there must be garments we are expected to wear. Right? The bible speaks a lot about clothing, garments, robes etc. There must be a reason.

Even today, garments can be indicative of many things-profession, rank, ethnicity, nationality, and gender.  Whether we want to admit it or not, what we wear does mean something. Our attire communicates something. Therefore, the garments mentioned in the bible must communicate something too.  I think they do. Maybe more than we realize. 

Here is a portion of scripture that I think is relevant to this discussion.

Get Your Garments- Kings and Priests

Zechariah Chapter 3

This entire chapter of Zechariah is interesting, but I am just going to focus on how Joshua the High Priest had to have his garments changed in order to receive what the LORD was releasing.  In the vision, Satan was standing before the LORD opposing Joshua, when he was rebuked and the LORD commanded that Joshua’s filthy garments be exchanged for rich robes given by the LORD.

Verse 4-5

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying. “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothes you with rich robes.”  And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.

Joshua represents Jerusalem in Zechariah’s vision.  However, generally with prophetic visions there is an immediate fulfillment but there are also continuing fulfillments based on the purposes of God. The LORD gives a prophetic word through this vision.

 “If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.”

Here is an invitation to serve in the courts of the LORD.  As a high priest, Joshua had the commission to serve the LORD in intercession for Israel.  We as believers are called to be kings and priests to serve the LORD in intercession in His courts. Our authority through Christ is to be executed in this world as we enter into the heavenly courts, hear our instruction and execute His righteous judgments in the earth. Jesus, our example, demonstrated this authority in his earthly ministry.  He speaks to his authority and judgment in the book of John. In chapter 5 verse 30, he declares:

“I am unable to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord-but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders].  Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the Voice comes to me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.”

 The Amplified Bible 

In Zechariah, we read an account of hearing from the Lord and acting in accordance.  In chapter 3, Zechariah gives us the vision. However,  in chapter 6 we read that Zechariah received an instruction based on what he saw in his vision in chapter 3.  The instruction became a prophetic act of what he had seen in the vision. 

Zechariah 6:9-15

Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Receive the gift from the captives-from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon-go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and the gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

Remember Zechariah had spoken in the vision and asked that a clean turban be placed on Joshua. In  Exodus chapter 28, the LORD gives Moses the instructions for the priestly garments.  The high priest had a turban with a special plate which had "Holiness to the LORD" engraved upon it.  Then the Angel of the Lord spoke declaring the word or decree that is also given to Zechariah to declare in chapter 6 through verses 12-14.  The turban was directly connected to the clearing the iniquity of the people.  The new turban in the vision and the crown in chapter 6 are connected to the LORD's proclamation of removing the iniquity of the people.  

It was important for Zechariah, as the mouthpiece of God, to hear the word of the Lord and act upon the vision that the Lord invited him to participate in. His obedience to the Voice of the Lord was important to the fulfillment of God’s purpose for his people at that time and season.

Joshua, a high priest in new garments, was completing prophetic acts that would affect the entire nation of Israel.  His role as a priest as well as the garments that communicated his position and authority were integral to the fulfillment of the plan of God.  This portion of scripture is considered Messianic because it also references the Servant, the Branch in verse 8 of chapter 3.

        

‘Hear O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wonderous sign; for behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch.’

This is were I believe the prophetic vision has a subsequent fulfillment for us as believers.  God's Servant, the Branch, is Jesus Christ and he through obedience has become our Faithful High Priest.  It is his obedience that give us access to the throne of grace.  It is his obedience that allows us access to the courts of the LORD.  The LORD is clothing his people with garments to fulfill our functions as kings and priests: the royal priesthood.  These garments, like those of the OT, are specially designed by the LORD for kingdom purpose.  These garments are spiritual garments that will cover, cloth, wrap, and encompass us with the light and glorious Presence of the Lord.  Garments of distinction, garments of glory.  Remember that in Zechariah's vision, it was the LORD who clothed Joshua. 

Read these words of Jesus Christ

Revelation 3:18-22

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Ponder this...Psalms 104:1-2

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.   Who cover yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

Adam and Eve's first garments weren't fig leaves. The fig leaves were to cover their nakedness. The LORD asked them.  Who told you you were naked?  Then Jesus Christ "counsels us" to get garments from him. Our Father is the father of lights...I am not too upset about my "light" wear these days because I am expecting light as a garment!

Kings and Priests get your garments!


P.S.  I originally started this post in January.  I had a draft done and thought I was going to post it in January.  I didn't, I had to wait.  Most of the time when I hear something in the Spirit, I ponder it.  Whatever and whenever I share its after I believe I have something worth sharing.  Interestingly, last week the Torah portion was Tetzaveh which covers the priestly garments. So I figured this must be the time to post. That being said, scripture says "we see" in part and I agree with the truth of scripture.   So I pray that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will bear witness with the hearts of believers.  

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