Put on clean clothes

​“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/zec.3.7.NASB1995

This is a charge to Joshua the high priest. But before this charge could take place notice what God did with Joshua.

“He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.” Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/zec.3.4-5.NASB1995

Joshua is standing before the angel of the Lord, whom I think is Jesus, (vs 1) with Satan standing by him accusing him. But Joshua is clothed in dirty clothes. And Jesus commands the angels who were with Joshua to remove His filthy clothes. Joshua is left exposed but Jesus does not leave him there for long and has him dressed in festive clothes. Zechariah suggests a clean turban to be put on his head and it is done. 

“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. 

“You shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of a weaver.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭28‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/exo.28.39.NASB1995

The turban was a consecration for the priest’s head to remove the iniquity of the thoughts and words of the people. So Zechariah saw it as important to clean up the thoughts and words of Joshua so that he could minister before the Lord and people with a clear mind.

Paul expresses this desire in Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭16.

“Given this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”

‭‭‬NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/act.24.16.NASB1995

Daniel lives this too before and after his lion den experience. 

“Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/dan.6.4-5.NASB1995

What about you and me? Are we living a good godly example before God and men? Or have we given up trying? 

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.24.4-5.NASB1995. 

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.7-8.NASB1995.

To cleanse your hands is to wash off all the filth you have done since the last time you washed your hands. Purifying your heart is to wash your desires to be aligned with the desires of God’s heart. Just as Joshua was removed from his fifty garments and given festive and clean ones so too are we able to be cleaned.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.51.2.NASB1995

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.5.25-27.NASB1995

Are you washed in the blood of Jesus? Have you exchanged your old filthy clothes for clothes that have been washed white by God?