Zechariah 3:7

7 "The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: If you will walk in my paths, if you will keep my charge, then you will lead my house and guard my courts, and I will allow you to walk among those standing here.

Zechariah 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 3:7

Thus saith the Lord of hosts
For this Angel was no other than the Lord of armies in heaven and in earth: If thou wilt walk in my ways;
prescribed in the word of God, moral, ceremonial, and evangelical; in Christ the grand way, and indeed the only way of salvation; and in the paths of faith, truth, righteousness, and holiness; in the ways of God's commandments, which are pleasant, and attended with peace; such a walk and conversation, and such obedience, the grace of God teaches, and obliges to: and if thou wilt keep my charge;
the things he gave in charge, all his commands and ordinances, particularly such as belonged to the priestly office and Levitical service; see ( Numbers 3:7 Numbers 3:8 ) all which might be expected after so many favours granted: then thou shall also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts:
preside in the temple, be governor in it, and have the care of all the courts belonging to the people and the priests, and the advantages arising from thence. The meaning is, that whereas the office of the priesthood was in disuse through the captivity, and was become contemptible through the sins of the priests, it should now be restored to its former honour and glory: to have a place in the house of God, the church, is a great honour, and still more to be a governor and ruler in it: and I will give thee places to walk among those that stand by;
either among fellow priests, or fellow saints; or rather among the angels that stood before the Angel of the Lord, and ministered to him; signifying that he should enjoy their company, be like unto then, and join in service with them in heaven, in a future state: and "walking places" among them denote the pleasures of the heavenly state, as well, as the safety and glory of it; see ( Isaiah 57:2 ) ( Revelation 3:4 ) ( 21:24 ) . The Targum very agreeably paraphrases the words thus,

``and in the resurrection or quickening of the dead, I will raise or quicken thee; and I will give thee feet walking among these seraphim.''
The allusion is to those walks that were in the temple, such as Christ walked in, ( John 10:23 ) and the pavement in Ezekiel's temple, ( Ezekiel 40:17 Ezekiel 40:18 ) .

Zechariah 3:7 In-Context

5 He said, "Put a clean turban upon his head." So they put the clean turban upon his head, and they dressed him in garments while the LORD's messenger stood by.
6 Then the LORD's messenger admonished Joshua:
7 "The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: If you will walk in my paths, if you will keep my charge, then you will lead my house and guard my courts, and I will allow you to walk among those standing here.
8 Now listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your companions sitting before you— for these men are a sign— look, I am about to bring my servant, Branch.
9 See this stone that I have put before Joshua. Upon one stone, there are seven facets. I am about to engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD of heavenly forces. I will remove the guilt of that land in one day.
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