The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 40

who doeB not desire the progress of kindred spirits; e.nd whe.t is this but intercession? But thn1 which distinguish& the intercession on earth is the.t we have to remember the moral co1·roption of our race. In hee.ven there is no defilement. All there e.re cle.d either in the robes of pristine holiness or in ge.rments we.shed e.nd made white by the cleansing influences of redemptive love. But here e.ll are in " filthy garments" -garments ste.ined by sensuality, worldliness, idolatry, falsehood, and dishonesty. Here the pious parent has to e.ppear before God for sinful children, the minister for sinful people, e.nd the pious sovereign for e. sinful nation. JI, THAT THE GOOD MAN, IN HIS INTERCESSORY FUNCTIONS ON EARTH1 HAS TO CON• TEKD WITH A MIGHTY SPIRITUAL ANTAG01'"1ST. The prophet saw Satan ete.nding at his right hand to resist him. The existence of some mighty spirit or spirits, who are determined foes of truth, virtue, e.nd the happiness of man, is rendered more than pro- bable by a number of considerations, independent of the testimony of.the Bible. Such, for example, as the general belief of the race, the oon.fticting phenomena of the moral """rld, the unaccountable opposite impr&sions of which all are conscious. But the Bible is most clear on this subject. Under ve.rious names," the serpent,"" the devil," "the god of this world," "the prince of the power of the air," this great enemy of the race is brought under our notice. Now, this enemy stood up to resist Joshua in his intercessions. And who will say that he is not now specially active with the good man, when he draws nee.r to God? In bow many ways may he binder our prayers? Sometimes he may suggest to us, even in the very time of our prayers, doubts e.s to the existence of God ; we may be tempted to ask-Are we sure there is a God ? May not the idea be a delusion, for who has ever seen or beard him? Or, granting his existence, he may suggest whether he would condescend to attend to the affairs of an individueJ, We may be tempted to the supposition that he takes care of the great but overlooks the little; or that the universe is so thoroughly and absolutely under a system of laws, that be will not interpose on behalf of any of hie creatures. Or, granting that he does exist, and that be attends to the prayers of some, Satan may suggest that I am too worthless for his notice, that it is presumptuous for me to address his awful majesty; I am too great a sinner ever to be attended to. In such suggestions as these Satan may be said to stand up against us when we appear before the Lord. 'fhis, age.in, is a peculiarity of our intercessory functions on earth. In heaven, we presume, no enemy will intrude on our devotions, no Sa.tan will stand up to resist as we appear before God. No power there to darken our faith with cloudy doubts, nor to cool the ardour of our devoLions ! IIL THA'l' THE GOOD MAN, IN HIS INTERCESSORY FUNCTIONS ON EARTH, HAS THE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE oF A DIVINE HELPER. Whilst Se.tan stood up against Joshua, there was One who stood up for him-the Lord, called also "the Angel of the Lord." Who is this? .Ali acknowledged expositors are agreed in concluding this to be Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. And he, indeed, is man's great spiritual Helper. He is our Advocate, our Intercessor. He helps us in our prayers, he attracts us to the throne of grace. "Seeing that we have a great High Priest, who has passed into the heavens." His Spirit makes intercession within us, awakens in us those desires which agree with the will of God. The scene illustrates two thoughts concerning the help rendered. 1. lt was rendered sympathetically. "Is not this a brand?" etc. Consider the suffering to which the petitioners have been subject. Christ is full of sympathy. " We have not a high priest," etc.; "Him t.ha.t cometh unto God through him he will in no wise cast out." 2. The help was rendered effectu,ally. The old " filthy gar- ments," the emblems of impurity and guilt, were taken away, and he was clothed in other garments; that is, their guilt was removed, they were restored from their degradation. And the" mitre," the emblem of dignity, was put on his bead. They were raised once more to the glory of an independent nation. See: (1) '!'bat if you would effectually help your race, you must appear belore God as an intercessor. Other means are also to be employed. Promote general knowledge, adv~nce t~e arts, help on commerce, above all, difluse the gospel of Jesus; but, in connection with all, you must appear before God, as Jo~hua did for Israel. It is in this way you will change the world's" filthy gar- ments," and get for them the "raiment" of purity and the "mitre" of honour. (2) T~a.t if you would effectually appear before God, you must have the help of Jesus Chnst. WLat is the villion before us but an adumbration of a common fa.et in the spiritual on. Ill. 1-10.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 37