In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree - emblem of tranquil prosperity (1 Kings 4:25): type of spiritual peace with God through Christ (Romans 5:1); and of millennial blessedness (Micah 4:4).
Remarks:
(1) Whenever we "stand before the Lord," to seek acceptance for ourselves or others, the great adversary, as the name Satan means, stands forth to resist our prayer. But as we have in Satan an adversary to demand execution against us for our violation of God's law, so we have in Christ an Advocate with the Father, who ever liveth to make intercession for us (Zechariah 3:1).
(2) Our heavenly Advocate cannot say anything good of us; because, indeed, "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6); but He can say what is all-prevailing as a plea for us-namely, that He has "chosen" His believing people, and of His everlasting grace and love has "plucked" them as "a brand out of the fire" (Zechariah 3:2). If, then, we be humble believers in Christ, our natural filthiness and vileness cannot nullify the efficacy of His blood to cleanse us, and of His Spirit to sanctify us. We may, in triumphant though reverent confidence, take up the exulting challenge of the Apostle Paul, (Romans 8:33-34, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elects? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who (then) shall separate us from the love of Christ?")
(3) When Satan plies us with the most subtle and powerful of his temptations-namely, the temptation to doubt Christ's power to pardon, justify, and sanctify so polluted beings as we at times painfully experience ourselves to be-our wisdom is, not to reason with the tempter, but to refer him to Christ, and to God's eternal choice of His people in Christ. "The Lord, that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee Satan," effectually silences the adversary: even as Jesus Himself silenced the tempter in the wilderness, "Get thee hence, Satan" (Matthew 4:10). (4) These whom Messiah makes spiritual "priests unto God and His Father" He clothes with "change of raiment" (Zechariah 3:4). Henceforth arrayed in His spotless robe of righteousness, through the imputation to them of His meritorious obedience in life, and delivered from the penalty of their filthiness by His death for them, they stand faultless and perfectly justified before the God of justice.
(5) They who are thus justified in Christ receive also the "mitre" or "crown" of assurance in the witnessing of "the Spirit with their spirit that they are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). The "mitre" here answers to the "helmet" in the Gospel armoury, which is "the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). This mitre is the earnest of the coming "crown of righteousness," a "crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4), which shall hereafter be given "unto all them that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
(6) Whosoever are thus justified bring forth. as a natural consequence of their newborn nature, the fruits of holiness (Zechariah 3:7). Gratuitous justification, wherever it is really experienced, leads those so justified not to be careless about sin, but "to walk in God's ways, and to keep God's charge." Messiah chooses his people to "go and bring forth fruit, and that their fruit should remain" (John 15:16). And the final result or reward of such a holy, loving walk in the light and liberty of the children of God now is, they shall exercise judgment in the Lord's house hereafter sitting upon thrones (Matthew 19:28), and also shall have free access to God's presence "among" the angels "that stand by" Yahweh (Zechariah 3:7).
(7) The Levitical priesthood and ceremonial were typical of the Messiah to come. So Joshua the high priest and his "fellows," the "men wondered at," were typical of One infinitely greater, even THE BRANCH sprung from the almost extinct stock of David (Zechariah 3:8). Men "wondered" in "astonishment" (Isaiah 52:14-15) at Him, the Divine "Servant" of God, the Root of David, and yet "marred in visage more than any man." Let us be patient, if, as His believing people, we are at times "as a wonder unto many" (Psalms 71:7), even as our Lord was before us.
(8) Messiah is not only a tender "Branch," but He is also a sure foundation "stone." In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. (Greek, Colossians 2:3). The "seven eyes" upon the "one stone" express this perfection of the graces of the Holy "Spirit put upon Him" (Isaiah 42:1), in His human form and body, by God the Father. "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell" (Colossians 1:19). The infinite wisdom and all-seeing providence of Christ, the foundation-stone of the Church, are the sure guarantee for its ultimate and glorious completion. He not merely attracts all eyes to Himself, but He emits the heavenly light to guide them to Him.
(9) Messiah, in the "one day" of His atonement for sin, once for all has "removed" forever the "iniquity" of His people (Zechariah 3:9). His atonement needs no addition to it of masses, Roman merits, or laborious efforts. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).
(10) Undisturbed peace, security, and prosperity, are the final fruits of Messiah's work of redemption (Zechariah 3:10). Already the believer has inward peace, even in the midst of outward troubles. At last the universal Church in the new heavens and the new earth shall enjoy outward as well as inward peace and blessedness.