Satan, the Accuser; Christ, the Defender

Because God had chosen Israel to preserve the knowledge of Him in the earth, Satan was determined to cause their destruction. While they were obedient he could do them no harm. Therefore he had focused all his power and evil trickery on drawing them into sin. Caught in his traps, they had transgressed and had become the prey of their enemies.RR 205.1

Yet God did not forsake them. He sent His prophets with warnings, spurring them to see their guilt. When they returned to Him with true repentance, He sent messages of encouragement, declaring that He would deliver them from captivity and once more establish them in their own land. Now that this restoration had begun and a remnant had already returned to Judea, Satan threw his energies into frustrating the divine plan. To this end he was seeking to stir up the heathen nations to destroy them.RR 205.2

But in this crisis the Lord strengthened His people with “good and comforting words.” Zechariah 1:13. Through an impressive illustration He showed the power of Christ their Mediator to vanquish Satan, the accuser of His people.RR 205.3

“Joshua the high priest,” “clothed with filthy garments” (Zechariah 3:1, 3), stands before the Angel of the Lord. As he pleads for the fulfillment of God’s promises, Satan points to Israel’s transgressions as a reason why God should not restore them to favor. Satan claims them as his prey and demands that they be given into his hands.RR 205.4

The high priest does not claim that Israel is free from fault. In filthy garments, symbolizing the people’s sins that he bears as their representative, he stands before the Angel, confessing their guilt yet pointing to their repentance, and in faith relying on the mercy of a sin-pardoning Redeemer.RR 205.5

Then the Angel, who is Christ the Savior of sinners, puts the accuser to silence: “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Verse 2. Because of their sins Israel had been nearly consumed in the flame that Satan and his agents lit for their destruction, but God had now set about to rescue them.RR 205.6

As the Lord accepted Joshua’s intercession, He commanded, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” Then he said to Joshua, “‘I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’ ... So they ... put the clothes on him.” Verses 4, 5. The Lord pardoned his sins and those of his people. Israel was clothed with “rich robes”—the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Despite Joshua’s former sins, he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary. If obedient, he would be honored as the judge, or the ruler, over the temple and would walk among attending angels even in this life. At last he would join the glorified throng around the throne of God.RR 205.7

“Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, ... I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch.” Verse 8. In the “Branch,” the Deliverer to come, lay the hope of Israel. By faith in the coming Savior Joshua and his people had received pardon and had been restored to God’s favor. On the basis of His merits they would be honored as the chosen of Heaven among the nations of earth.RR 206.1

In all ages Satan is “the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10. The controversy is repeated over every sinner rescued from the power of evil. Never is one received into the family of God without awakening the enemy’s determined resistance. But He who was Israel’s defense, their justification and redemption, is the hope of the church today.RR 206.2