It had been a long, hard week. I was covered in dirt, sweat and other kinds of grime I tried not to track inside. The first load made it through the machine but not the smell. I ran it through once more and it was better, but not much.
A friend suggested I put in those smelly beads but that only covers it up. As soon as I start sweating again, the old smell creeps out. It’s just not clean.
So many metaphors for the crud and crust that dwell deep within my chest. I scrub and scrub memories of failures, foolishness and even try to sprinkle perfume over them with fancy words or fancy prayers, but the stench still lingers.
Zechariah saw a vision of Joshua, the high priest, standing in filthy clothes before the angel of the Lord. Satan stood at Joshua’s right hand to accuse him.
The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!”
Rebuke rarely falls into our modern vocabulary. In this moment, the Lord essentially said, “Silence! Enough! I have chosen Jerusalem!”
The Angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”… “See, I have taken away your sin and will put rich garments on you.”
I have been there too; standing before the Lord in filthy rags, Satan pointing a crooked finger shouting, “See? This is what you are!”
But the Lord said, “Silence! Enough! I have chosen him, he is Mine.”
Then the Lord looked at me. “I have taken away your sin and clothed you in rich garments.”
I fell to my knees, unworthy as I am.
This is what the Lord Almighty says, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then … I will give you a place among these standing here. Zechariah 3:7
The day may come when I return to this court in rags for I’m a broken creature and evil will find a way to drag me in again.
But the Lord stands ready to take up my case and welcome me back.
With arms wide open
And nail scarred Hands.
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