September 25, 2015

THE PRIEST WHO WOULD BE KING

Zechariah 5–6

Robert McMillen
Friday's Devo

September 25, 2015

Friday's Devo

September 25, 2015

Central Truth

God reveals to Zechariah that a man named Joshua would become both Priest and King. This same Joshua would also build the Temple. Today, we see Jesus (Hebrew: Joshua) serving as King and Priest to each of us, the "living stones" of God's temple (1 Peter 2:5).

Key Verse | Zechariah 6:13

"Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles." (Zechariah 6:13)

 

Zechariah 5–6

A Vision of a Flying Scroll

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” 1 5:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely 2 5:3 Hebrew lacks falsely (supplied from verse 4) shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

A Vision of a Woman in a Basket

Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket 3 5:6 Hebrew ephah; also verses 711. An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity 4 5:6 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts eye in all the land.” And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.

Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”

A Vision of Four Chariots

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. 5 6:3 Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Crown and the Temple

And the word of the LORD came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there 6 6:13 Or he shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder to Helem, 7 6:14 An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10) Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[2] 5:3 Hebrew lacks falsely (supplied from verse 4)
[3] 5:6 Hebrew ephah; also verses 7–11. An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
[4] 5:6 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts eye
[5] 6:3 Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses
[6] 6:13 Or he
[7] 6:14 An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10)

Dive Deeper | Zechariah 5–6

In these chapters, God is using several word pictures to reveal His plans to the prophet Zechariah. In chapter 6, however, God appears to change gears and describes a priest named Joshua who is also to be crowned as a king.

This is a very unusual prophecy. In the history of Israel, no priest had ever served as king (or vice versa). In fact, this was forbidden.

Thus, this passage seems to be simply another word picture like the ones before it. Unlike the others, it does not sound supernatural with flying scrolls, bronze mountains, or women hidden in baskets. Yet, it is still a prophecy couched within imagery.  

God says there will be a man named Joshua who will be both King and Priest. He will be called the “Branch,” a common synonym for the coming Messiah (Isaiah 4:2, Zechariah 3:8, and Jeremiah 23:5 (NIV). This man, God reveals, will build the Temple, receive royal honor, rule on His throne, and make peace between the two roles of priest and king. 

Today, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus who is both a priest and a king! 

Jesus, as high priest, is interceding for us in our weaknesses. He continually represents us sinners before a holy God. He identifies with us, intimately understands us, and loves us despite our failures. We need Him as our priest.

Jesus is also a king who rules over God's kingdom. We are His subjects; when we are attacked, it is an attack on Him. He leads us, protects us, and trains us for war. He is always refining our character. We are "the temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:16).

Today, we look back on Jesus who came as a high priest and now stands before God interceding for us. Soon, though, we will see Him fully revealed as our glorious King!

Discussion Questions

Much like our political system where one individual cannot simultaneously be president, Supreme Court justice, and congressman, God similarly did not permit one human to be both priest and king.

1. How do you see the roles of a king and a priest differing from each other?

2. What is the primary focus of a king? How about a priest?

3. Which way do you tend to relate to Jesus most often, as your King or as your Priest?

4. Depending on your answer to the previous question, what steps could you take to relate to Jesus in a more balanced way? For example, how could you see and respond to Him more as your King or Priest?