Zechariah 6:9-15
From Zechariah's Journal
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My name is Zechariah. The word of the Lord came to me after I had seen eight visions. I wrote about the visions in the last posts. I was the only one who saw them.
But now, the Lord told me to show the people a symbol of what is to come.
The Lord said, "Take silvered gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon."
These Jews brought gifts to help support the building of the temple. Word had gone to Babylon, telling the Jews the building went slowly because more money was needed.
Usually these gifts were presented to the priests. This time, God asked that I, God's prophet, go to the house of Josiah, Zephaniah's son. Josiah's job was to receive all gifts, record them, and place the offering in the treasury. I was then to accept the gifts brought by Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah.
God then said, "Take the silver and gold and make a crown." Usually these types of gifts are used for the building of the temple, but God had different plans. A crown of gold and a crown of silver were made. He told me to make a crown and put it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak."
This ceremony had a special meaning. Even I could see that. The goal was not to make Joshua king.
The meaning is this:
When the time is come, God will raise up a great high priest. Joshua is a figure of this great high priest at this time. The great high priest will be called The Branch. Just as Joshua has been active in building the temple so will The Branch be the master builder. He is the one who will build the temple of the Lord.
The Branch will grow up to do a good, to be a tool of God's glory, and a great blessing to mankind. He will not only be the foundation of the temple, but the founder by His Spirit and grace. He shall take on the weight of the glory.
The Branch will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. This will bring a harmony between kingship, one of dignity and power, and priesthood, the only one who can go before God the father on our behalf.
The crowns shall be a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen, the son of Zephaniah and to be placed in the temple of the Lord.
The Jews and foreigners that live far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord. Their coming to help is a sign that the promises given by God will come true.
"This will come to pass," says the Lord, "if you obey the voice of the Lord our God."
With this encouraging word from the Lord, the work for the temple sped up. Our hearts were blessed to see it rise from the ground.
Author's note: Scholars say the "weight of the glory" refers to the cross because the cross was his glory. A weight He was able to bear. Those working on the temple were quite surprised when the very people who mocked the work came to help. See Ezra 6:13.
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sources: Matthew Henry's Commentary volume 4, Hendrickson Publishers. 2000,
1. Who did Joshua represent?
2. Why was the crown put on his head?
3. What would be harmonized?
4. Was Joshua to keep the crown? Why or Why not?
5. What would be a sign that the Branch would really come? (If ________ came to help build the temple)
2. Why was the crown put on his head?
3. What would be harmonized?
4. Was Joshua to keep the crown? Why or Why not?
5. What would be a sign that the Branch would really come? (If ________ came to help build the temple)
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