Context No. 3313 of 4322 · Zechariah

Zechariah 6:8-15: in context

8Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.” 9The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 10“Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12and speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place; and he will build the LORD’s temple. 13He will build the LORD’s temple. He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. The counsel of peace will be between them both. 14The crowns shall be to Helem, to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the LORD’s temple. 15Those who are far off shall come and build in the LORD’s temple; and you shall know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey the LORD your God’s voice.”’”

Zechariah is told to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua the high priest, a striking act, for crowns belonged to kings, not priests. And the prophecy explains it: behold, the man whose name is the Branch; he will build the temple of the LORD, bear royal honor, and rule on his throne, and he shall be a priest on his throne, with the counsel of peace between the two offices.

This points beyond any figure of that day to the coming one who would unite in himself both king and priest, ruling and interceding together, offices the Old Testament had kept carefully apart. In Christ the two crowns meet: he reigns as king and intercedes as priest, and between these there is peace, not rivalry. The one who rules over us is the same one who prays for us. The hope Zechariah glimpsed in a crowned priest is fulfilled in the priest-king who builds God's true temple and holds together in himself both the throne and the mercy seat.

Do I look to Christ as the priest-king Zechariah foresaw, who both reigns over me and intercedes for me, and rest in the peace between his throne and his mercy?

Sources

Zechariah 6:12: "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place; and he will build the LORD's temple."
Zechariah 6:13: "He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne."
Hebrews 7:17: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."