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12/19 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 22-23; Revelation 10; Zechariah 6; John 9
Zechariah 6:11
“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.”
EXALTATION
Three exiles returned from Babylonian captivity; and they were identified by name (Zech 6:10). The LORD, through the prophet Zechariah, commanded that the gold and silver brought back by these exiles be fashioned into a crown and placed on the head of Joshua, the high priest. Surely there is significance in this act toward Joshua and the building of the temple in Zechariah’s day; yet there is a greater prophetic implication by this event, as well as an important application for believers in Christ today. The offices of king and priest were both distinct and separate in those ancient days. It was an odd thing for Joshua to be crowned (Zech 6:11), and to…
…sit and rule on his throne. Zechariah 6:13
Nevertheless, we recognize that “the man whose name is the Branch” (6:12), is the Messiah, the “righteous Branch” (Jer 33:15), whom Jeremiah spoke of before the captivity. The Lord Jesus Christ, as Redeemer of God’s elect, executes the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King. Here, Zechariah presents pictures and foreshadows of the work and wonder of the Lord Jesus as our Priest-King. There are too many truths to go into them all; however, let us pause and meditate upon just one aspect of the blessings before us. Like the three exiles, we were separated from Christ’s kingdom by our sin. Yet coming into the kingdom by God’s grace through Christ, we return like the exiles with silver and gold. Silver often represents redemption in Scripture. It is the metal used in purchase, and therefore, speaks of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Gold is the metal of beauty, heaven, and deity. Gold often reflects Christ’s deity, perfection, and eternal reign; and thus, speaks to us of Christ’s eternal promises and our everlasting home with Him. The doctrines of our redemption in Christ (silver), and our eternal life with Christ (gold), are more than mere knowledge for our understanding. As Jesus sits upon His heavenly throne, we take His redeeming truth (silver), and His eternal promises to us (gold), and exalt the Lord Christ as King and Priest in our lives. This is our “reasonable service” (Rom 12:1, KJV) and “spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1, ESV). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
