Zechariah 6:1-15 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Zechariah 6:1-15. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Zechariah 6:1-8 (NIV)
1 I looked up again–and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains–mountains of bronze!
2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,
3 the third white, and the fourth dappled–all of them powerful.
4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.
6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”
On verses 1-8: Zechariah is shown an eighth vision. It’s a vision of four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains. The first chariot is pulled by red horses, the second by black horses, the third by white horses and the fourth by spotted horses. When Zechariah asks what these chariots and horses represent, the angel speaking to Zechariah explains that the four chariots represent the “four spirits (or winds) of heaven” (v4). Zechariah notices that all these powerful horses are “straining” (v7) — that is, they’re eager to get going. When the angel gives the command, “Go throughout the earth!” they do exactly that. Then the angel tells Zechariah that the black ones going toward the north country have given his Spirit rest in the north country (v8).
What does this mean? Most scholars agree that the chariots and horses going throughout the earth represent God’s judgment on the entire world, but especially against Israel’s enemies to the north of them, including Babylon. God is a just God. In His justice, He will make sure that all evil throughout the world is judged and punished in His time.
This was the eighth and final vision that Zechariah describes from that one momentous, vision-filled night.
Zechariah 6:9-10 (NIV)
9 The word of the LORD came to me:
10 “Take [silver and gold] from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
On verses 9-10: It is not entirely clear who Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Josiah are. All we know is that they were Jews who had been exiled in Babylon, who returned to Judah and who were likely people of high social standing in Judah at that time. God tells Zechariah to get silver and gold from the first three and take them to the house of Josiah.
Like Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, we are called to use our wealth and resources to “make a crown”, that is, to give glory and honour to Jesus Christ is king.
Zechariah 6:11-14 (NIV)
11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.
12 Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD.
13 It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’
14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
On verses 11-14: Zechariah then receives instructions from the Lord to make a crown out of the silver and gold he received and place it on the head of Joshua, who was Judah’s high priest at the time. The Lord tells Zechariah that “Here is the man whose name is the Branch” (v12), that he will build the Lord’s temple (v12), be clothed in majesty (v13), sit on a throne and yet still be a priest (v13), bringing together the two disparate roles of king and priest. Then the crown is to be taken and given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen as a memorial in the temple (v14).
What is going on here? Was God making Joshua a king and a high priest over Israel? Was he calling this Joshua the Messiah? No, because:
1. Zerubabbel would continue to rule as governor over Judah and lead the rebuilding of the temple. There is no evidence that Joshua the high priest assumed any role as a king or other political authority figure of Judah.
2. The crown is later taken off of Joshua’s head and God instructs that it be placed in the temple as a memorial (v14).
Thus the crowning of Joshua was a symbolic action, meant to point to a future date when one individual, a Messiah, would serve as both priest and king over God’s people. This “Branch” (a name used by Isaiah, Jeremiah and now Zechariah for this Messiah) is Jesus Christ, who would appear approximately 500 years after Zechariah writes down this prophecy. It’s also worth noting that Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua, is often transliterated Joshua.
Previously in Zechariah 4:11-14, the LORD showed Zechariah a vision of two olive trees representing two individuals – likely governor Zerubabbel and high priest Joshua – who would lead God’s people. Now in Zechariah 6, we see one man – the Branch – taking on the dual role of priest and king. It’s Jesus the Messiah.
As Pastor Jon Courson once put it, Jesus first came into the world as a prophet, then ascended to heaven to serve as our great high priest, and one day He will return as king. Jesus is our prophet, priest and king.
Zechariah 6:15 (NIV)
15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God.”
On verse 15: This verse speaks of how God would involve many people from distant nations (“those who are far away”) in building the Lord’s temple. That includes you and me. As Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ”. Now, as foreigners turned children of God, we are now instruments by which God is building His church.
Lord Jesus, today I crown You my priest and king. Only You are worthy to sit on the throne of my heart as king, and only You can stand in the gap for my sin as priest. Though You are a just and holy God, thank You that Your mercy triumphed over judgment when You died on the cross for our sins. Now that I am a part of Your family, use me to build Your temple, Your church. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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