Zechariah

Zechariah 6: A priest and king is promised

Begin in prayer

Before we read of crowns for Joshua and the promised Branch, please bring our family to the LORD in prayer. Ask Him to show us the priest and king He has sent.

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

Jeremiah 23:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You rule the whole earth and have promised a priest and king, and help us to see Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Zechariah sees four chariots come out from between two mountains of bronze, pulled by red, black, white and dappled horses. The angel says these are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. Then the LORD tells Zechariah to take silver and gold from men who came from Babylon, and make crowns for Joshua the high priest. He is to say, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch,” who will build the LORD’s temple and rule on His throne. That man will also be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between them both. Those who are far off will come and build in the LORD’s temple, if the people obey the LORD’s voice.

As you read Zechariah 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD rules the whole earth, and He promises the Branch, who will be both priest and king.

This is the last night vision, and it matches the first, where riders went through the earth (Zechariah 1 verses 8 to 11). Four chariots come from between two mountains of bronze, and the angel calls them the four winds of the sky (verses 1 to 5). They go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth, so the whole earth is under His rule (verse 5). Then the scene turns to Jerusalem, where men from Babylon bring silver and gold for crowns (verses 10 and 11). The crowns are set on Joshua the high priest, who stood in filthy clothes in chapter 3 (verse 11). Then the LORD says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch” (verse 12). He will build the LORD’s temple, bear the glory and rule, and he will also be a priest on his throne (verse 13). Kings did not serve as priests in Israel, and Uzziah was struck with leprosy for trying (2 Chronicles 26 verses 16 to 21). So the Branch is a promise of one man who is both priest and king (verse 13).

How does Zechariah 6 show us that the LORD rules the whole earth, and that He promises the Branch, who will be both priest and king?

The LORD rules the whole earth through the winds He sends out.

Four chariots come out from between two mountains of bronze, with red, black, white and dappled horses (verses 1 to 3). The angel says they are the four winds of the sky (verse 5). They go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. Those that go north have quieted the LORD’s spirit in the north country (verses 6 and 8).

The LORD commands that crowns be set on Joshua the high priest.

Men had come from Babylon with silver and gold (verse 10). The LORD tells Zechariah to make crowns and set them on Joshua’s head (verse 11). Joshua is the high priest whom the LORD cleansed in chapter 3. He is crowned as a sign of the Branch, as that chapter said (Zechariah 3 verse 8).

The Branch will build the LORD’s temple and be priest and king.

The LORD says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch” (verse 12). He will build the LORD’s temple, bear the glory, and sit and rule on his throne (verse 13). He will also be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace will be between them both. Hebrews says Jesus is the high priest of His people, seated at the right hand of God’s throne (Hebrews 8 verse 1).

Memorise

Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build Yahweh’s temple;

Zechariah 6:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, why do I need Jesus as my priest and as my King?

The LORD promised a man called the Branch, who would build His temple, rule on a throne, and be a priest on that throne. Jesus is the high priest of His people, and He is also their King (Hebrews 8 verse 1). In Him priest and king are one.

A priest brings people to God, and a king rules over them. We need both, because sin cuts us off from God and we cannot rule ourselves. As priest, Jesus offered Himself on the cross for His people, and His one offering is enough. As king, He was raised from the grave, and He reigns now.

Come to Him today. Turn from your sin, and trust Jesus to be your priest and your King. Sins are forgiven for all who come to Him this way.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the priest who brings sinners to God, and the King who rules over all. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for promising a priest and king, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.

Hebrews 4:14

Lord God, thank You that You rule the whole earth. Thank You for Jesus, our great high priest and King. Please help each one of us to turn from sin and trust Him, and to bow to Him as King this week. Amen.