ZECHARIAH 6:9-15 - THE CROWNING OF JOSHUA

THE HIGH PRIEST WITH A CROWN OF GOLD
DEFIES ALL LOGIC AS TO BOLD!
THERE WAS NO PRESCIENCE BEFORE
AND ISRAEL'S KING REIGNED THERE NO MORE.

SO WHY DO PRIEST AND KING COMBINE
IN THIS LAST ACT TO INTERTWINE?
THE PROPS WERE SET TO ILLUSTRATE
GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE UNHEARD OF YET.

AS ZECHARIAH WALKS ON STAGE
THE LORD INVITES HIM TO ENGAGE
THE BAND OF POST EXILIC MEN
WITH GIFTS OF GOLD THE TEMPLE MEND.

GOD DRAWS A PICTURE OF THE TWO
THE HIGH PRIEST REPRESENTS THE JEW
THE KING IS CROWNED AS SOVEREIGN HEAD
OF BOTH THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

THE CROWN ON JOSHUA WAS A SIGN
THE BRANCH FROM DAVID'S ROYAL LINE
WILL RULE THE WORLD FROM ZION'S HILL
AS KING OF KINGS VICTORIOUS STILL.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. AS YOU COMPARE JOSHUA IN CHAPTER 3 WITH THIS CHAPTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD WAS TRYING TO TEACH? WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?
2. WHY WAS THE GOLD CROWN PLACED ON JOSHUA INSTEAD OF GOVERNOR ZERUBABBEL? WASN'T THIS A CONTRADICTION OF JEWISH LAW? EXPLAIN!
3. THE TEXT IS FURTHER WRAPPED IN MYSTERY BY STATING THAT HE WOULD BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. EARLIER WE WERE TOLD THAT ZERUBABBEL WOULD DO IT (4:8-10)? HOW SHOULD WE RESOLVE THIS SEEMING CONTRADICTION?
4. VERSE 13 IDENTIFIES JOSHUA AS "THE BRANCH." WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOL REPRESENT (NOTE 3:8-9)? CAN YOU NOW BEGIN TO SEE WHERE THIS IS LEADING AND WHY THIS "BRANCH" CAN ASSUME THE TITLE OF BOTH HIGH PRIEST AND KING?
5. IN VERSES 14 AND 15, THE CROWN IS TO BE PLACED IN THE TEMPLE AS A MEMORIAL! HOW WOULD THE JEWS UNDERSTAND THIS REQUEST? WHAT FUTURE PROPHETIC VIEW WAS INTENDED AND WHEN WILL IT BE FULFILLED?

Zachariah 3:1-10 - CLEAN GARMENTS FOR THE HIGH PRIEST

A COURTROOM SCENE COMES INTO VIEW
THE HIGH PRIEST STANDS BEFORE THE LORD
HIS FILTHY CLOTHES OF NATIONAL SHAME
HAS GIVEN RISE TO SATAN'S BLAME.

A SUDDEN HUSH FILLS ALL THE ROOM
THE VERDICT'S WORD REVEALS THEIR GUILT
A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE MUST NOW DEMAND
THE FULL EXTENT THE LAWS COMMAND.

IN THEIR DEFENCE GOD TAKES HIS PLACE
AND SHOWS A LAMB TO FILL THEIR SPACE
THEN HE REBUKES THE SERPENT'S HEAD
BY LIFTING JUDAH FROM THE DEAD.

"REMOVE THOSE FILTHY GARMENTS NOW
FOR JOSHUA STANDS ON HOLY GROUND
I HAVE FORGIVEN ISRAEL'S SIN
AND FOR THEIR SAKE I WILL BE KING!"

THE PICTURE JOSHUA ILLUSTRATES
WITH EXCREMENT UPON HIS ROBES
REFLECTS IDOLATRY AND PRIDE
THAT JUDAH'S NATIONAL GUILT IMPLIED.

THE CALL WENT FORTH FOR ALL TO HEED
TO CLEANSE THEIR LIVES FROM EVIL DEED
SO WHEN THE TEMPLE WAS COMPLETE
ALL PRAISE WOULD CROWN HIS MERCY SEAT.

THEN JOSHUA AND HIS FELLOW PRIESTS
SYMBOLIC OF EMANUEL'S BRANCH
WILL BE A NATION BORN TO REIGN
THROUGHOUT MESSIAH'S WORLD DOMAIN.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. THE COURT ROOM SCENE FINDS JOSHUA REPRESENTING ISRAEL AS THEIR HIGH PRIEST WHILE STANDING BEFORE THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. WHAT PICTURE WAS MEANT IN JOSHUA'S FILTHY GARMENTS?

2. WHAT MEANING IS IMPLIED IN VERSE 2 Yahweh STATES: "iS NOT THIS MAN A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE??

3. iN WHAT WAYS DO VERSES 1-4 PARALLEL GOD'S DEALING IN GRACE WITH US TODAY/ WHAT ASSURANCE AND HOPE DOES IT GIVE US?

4. WHAT DO CLEAN GARMENTS AND A CLEAN TURBAN ON JOSHUA'S HEAD REPRESENT FOR ISRAEL'S PRESENT AND FUTURE? NOTE A SIMILAR PICTURE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH TODAY FROM 1 PETER 5:4; 2 TIMOTHY 4:8; AND REVELATION 2:10.

5. WHO IS SYMBOLIZED BY THE BRANCH? WHAT DO THE SEVEN EYES ON A STONE REPRESENT? AND, WHEN IS THE TIME YAHWEH REMOVES "THE GUILT OF THIS LAND IN A SINGLE DAY? (VS.8-10)