May the mumbling commence!
The prophet Zechariah, in chapter 3, introduces us to the high priest Joshua. Read the entire chapter below:
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the Lord Almighty."
Now, read a little later from Zechariah where he speaks of Joshua again:
The word of the Lord came to me: "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. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. 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. 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.' The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 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." (6:9-15)
The Lord rebuked Satan for standing at the side of the high priest Joshua to accuse him. The Lord supplied new clothes and a clean turban. The Lord did not intimate that Joshua had done no wrong. In fact, the Lord told Joshua if he will walk in the ways and commands of the Lord, then he will govern the house of the Lord. Joshua would be both priest and king. And the Lord told Joshua that He would bring His servant the Branch.
The next passage from Zechariah seems to say that Joshua is that Branch. The crown is placed on Joshua’s head. But note that the crown was to be placed in the care of others, who would put it for safe keeping in the Temple of the Lord. To keep it safe for the true Branch to take it up.
I think it much more than a coincidence that the high priest’s name is Joshua. The name connects him to the Joshua who lead Israel into the Promised Land. The name also foreshadows Jesus, whose name is a derivative of Joshua. Jesus is the One who will lead us into the Promised Land of heaven. He will be not only high priest and king, but he will also be prophet. Jesus is Prophet and Priest and King. We have need of no other. Jesus is the Branch.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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