Crowning of the Branch
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Zechariah 5:1-11, Zechariah 6:1-15, Matthew 16:18, Galatians 3:13-14
BY Rebecca Faires
I definitely do not want my living room to be visited by a giant flying scroll. I do not want to see a shrine built to the basket o’ wickedness. And I feel quite uneasy about dappled horses patrolling north, west, east, and south. The visions God gave to Zechariah can be both creative and terrifying. They reveal how God shows kindness to His people while bringing judgment to the wicked. Puritan commentator Matthew Henry reminds us that while the pillar of fire in Egypt was a beacon of promise to Israel, it was a swirling black portent to the Egyptians.
We tend to think of judgment as only that which follows sin, but whenever God allows people to devote themselves to wickedness, that also is a judgment. God sends the basket of wickedness to Shinar—the land of Babylon—and it is placed upon a shrine to be worshiped. In other words, He is telling His people that if it’s evil and wickedness they want, they can return to Babylon. But make no mistake: there is no good thing in that basket, only wickedness. Or they can choose to stay in Judah and return to the Lord. He is coming, and He will keep His promises.
Visions and prophecies are difficult to interpret—that is one thing commentators and biblical scholars can agree on. However, one thing is clear: The Lord is the Lord of the whole earth. All the lands are His, and His ministers roam to and fro, doing His bidding. He alone is Lord and God. And that is truly comforting to His people, because He is a good God.
Zechariah looked to see what was approaching, and though the images are striking, the substance of His visions fits with what we already know of the gospel. The final image here is of the crowned priest-king who “will build the LORD’s temple; he will be clothed in splendor and will sit on his throne and rule… People who are far off will come and build the LORD’s temple, and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you (Zechariah 6:13,15). The reign of righteousness established by the Branch is a foreshadowing of Christ, the true Priest-King, who alone “fully obeys the Lord” (vv.9–15). No matter what our circumstances might look like, no matter what disappointments surround us, no matter how we’ve failed, our only hope is Christ.
36 thoughts on "Crowning of the Branch"
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My, Yours, Our, ONLY hope is in Christ Jesus! Nothing else and no one else. Only Jesus! I’m so grateful to my Jesus for what he’s done in my life, your life and our life
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Shawn Parks, unable to reply directly to your post but LOVED your response to today’s devotional.
Such a powerful message for me today.
Thank you for sharing. -
Don’t miss the crowning here! I learned this morning that priests were *NEVER* crowned. The only king who tried to be a priest (Uzziah) was stricken with sickness. These two offices had been kept separate since Israel first demanded a king. This crowning was so different, and it represents Christ. Isn’t it wonderful that He is our King, leading us in our spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6), and being the glorious King of all the earth – but also He is our priest, leading us into His presence, and building us up into a “temple” for His Spirit (1 Peter 2)? It’s such an amazing picture.
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Wow! Thank you for sharing that important insight!
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Only our God! Wow, so good.
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Yes looking up takes our minds off ourselves and helps us focus on Jesus. Thank you Jesus for taking my sin so I can be forgiven and with you forever.
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As I read this morning I am overwhelmed with the bigness (such a powerless word and yet my tongue does not have words enough to express His majesty) of our God, the One True God. I am joyful in the recognition that He has everything under control – more than I can begin to imagine He understands and puts into place.
When our hearts are heavy because it seems evil is advancing – a theft of someone’s property or reputation, lies spread and believed, pathways taken only to find, it was a trail of deceit…we could sink in the power of the evil, in it’s progression at our expense…except for God. Oh how I love Him. There will come a judgement time for those in this world apart from God – His scroll will rest upon their “house and destroy it along with its timbers and stones.”
And yet, it is only by His grace my home will not be visited – because I am sinless? No. Because I am a sinner, set free-redeemed-forgiven. My wickedness has been paid for on the cross, placed in a basket with a lead lid and removed. I am free to dwell, purified in the Temple of the LORD, His presence my home. Deserved-no. Ransomed-wholly holy in Him.
Not just today
every yesterday,
every tomorrow
He. Has. Got. This.
He. Has. Got. Us.
His Love spread arms across the cross of Calvary
God
for eternity.-
Thanks for sharing this. Such a good word. Piercing and encouraging.
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Thanks, Angie. Beautiful summary!
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Amen!!
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Amen!
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“Look up”
Noah looked up and saw a rainbow.
Elijah looked up and saw a cloud.
Abraham looked up and saw a ram.
The shepherds looked up and saw the heavenly hosts..
The magi looked up and saw a a star.
The woman looked up and saw no one left to accuse her.
Peter looked up and stepped out of the boat.
I looked up and saw Christ on the cross for my sins.
The apostles looked up and watched the Lord ascend to His father.
When we look up, God blesses us with hope. Hope we can cling to, hope we can trust, hope that will remind us of God.s power, mercy, and such great love. Our God is indeed good. He knows what we need most to make it through the struggles of this life-hope. And our hope is God.-
So good! Thank you for illuminating the hope!
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Beautifully said!
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Beautiful. Really beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing, Shawn!
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Thanks for this Shawn!
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Beautiful Shawn! That statement is a “keeper”. Thank you❣️
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Thank you Churchmouse for your words! I have my own visions and fears surrounding my new job that I have taken. Your reflection of this scripture brings me comfort as I move forward in the call that God has invited me to. No matter what surrounds us, God has a plan!
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Scroll, basket and horses. Oh my. These visions boggle the mind. Sifting through these strange and frightful visions, we do indeed see a sovereign God. Thank you, Rebecca, for keeping the main thing the main thing. No matter what swirled around Zechariah and no matter what swirls around us, God has a plan and a propose and it will not be thwarted. Justice will be served. Sin has been exposed, judgement has been pronounced and a Savior has been given. While our knees may quake before these visions, we can stand confident because of the cross. And in a day yet to come, every knee will bow.
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Amen!
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Amen!
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Amen!
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Amen!
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