Focus
Take time to rest in the comfort of the Lord today.
Read
The Coronation of the Branch
9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Collect silver and gold from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah—who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 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 say to him: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch, for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord; he shall bear royal honor and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them. 14 And the crown shall be in the care of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.
15 “Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Reflect
The prophet Zechariah dreamed of a day when God would restore what had been lost to the people of Israel. The Temple presently in ruins would be rebuilt. The remaining exiles in Babylon and elsewhere would be brought back to the homeland. Both a king from David’s line and a high priest to maintain worship would resume leadership and work in harmony with one another. The holy nation reconstituted! This dream wasn’t a possession of the prophet, but a promise from God. And a crown was a visible sign of that promise.
They could not know then what we know now, that the crown was made of thorns instead of silver and gold. They could not know that the One who would wear it was both king and high priest in one person who was victorious not through the exercise of royal power, but by dying and rising. They could not know that the rebuilt Temple would not be a building, but a people made one in the body of Christ. And they could not know that the people made one would include not only exiles, but the enemy Gentiles, too.
God dreams, and we get glimpses of God’s vision for the world. But, the exact form of the future remains a mystery to us. Faith includes believing in God’s promises for the future, but also the humility to admit we can’t and don’t know everything. Surprises, gracious surprises, are ahead.
Pray
Loving God, thank you for not leaving us hopeless about our fate or the fate of the world. But as we celebrate your glorious promises, help us to stay open to how you fulfill them, which may surprise us. Amen.
Go with God!
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