#4 — Not Only A King, But A Very Special Priest
Messiah will indeed be king, even over the entire world. But there is much more to the Messiah than his kingly rule.
He will also be a very special mediator between G-d and man, a very special priest. We see this also in the direct context of the prophecy of Zechariah which said that the Messiah will build the Temple and which we discussed above.
We also read there about the Messiah:
“He shall be priest on His throne”
Here is the context: Zechariah is instructed by G-d to take silver and gold from exiles who have returned from Babylon.
“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown and put it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest”
Such a crown belongs to a king—but strangely enough it is put on the head of the high priest!
What does this symbolic act mean?
G-d explains it immediately. The high priest Joshua (or Yeshua; cf. Ezra 5:2) is made into a picture of the coming Messiah.
Then speak to him, saying,
“Thus says HASHEM of hosts, saying:
‘Behold the Man whose name is the BRANCH![1]
From His place He shall branch out
and He shall build the temple of HASHEM;
Yes, He shall build the temple of HASHEM.
He shall bear the glory,
and shall sit and rule on His throne;
So He shall be priest on His throne,
and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Just as we see in the picture of Joshua, a priest with the ruler’s crown, so Messiah will combine in a special way both offices of king and priest.
And on whose throne is this priest-king sitting?
The BRANCH is sitting on HASHEM’s throne together with HASHEM Himself! We read that the counsel of peace shall be between them both! HASHEM and the Messiah together make and execute plans of an amazing peace.
Zechariah is not the only one who prophesies this. King David already painted the very same picture. He also depicts the Messiah sitting next to HASHEM as a very special priest.
A psalm of David
HASHEM said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
HASHEM shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of your enemies
….
HASHEM has sworn and will not relent,
“You are priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Just like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18), Messiah will combine the offices of priest and king—and that eternally at G-d’s right hand!
But what will the Messiah the eternal priest do? In Jeremiah 30 G-d says this about Messiah:
I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me,
for who would dare of himself to approach me?” declares HASHEM.
To draw near to G-d, to approach Him, is what the priests had to do on behalf of the people in order to intercede for them. Messiah will do this too in a special way.
This prophecy stands out even more as we take into account what we read earlier in the book of Jeremiah.
“Though Moses and Samuel stood before yet my heart would not turn to this people”
Yet now G-d’s heart does turn to his people! Messiah is greater than Moses and Samuel together.
And what is the result of Messiah’s intercession?
Renewal of G-d’s covenant with Israel!
G-d says: He shall approach me…and you shall be my people and I will be your G-d (Jeremiah 30:21-22). There will be a new covenant based on forgiveness of sins (Jeremiah 31:31-34). G-d will dwell among his people. Heaven and earth will be reunited.
[1] Branch, צמך is one of the names of the Messiah. This name indicates he is the special descendant of David whom G-d promised to give. G-d said through Jeremiah, “Behold the days are coming that I will raise to David a righteous branch” (Jeremiah 23:5, Compare also 2 Samuel 23:5 and Psalm 132:17).