1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains mountains of bronze.
2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,
3 the third white, and the fourth dappled all of them powerful.
4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.
6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”
9 The word of the Lord came to me:
10 “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.
11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.
12 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.
13 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.’
14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.
15 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.”

Reflection

Branch, King, and Priest (6:1–15)
Zechariah sees four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze and learns from the angel that they are spirits of heaven going out to the four corners of the world. Special attention is given to those going north to unleash God’s judgment on Babylon, predicting the conquest of the Babylonians by the Persians, which allowed God’s people to return home from captivity. Babylon is often referenced metaphorically in the New Testament to represent a place that is sinful and opposed to God. And God promises that one day a Branch will come and rule as king and priest. These promises are ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The restoration that began with the rescue of God’s people from Babylon culminates on the cross, where God rescued His people from sin. The prophetic messages of judgment and mercy converge on the cross. Jesus satisfied God’s judgment and expresses His mercy, now available to all who will believe.

- Meditate on the differences and similarities between the Jews being rescued from Babylon and our rescue from sin through Jesus. What are some ways in which Jesus is both a king and a priest? 

A letter to God 

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the Branch—our King and Priest. Because of You, we have become temples where the Holy Spirit dwells. Help us to be faithful in each role You have given us. In Your name, amen.

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