July 11, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to Me 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.’” (Zechariah 3.6-7)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Did you miss it? What was promised to Joshua the High Priest?

Let’s follow the if/then template: “If you will walk in obedience to Me and keep My requirements, then…”

1. …Joshua will govern the House of the Lord (in obedience and following the requirements prescribed by God.)
2. …Joshua will have charge over the [temple] courts of God (in obedience and following the requirements prescribed by God.)
3. …Joshua will be able to “stand” among the angels of the Lord on earth who are sharing in obedience the requirements prescribed by God.

Mighty ones of God, as Joshua was appointed, anointed and ascribed to be the restored High Priest of the New Jerusalem of the Old Testament, so, too, are we the same as members of the “priesthood of all believers.” I want you to understand the implications and ramifications of what was said to those in Israel, in Jerusalem and in the Temple in the days of Joshua the High Priest. In doing so, you will begin to understand the moral, social and spiritual conflict with what happened when Israel was taken over by its new taskmasters of Rome as opposed to the old ones of Babylon and the Medes. What a disastrous page in Israel’s history, and in the history of the world, was turned when the role and rule of the caste of priests in Israel fell into the hands of sinful nations. It was bad enough when the kings of Israel became consorts of those nations and turned Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple into political prostitution. They figuratively, and somewhat literally, crawled into bed with the enemy. Strong and embarrassing language? Is it any different if you hear it from the teaching of Paul about men “hooking up” with prostitutes and profaning their vows to their wives (or future wives) as well as to God? There is little doubt as we read the book of Hosea that the image of Gomer, his wife, was to reflect the very nature and character of Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple. Hosea was called to interact with Gomer after her dalliances as God was demonstrating His will to interact with a faithless Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple.

In the days which followed the time of Joshua the High Priest who was “reappointed” by God to be High Priest in the restoration, the consummation of Israel was not by descendancy but by appointed of the political entities who ruled over Israel, Jerusalem and ultimately the Temple. God had provided from the days of Moses, the lineage of the Levites to be the priests of the Temple and lead all of Israel in the worship of God. They were to stand in stark contrast on earth to the fallen Lucifer who had been the leader of the worship with God in Heaven. Their very nature was to be holy, holy, holy. They were to be uninfluenced by the ways of humankind as determining the beliefs, their actions and their intentions. Their failure to do so as time passed contributed greatly and called for the need of prophets to speak the truth of God’s will and design to hold the priests, the kings and the people accountable to the calling by which they had been called. It was, and continues to be, a difficult line to walk. It would be impossible if not for the safety net of mercy and grace which God extends beneath us.

While the role of priests was to be filled by the descendants of Aaron, the intention was to make the office to be set aside for their singular purpose and function. Yet, when the office was corrupted and disrupted by sinful desires of those who were descendants as well as those who were the political outside influencers, God still had a plan and purpose for the office. That plan and purpose never changed. What we know as Christ followers is that Jesus Christ is our Chief High Priest (see Paul’s explanation in Hebrews 4.) Without equivocation, Jesus Christ is the God-appointed High Priest as well as king and prophet having His earthly descendancy through David. The theme of unification of kingdoms under David was not limited to bringing the confederation of tribes under one umbrella (i.e. the Northern and Southern Kingdoms). With David anointed and appointed as king, prophet and priest (an office which is viewed a bit liberally dancing before the Lord in his undergarment), the reconciling relationship was affirmed between God and humanity, in general, and Israel, in specific. This “cross-shaped” reconciliation and the confirmation of God’s people as “a light to the world” and “a witness to the nations” was always God’s intent. However, where it simply seemed to impossible a task for humanity to manifest, God did in Jesus as the Christ. The “rod and staff” of which David sang in the Shepherd’s Psalm, was bringing to light the tools of a shepherd as prophet, priest and king. They were also the precursors to the cross Jesus bore to Calvary and which we, as believers in Him, are called to carry all the days of our lives.

As members of the priesthood of all believers we have our descendancy not through Aaron and the Levitical tribe but through Christ who in His death and resurrection is put in place by God. This image is foreshadowed by what happened to Joshua the High Priest in the Old Testament. The shedding of the garment of sin, the placing of new robes on him and then the crowning with the priestly mitre were the evidences of such a move on God’s part. This is what happened with Jesus in His resurrection. It is what is promised to the faithful on the Last Day when Jesus returns to gather and unite God’s people as one on earth as it is in Heaven. Oh, what a day of rejoicing that will be.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.