THE THREE MEN

THE THREE MEN

(Zech 6: 10-15)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

There are three men mentioned in verse 10 and four men (two are different) in verse 14.  The crowns in the vision given to Zechariah are of silver and gold.  There are three crowns.  These are to be set upon the High Priest’s head. Sequentially, the focus is then turned to Jesus, the Branch.  He steps forth and Zechariah prophecies of the King-Priest Jesus Christ, His Priesthood, His Temple, His Kingdom Rule.  Then the chapter ends with a prophetic note about the last days.

Three men appear at the beginning of this vision.  God says to request gifts of  silver and gold from these three men who have gone through the captivity of Babylon and who have returned to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah.  Three men are going to give gifts to make the three crowns.  (Remember this is a vision and is symbolic of the three wise men (Kings) of the New Testament who brought gifts to Jesus). 

6: 10-11:  “Take of them of the captivity, even of Hepdai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaih, which have come from Babylon.  Go the same day to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.  Take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest.”

If we look at the names of the men whom God chose and gifted in order to provide the silver and gold (in that order) to make the crowns, first is a man of Judah, an officer (1 Chr. 27:14)) whose name means “weasel, or mole (Heldai).”  He is omitted in the reckoning of remembrance in V. 14.  Second is a fellow by the name of Tobijah:  “Yahweh is my good, my prosperity, and my enjoyment.”  He is the Levite.  Third, is Jedaiah or “Yahweh has known or had knowledge of”.   He is a head priest (Neh. 12:7).  They all assemble in the house of Josiah.  His name means “Yahweh supports.”  His name is reflective of the great King Josiah found in 11 Kings 23.

11 Kings 23:25:  “And like him was there no king before him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

Josiah followed to the letter the words of the man of God, the prophet from Samaria.  He removed any place that might be even slightly construed as a provocation to God, and slew the priests of those high places and burned their bodies on their polluted altars (11 Kings 23: 19-20).

Because Judah turned away from the Lord and allowed the state of affairs that Josiah sought to correct, Heldai of Judah was not found among those honored with crowns in Zech 6:14, though through him came an offering and sacrifice of repentance.  Dr. C. R. Oliver states that he believes the offering of Heldai cleansed Judah and made it ready for the birth of Jesus.

Silver before gold is the sequence of the offering to make the crown.  Silver and gold make wonderful combination jewelry.  Silver, however is still less prized than gold.  Why was silver chosen first, then gold?  Silver gives place to the greater element of gold.  Silver is symbolic of Faith.  Gold is symbolic of Divinity. It takes both to fulfill the prophetic destiny of the Sons of God.    Dr. Oliver states silver gives place to the greater element of gold.  This is a picture of the old system giving way to the Priesthood of the Sons of Zadok.  Then the Sons of Zadok ministry on earth will yield itself to the greater ministry of Jesus in Heaven and to his throne of power and dominion.  The King-Priests of earth will lay their crowns at the feet of the King-Priest of Heaven.

Three men give three crowns.  In his study, The Lord directed Dr. Oliver to David’s life with reference to the three crowns.  He passed through three distinct phases:

In his youth, God gave him a sense of destiny which separated him from the “system”.  He approached the giant, Goliath,  with a shepherd’s wrath against the thieving lion and bear.  Conquering these behemoths set him apart from the masses of Israel.  He could not wear “system” armor but had to depend wholly upon the Lord.  He stood in the power of God, almost unclad, before the challenger of the armies of God.  Stepping away from the cowardly methods of the “system”, he called upon the resources of heaven to give him victory.  He was crowned for that victory.  He wore that crown throughout his life in the form of reputation.

Secondly, David stood against the “system” kingship found in Saul.  With fresh anointing, he allowed God to supplant the compromised king.  He never embraced one aspect of Saul’s character.  He rejected the small “system” victories of his predecessor.  He was a mightier warrior than Saul.  The “system” has its victories, but they are nothing, compared to “God’s Victories.”  The “system” is satisfied with its thousands, but under the hand of the anointing, David slew his “tens of thousands.”  He wore the crown of King.

In the “tabernacle of David, he wore the crown of Priest.  Although he was not allowed to serve in the “glorious temple of Solomon,” he laid the ground work, prepared the way, and instilled the vision.   The three phases of David are endemic to the King-Priest ministry of Jesus Christ and His Sons.  These will know the anointing of standing alone before the enemies of God.  They understand what it is to stand alone against the “system.” and they comprehend their role in preparing the way for the Temple built by the SON.

No sooner have these crowns been placed upon the head of Joshua, than the Lord speaks, “Behold the man whose name is the Branch (v. 12).   Joshua is referred to as the son of Jehozadak “the Lord is righteous”.  The crowns represent the conquests of Jesus, the Branch.

1. Crowned as God of Heaven, as the Most High God.  He is the SON who will inherit the Kingdom.
2. He is crowned God of Earth.  The Most high has decreed that the earth will be His footstool.
3. He is crowned Lord over Death and Hell.  His death at Calvary gave him triumphant entry to the fearsome duo of death and hell.  He vanquished their kingdoms and demanded the keys.

6: 12-13:  “And speak to him, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord.  Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

Satan has looked upon these crowns with great disdain and defeat.  As the comptroller of the “system”, he has established a mockery of them.  The three-tiered crown worn by “system authorities” is his counterfeit.  Having no anointing, the crowns are placed by man’s authority.  It is silver and gold drained from the captives of Babylon, not those released from Babylon i.e. those delivered from Babylon.    The silver and gold has not been cleaned by Josiah’s hand.  The crowned authority, irrespective of his religious name, rules over a kingdom like Judah’s idolatrous temple… Their priesthood is the “Eli System,” not the Sons of Righteousness.  The Eli System produces spoiled sons who are unfit for Kingdom service. 

Because Zechariah got his message from the Lord, not the “system", he follows the instructions given him to the letter.  He is told by God to place the crowns upon Joshua and then speak directly to him.  The message to Joshua puts matters into perspective.  Although he is beautifully attired and equipped for his priesthood, he must now be taught his domain.  Just as the branch taught him in chapter three how to operate in power through he hand of the Most High God, now the Branch will teach Joshua how to rule in dominion over the arena given by God.   

Zech 6:12:  “Behold the man whose name is the branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

In the fullness of time, God raised up a Great High Priest like Joshua.  Joshua is but the figure of one that is to come, (who now has come).  Joshua is a faint shadow of Jesus. 

The very first lesson is built upon the foundation that Jesus is Lord.  The Branch is the ultimate High Priest to whom all other priests yield their ministries.  His domain is heaven and earth.  “All power in heaven and earth has been given to Him.”  Each of his chosen ministers have their domain and they receive their dominion from the Most High through Jesus, the Son. 

Joshua, wearing the crowns of dominion, has already received his assignments (engraved on the stone – Zech. 3:9), but has not yet claimed the territory.  Joshua is significant here because of his name.  The original Joshua had his orders but had to fight to establish dominion for God and His people in his assigned territory.  "Joshua the Chief Captain, a type of Christ the captain of our salvation."(M.H.)  The Sons of God are assigned spiritual dominion.  Joseph had dominion in Egypt.  Daniel had dominion of the political systems of Babylon.  Esther had dominion in the courts of her land.  Gideon took dominion over the enemies of Israel.  (All the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 established dominion)…

Connection to the Branch is the only way to have dominion as it is the only way to receive power for the ministry of the Sons.  The Branch is the focal point of Zechariah 6.  The flow from His dominion is the only authority that the King-Priest can possess.

Vs. 12:  And speak unto him saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts; saying, Behold the man whose name is the branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord..”

The branch is the ultimate King-Priest.  He is ruling from his throne.   He is the builder of the final Temple of God and He will have authority over it.  It is in New Jerusalem, the City of our God.  It is purity. 

Those who minister from this temple will be the ones that yield spiritual fruit worthy of the Kingdom of God.  Without spot of “system” or wrinkle of “aging tradition.”

Zech. 6:15:  “And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.”

These ministers seek those who are the “living stones” who build upon the foundations set forth in heaven.  So important is this Temple and its co-workers that the Lord instructs Zechariah to name four men near the end of this vision.  Two of the men are from the House of Josiah, and two are new men for the new order.  The crowns are given to the Priesthood of the Sons of the Branch.  These are the Overcomer's crown. 

Zech 6:14 “And the crowns shall be to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord.”

Helem and hen are not mentioned in Zech. 6:10.  The temple is signified in this number because the temple (the gospel church) will be constructed by the Lord.

Heb. 8: 1-2:  “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected not man.”

Helem means “to be strong, or strength.”  Hen means “favor or to show favor.”  Both apply to the “overcomer”.

Christ shall bear the glory.  Glory is a burden, but not too heavy for him to bear who upholds all things.  The cross was his glory, and he bore that; so was the crown an exceeding weight of glory, and he bears that.  That which He shall undertake, shall be indeed the glory of Israel.  Jesus has a throne, and He is both Priest and King upon his throne.  A throne denotes both dignity and dominion, an exalted honor with an extensive power.  Christ as a priest, ever lives to make intercession for us. 

Matthew 2: 1-2:  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.  Saying there is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written by the prophet, And you Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.”

Zech. 6:12b:  “and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord.  Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and he shall be a priest upon His throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Scripture from K.J.V.  Text from The Sons of Zadok, by:  C. R. Oliver, Ransom Press International, 10160 Main Drive, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135; quotes from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.  Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.