Zechariah 6:14. "And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah the son of Zephaniah." Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah were returning exiles who the Lord told Zachariah to send to Josiah to collect from him silver and gold to make a crown. That crown they were to set "upon the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest." (Zedekiah 6: 10-11). Joshua, God promises, will rebuild the temple during his reign and will govern peacefully with a priest by his side. (Zedekiah 6: 13)

Unlike yesterday, today God has chosen a not-so-surprising instrument. He is choosing Joshua, the son of the high priest, to be king and to rebuild his temple. Still, though, I wonder how well known Joshua really was. He was probably just the son of the high priest and not given much regard until God sent His messengers to crown him. And it is those messengers who God says will be reminded by the crown being in the temple. Reminded of what? Of the proper relationship between God, His people, and their king.

God is reestablishing his people in their rightful place; He is rebuilding His temple; and He is reestablishing rightful kingship. The king, the son of a high priest, will be in the temple with a priest by his side, showing the proper relationship between kingly authority and God - Israel's kings should always serve at the will of God and in cooperation with His priests. This is really a reminder to all God's people, but because Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah had a hand in the making of the crown, they serve as examples for all the returning exiles.

All are to remember these words of God and notice, when the temple is rebuilt and Joshua is reigning, that God's word is true. Then they will remember their proper relationship with God, established long before the exile, and exemplified by the king and crown being in the temple, in right relationship with Him.