Pray the word with David Platt as a resource from Radical.net.

2 Chronicles chapter 24 verse 2.

And Joe Ash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jeholyada, the priest.

This is a really interesting picture.

The King, Joe Ash, was doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord during the days of Jeholyada,

the priest. But when you read the rest of the story, as soon as the priest died, Jeholyada,

and the King, Joe Ash, turned away. And you see, in 2 Chronicles 24 here, the need among God's

people for both a priest who is glorifying God and a king who is glorifying God, a priest who is

obeying the Word of God and a king who is obeying the Word of God. And the prosperity that brings

among God's people in the Old Testament when both priest and King are glorifying God. And this

is a picture that really helps set the stage for the coming of Jesus in the New Testament.

What we celebrate at Christmas, the reality is, Jesus is both the perfect priest and the perfect

king. Jesus is the perfect priest, greater than any great high priest, because he had no sin in

his life to offer any sacrifice for. He is the perfect intercessor between sinful, women and men

and a holy God. Jesus stands as our great high priest whose blood covers over our sin. He is the

perfect priest and he is the perfect king. He rules with justice and righteousness. He reigns

perfectly with holiness. Oh, this is one of those places in the Old Testament that just increases

our appetite as we're reading through the Old Testament for a perfect priest and a perfect

king to come. And the good news we celebrate when we get to the New Testament, the good news we

celebrate at Christmas is that this priest, this king has come. And so we praise him, Jesus.

There is none like you. You are the one who all of history before you was waiting for.

The one whom all of history since you came is looking back toward and the one whom all of your

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