The king and priests were chosen by God as the instruments through which his covenant graces were to be mediated to his people. The priesthood as instituted by God was connected to the temple, but with the destruction of the temple and its services it had no function anymore.1 They were not only dismissed because of their uselessness, but also rejected because of their misconduct and sin.
Reference to the king in connection with the priests shows the close connection that existed between the royalty, the priests and temple. The king was a prominent figure in the celebration of the feasts. As head and representative of the people he paid homage to God and brought them the blessing of God (see 2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Kings 8:14, 1 Kings 8:55, 1 Kings 8:62; 1 Kings 9:24; 1 Chronicles 29:10; 2 Chronicles 1:6; Ezekiel 46:1–2). There was an intimate connection between the king and the temple due to God’s promises to David (see 2 Samuel 7:12). The existence of the temple was a sign of the continuation of the kingdom of David. On the other hand, the destruction of the temple served as a sign of the rejection of the king. God, now it seemed, has rejected the royal family of David as well as the priesthood.2
6 He has laid waste his booth like a garden, laid in ruins his meeting place; the LORD has made Zion forget festival and Sabbath, and in his fierce indignation has spurned king and priest.