THE GATES OF OLD

“LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O GATES, AND BE LIFTED UP, O ANCIENT DOORS, THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN!  WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY?  THE LORD STRONG AND MIGHTY, THE LORD MIGHTY IN BATTLE.” PSALM 24:7-8

Nehemiah in the Old Testament is best known for his leadership in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  In today’s world, we live in cities without walls, but in ancient days, a strong city had fortified walls as a main line of defense.  Large doors and passageways were placed in the walls that could be guarded, protected and locked.  When open, commerce flowed in and out of the city through the gates.  Legal matters were resolved at the gates of a city. Prophets proclaimed God’s judgment to the nations.  Criminals were taken outside of the gates to be punished.

At the time of Nehemiah, the Israelites were living in exile and slavery, scattered throughout the Persian Empire.  Nehemiah received a report that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, which signified great disgrace to the Israelites. For Nehemiah, the news caused him to weep and mourn, to fast and pray for days on end. But then, through a miraculous sequence of events, King Artaxerxes not only gave Nehemiah permission to travel back to Jerusalem but also funded the project and gave him protection for travel.  Nehemiah and his fellow Israelites rebuilt the walls within 52 days, despite much opposition.

Hidden within this story of the physical rebuilding of the walls is a story of spiritual rebuilding for believers.  There are many lessons to be learned, including building up what has been torn down in our lives and creating healthy boundaries in our relationships. But within the story of the walls is another story: the rebuilding of the gates to the city.  When you examine closely the account in Nehemiah 3, you realize that God’s word has a beautiful parallel of the doorways to our lives and what we allow to flow in and out of the gates to our hearts as we walk with Christ.

It says in Psalm 87:2-3: “The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.”  Let us examine together the significance of the gates in our lives.

THE SHEEP GATE.  This gate represents Jesus Christ. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)  Just as sheep were brought through this gate to be sacrificed at the temple, Jesus became our sacrifice on the cross, the atonement for our sins.  Once and forever more His death and resurrection has reconciled us to God. Next to the Sheep Gate sits the Tower of Hananel, which means “God’s mercy”.  We do not deserve His unmerited favor. Then next to it is the Tower of Ne’ah, which means “one hundred”.  Jesus told a parable in Luke 15:3-7 of a shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to go find the one lost sheep, and when he returns with it, there is great rejoicing.  God does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. “The sheep follow Him because they know His voice.” (John 10:4)

This gate was the only gate consecrated and hung by the Jewish priests.  To consecrate means “to recognize as something special, set apart for God’s glory.”

Application:  Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If you have not, Jesus declares, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

THE FISH GATE.  This gate represents that we are to be witnesses.  Someone told us the good news of Jesus Christ that led us to salvation.  The scales came off of our eyes and we believed. Now we are to tell others of the same hope that is in us. “And He said to them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) The Fish Gate was literally where fishermen brought their fish to market from the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.  Isn't it interesting that four of the twelve disciples were fishermen casting their nets on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called them into ministry?  And just as it was brothers who were rebuilding this gate during Nehemiah’s time, it was 2 sets of brothers who left their boats to follow Jesus. God created us for fellowship and to go tell others  with our brothers and sisters in Christ by our side. “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.” (Luke 10:1)

Application: Does your life speak about Jesus, both with words and with action? Are you in the marketplace getting to know those who have not heard of the love of Christ? Are you part of a band of brothers that has an abiding love for those without hope?

THE OLD GATE. This gate represents our heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days.   Holy, perfect and complete.   Filled with loving kindness and truth with no beginning and no end.  “Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.” (Psalm 93:2) The first builder of the gate was Joiada.  His name means “Yahweh knows.”  Our heavenly Father knows us and is intimately acquainted with all of our ways.  The second builder’s name is Paseah, which means “counsel of the Lord.”  Are you seeking the counsel of the Lord who knows everything about you? Later in the book of Nehemiah, both of these men will stand alongside Ezra to read and explain His written word to the people so they could understand God more fully.

Application:  Are you growing and being rooted in Him more and more each day through His Word? Do you “stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it?” (Jeremiah 6:16)

THE VALLEY GATE.  This gate represents humility.  “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)  Are you exercising a humble heart or demanding your own way?  Are you following the Good Shepherd in obedience and faith no matter what the circumstances?  Valleys in the Bible also represent trials. You can praise God and trust Him in the difficulties, when you have been brought low and been broken, because you can choose to trust Him no matter what the physical eyes can see, but instead what  the eyes of faith believe.   

Application:  Is your heart humble before the Lord? Are you allowing suffering to produce righteousness in your life?  Are you trusting Him by faith?

THE REFUSE GATE. This gates represents confession.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)  The primary Greek word for confess is ‘homologeo’ which means ‘to say the same thing’ and then ‘agree, admit, acknowledge.” Confession is simply agreeing with God that what you have done is wrong in His eyes and aligning our character to His character.

Application: Are you humbling yourself and confessing your sins to Almighty God?  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.” (Psalm 51:10)

THE FOUNTAIN GATE. This gate represents the Holy Spirit, “the river of life in us.” (John 4:14)  He is alive and active in us to guide and direct our footsteps and to complete the work that was begun in us. Historically the Pool of Siloach was located at this gate.  Fresh, clean water flowed from this pool to  the city through Hezekiah’s tunnel. This water was called “mayhim chayim” which translates “living water”.

Application:  Are you quenching the Spirit in our lives? Or are you allowing the living water to flow freely through your life?  It says in Revelation 21:6: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”

THE WATER GATE.  This gate represents the Word of God.  When Ezra and the priests read the Law to the Israelites later in the book of Nehemiah, they did not stand at the Temple but instead in front of  the Water Gate.  “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” (Ephesians 5:25-26)  After hearing God’s word read and explained to them by the priests, the Israelites worshipped, confessed, wept, and then rejoiced and recommitted themselves to becoming His people once again.  Next to the Water Gate is the Gate of Ephraim, which means “doubly fruitful.”  When you are putting God’s word into practice, you are doubly blessed.

Application: Are you daily pouring over His Word and growing in Him?  To study His Word is to grow in Christ, because “His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19: 13)

THE HORSE GATE.  This gate represents spiritual warfare. In the ancient world the horse was only used for one purpose: battle.  It either carried a warrior on its back or pulled a chariot.  Nothing else.  We are instructed to “put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”  (Ephesians 6:11)

Application:  Do you know you are in a spiritual battle?  Have you put on your armor for the day: the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit? 

THE EAST GATE. This gate represents Hope—expectancy--Christ’s return.  And when He does return, the 12 gates to the city of Jerusalem will never be closed again. (Revelation 21:25)

Application: Are you looking for Jesus to return, even today?  “For this reason you also must be ready: for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Matthew 24:44)

THE JUDGMENT GATE. This gate represents inspection or examination.  What are the motives of your heart?  Are you allowing God to search your heart for a clear conscience, pure heart, and right motive?  Ultimately “we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10) and receive the crown of life, but daily are you allowing Him to also inspect our hearts?

Application: Are you accountable today before the Lord for your motives and actions? “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2)

How about you? Your heart is God’s temple and in and out of your city gates flows life everlasting.  Have you neglected a gate in your life and it needs repair? To repair is the word “chazaq” which means “strengthening, encouraging or making something strong.”  It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints, which means “to prepare, strengthen, and make something able to be used.” Inspect your heart daily and do the same as in the days of Nehemiah: they saw what needed to be done and “put their hands to the good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18)