Going through the Gates
Posted: April 2, 2009 by stevie
I heard pastor saying that Nehemiah 3 was possibly one of the most difficult chapter to read because of its names and such. I’ll have to disagree there, because any chapter in the bible with names like Tower of the Hundred, Tower of the Ovens, House of the Heroes, Pool of Siloam has got my attention. I used to read fantasy books when I was younger and was constantly fascinated with all these exotic sounding names. It makes you wonder, wow, how did they get their names? What happened? How did it look like?
Overall, in chapter 3, the word ‘Gate’ was mentioned more than 10 times. There were 10 gates to note in Chapter 3 and in many ways, it might reference to something symbolic. This is an interesting way to look at these gates one by one:
The Gate Symbols
The Sheep Gate: The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are crucified with Christ unto the world, and the world is crucified unto us. This is the gate that must be kept in repair if you want to grow into a strong Christian.
The Fish gate: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” {Matt 4:19 KJV}. Throughout the Old Testament fishing is a symbol of witnessing to others, of the necessity of acknowledging that you belong to Christ. You witness by your words and actions.
The Old Gate: That is because truth remains the same throughout the centuries. Truth never changes. So this gate calls us back to the basics of life, back to the time-tested paths that have led to stability, security, and order.
Valley Gate: A valley in Scripture always represents humility and the judgment of conceit in our lives. John Stott calls humility “that rarest and fairest of Christian virtues.” If pride is the ultimate sin, then humility, its opposite, is the ultimate virtue. Peter tells us, “God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble,
The world applauds pride. It tries to make every individual feel capable of handling anything that comes. It even applauds arrogance. But God applauds humility. This is the first lesson in the school of the Spirit. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest to your soul,” {cf, Matt 11:29}. One of the reasons why many people are so restless today is that they have never learned to be humble to be meek and lowly of heart.
Dung Gate: It is the gate of elimination, the gate where all the rubbish and corrupt things in the city were brought to the garbage dump in the Hinnom Valley, outside Jerusalem.
It is necessary to have an elimination gate in our lives as well. Paul urges us, “Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit,” {cf, 2 Cor 7:1}. One of the reasons many people are unable to function as God wants is because they seldom use the Dung Gate. They do not deal with their secret sin, with private corruption in their own lives. Jesus warned that doing so may be very painful. He said it may be like cutting off an arm or plucking out an eye. But it is something that has to be done or otherwise it leads to ruin.
Fountain Gate: So here is the Spirit-filled life, overflowing to others. As the Apostle Paul said, “Keep being filled with the Spirit,” {cf, Eph 5:18}. You will notice it comes immediately after the Dung Gate. After the corruption is cleansed away by the consent of the believer, then the cleansing of the Spirit washes clean.
Water Gate: Water, in Scripture, is the symbol of the Word of God. This is the gate that reminds us of our need for the Word of God. The interesting thing about this account is that they did not repair the Water Gate. It did not need repair. The Word of God never needs improvement or repair for it lasts forever. It is indestructible. What it needs is to be re-inhabited.
Horse Gate: This is the gate that reminds us that we are not on a picnic: We are not on a Caribbean cruise. We are on a battlefield! We are going to be under attack. We are going to be assaulted by surprising events.
There is much joy in the Christian life, but it will not always be without struggle. Everybody is going to face battle. We need to be alert to the fact of spiritual warfare.
East Gate: It is on the eastern side, opposite the temple area and facing the rising sun. Thus, it is the gate that speaks of hope and expectation. It is the gate through which the returned Messiah will enter the city of Jerusalem.
What does the East Gate tell us? It tells us that God has yet a glory awaiting those who trust him. The story of life does not end in despair and tragedy. Jesus said to his disciples, “When you see all these things coming to pass, lift up your heads and rejoice, for your redemption is drawing near,” {cf, Luke 21:28}. We ought to be like tea kettles — even when they are up to their necks in hot water, they are still singing!
Inspection Gate: The word in Hebrew means “the appointed place.” If you are familiar with the book of Hebrews, in the New Testament, you will recall 9:27, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment” {Heb 9:27 KJV} — the inspection!
It is a reminder that we must give an account of our journey: We must learn at last the truth about our lives as God sees it. We will see all that has happened, exactly the way it really was.
Then at the end of the chapter we come again to the Sheep Gate, where we began. The Sheep Gate stands for the cross and the cross must be at the beginning and at the end of our lives. Undergirding everything is this principle, out of death comes life. Out of the subjection of our natural desires to the will of God comes the life of God filling us full and blessing our hearts.
Tags:cell notes
May 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Ten main gates, with unrelated names.
They didn’t just guard the city,
But they kept a story.
A story of salvation,
Revealing God’s bountiful grace.
The first gate was called the Sheep Gate,
Representing the believers, for it is written:
” He calls His sheep by name”
” My sheep hears my voice”
” I am the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep”
Hear ye, O sheep!
The second one was named the Fish Gate.
It represents souls that have yet to be saved.
Imagine the ” kingdom of heaven like a dragnet,
Cast into the sea and gathered in fish of every kind”
So follow Him , as He makes us ” fishers of men” !
Hear ye, O Sheep,
Go gather in fish!
The third was the Old Gate.
Pointing out a crystal clear fact that man have tested and tried.
Indeed by the old covenant, we cannot be saved.
For our good works is as filthy rags,
And not by good works do we enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore Christ has done away with our old ways,
Our old man was crucified with Him,
Old things have passed away,
All things now made new
He has made us a new creation.
So sheep,
Go gather fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with.
We then come to the fourth, the Valley Gate.
A picture of gloom, darkness and death.
Just as Ezekiel had seen a valley full of dry bones
And the backsliding daughter who boasted in the valleys.
But hope is not gone,
Remember King David’s psalm.
” Though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
You rod and Your staff,
they comfort me ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with
Let the Word of God deliver them from the valley.
The name of the fifth was Refuse Gate
To be accurate, known as the Dung Gate.
Time to get rid of incorrect belief systems,
Time to vomit and PURGE OUT every stronghold of sin.
SIN..
just that ONE SIN -Disbelief.
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities ( dung! ) Purge out disbelief!
Fountain Gate is the sixth,
Bringing a message of joy just sprouting out,
For the Lord is ” the fountain of living waters “,
Who Himself will ” open fountains in the midst of the valleys.”
” Drink of this water…and never again thirst”
For in this ” fountain of life..we see light” .
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life. THE fountain of life!
They then repaired the seventh gate, the Water Gate.
By now you sheep should know,
Water always represents the Word of God.
Of which we are constantly drinking,
By which we are constantly
Cleansed,
Refreshed,
Sanctified,
Strengthened.
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
The eighth one is called Horse Gate,
Symbolizing the Great Tribulation and Second Coming of the Lord,
John on Patmos Island had seen in a vision,
The future which is yet to come.
After the much awaited rapture,
Four different horses with their riders will be send down to earth,
In sequence.
A white horse, its rider on in went out conquering and to conquer.
A fiery red horse, its rider set out to take peace and allow murder.
A black horse, its rider causing famine on the whole world.
And a pale horse, whose rider was named Death, and Hades followed him.
But one day later, it shall come to pass,
That the heavens will open and the whole world will see,
A white horse on which was HE who was called Faithful and True,
Who will judge in righteousness.
Whose robe and thigh has a name written :
” KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
The East Gate is set as the ninth,
The direction in which people ran away from God.
West to east, west to east,
Eastward went Cain, Lot, and Abraham’s concubines away from Isaac.
But God will restore in reverse manner,
” As lighting strikes from the east and flashes to the west,
So also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
For very soon the Lord will come through this same East Gate.
Last but certainly not least,
The tenth,
Miphkad Gate.
The one that connects to the Upper Room,
Where He once partook the Last Supper with His disciples.
Now two thousand years later,
He will come back to this room
Remember His words ..
” Wait until I drink anew with you in my father’s kingdom.”
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven!!
Amen!!!
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
For very soon the Lord will come through this same East Gate.
And we will partake with Him again!
May 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
This is my version or understanding of the gates of Nehemiah 3 :
Ten main gates, with unrelated names.
They didn’t just guard the city,
But they kept a story.
A story of salvation,
Revealing God’s bountiful grace.
The first gate was called the Sheep Gate,
Representing the believers, for it is written:
” He calls His sheep by name”
” My sheep hears my voice”
” I am the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep”
Hear ye, O sheep!
The second one was named the Fish Gate.
It represents souls that have yet to be saved.
Imagine the ” kingdom of heaven like a dragnet,
Cast into the sea and gathered in fish of every kind”
So follow Him , as He makes us ” fishers of men” !
Hear ye, O Sheep,
Go gather in fish!
The third was the Old Gate.
Pointing out a crystal clear fact that man have tested and tried.
Indeed by the old covenant, we cannot be saved.
For our good works is as filthy rags,
And not by good works do we enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore Christ has done away with our old ways,
Our old man was crucified with Him,
Old things have passed away,
All things now made new
He has made us a new creation.
So sheep,
Go gather fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with.
We then come to the fourth, the Valley Gate.
A picture of gloom, darkness and death.
Just as Ezekiel had seen a valley full of dry bones
And the backsliding daughter who boasted in the valleys.
But hope is not gone,
Remember King David’s psalm.
” Though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
You rod and Your staff,
they comfort me ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with
Let the Word of God deliver them from the valley.
The name of the fifth was Refuse Gate
To be accurate, known as the Dung Gate.
Time to get rid of incorrect belief systems,
Time to vomit and PURGE OUT every stronghold of sin.
SIN..
just that ONE SIN -Disbelief.
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities ( dung! ) Purge out disbelief!
Fountain Gate is the sixth,
Bringing a message of joy just sprouting out,
For the Lord is ” the fountain of living waters “,
Who Himself will ” open fountains in the midst of the valleys.”
” Drink of this water…and never again thirst”
For in this ” fountain of life..we see light” .
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life. THE fountain of life!
They then repaired the seventh gate, the Water Gate.
By now you sheep should know,
Water always represents the Word of God.
Of which we are constantly drinking,
By which we are constantly
Cleansed,
Refreshed,
Sanctified,
Strengthened.
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
The eighth one is called Horse Gate,
Symbolizing the Great Tribulation and Second Coming of the Lord,
John on Patmos Island had seen in a vision,
The future which is yet to come.
After the much awaited rapture,
Four different horses with their riders will be send down to earth,
In sequence.
A white horse, its rider on in went out conquering and to conquer.
A fiery red horse, its rider set out to take peace and allow murder.
A black horse, its rider causing famine on the whole world.
And a pale horse, whose rider was named Death, and Hades followed him.
But one day later, it shall come to pass,
That the heavens will open and the whole world will see,
A white horse on which was HE who was called Faithful and True,
Who will judge in righteousness.
Whose robe and thigh has a name written :
” KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
The East Gate is set as the ninth,
The direction in which people ran away from God.
West to east, west to east,
Eastward went Cain, Lot, and Abraham’s concubines away from Isaac.
But God will restore in reverse manner,
” As lighting strikes from the east and flashes to the west,
So also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ”
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
For very soon the Lord will come through this same East Gate.
Last but certainly not least,
The tenth,
Miphkad Gate.
The one that connects to the Upper Room,
Where He once partook the Last Supper with His disciples.
Now two thousand years later,
He will come back to this room
Remember His words ..
” Wait until I drink anew with you in my father’s kingdom.”
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven!!
Amen!!!
So sheep,
Go gather in fish,
Teach them that the old has been done away with,
Let the Word of God deliver from the valley,
Purge out all impurities,
Provide them a fountain of life,
Refresh them with water, the Word of God.
Keep the faith as we wait for the Day of the Lord.
For very soon the Lord will come through this same East Gate.
And we will partake with Him again!