Repairing Gates

O. T. #1044  "Repairing Gates"
August 17, 2017
Nehemiah 3


LET IT GLOW

Get out of my way. We are going to work.  God's with us in this.  By the way, you will have no part in it. Don't even try it. Nehemiah was bold, wasn't he? He had to keep those men who ridiculed the rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and the gates from discouraging the workers. In this chapter, 75 names of people are mentioned and at least 15 groups who were workers. Nehemiah knew their names and where they worked as he recorded this.

The ten gates tell us  story of the gospel, according to J. Vernon McGee. They are:

1. Sheep Gate
2. Fish Gate
3. Old Gate
4. Valley Gate
5. Dung Gate
6. Goat of the Fountain
7. Water Gate
8. Horse Gate
9. East Gate
10. Gate Miphkad

These obscure names and unknown places meant something to the people of that time. Their accomplishments were honored as their names were recorded in this chapter. It only took 52 days for the gates and wall to be rebuilt, so the workers got right to work. Keep in mind, the wall around Jerusalem was separated form the one around the Temple area. That inner one is where the gates were rebuilt.

Do we have any gates in our spiritual life that need repaired? How about our relationships, worship, faith, obedience, faithfulness, love?


LET IT GROW

How do those gates illustrate God's plan of salvation?

Sheep Gate

• The priests built the sheep gate. (Eliashib was the grandson of Jeshua the high priest in Zerubbabel's era.)
• They sanctified it unto God.
• Doors were set up on it.
• They dedicated the Tower of the Hundred and Tower of Hananel. (Its location was found by moving counterclockwise on the map. The area opened up to the Benjamin plateau where the enemies could easily attack.)
• Men of Jericho built next to the Jews.

This gate as located on the north side of the Temple. There were no barriers, such as a hill or lookout towers. That is why they built the two towers. Now we can see the importance of this are being repaired first.
It was through the Sheep Gate that the animals for sacrifice were brought to the Temple. Obviously, that is how it got its name. Jesus would have entered the Temple area through he Sheep Gate, illustrating  Him being the sacrificial lamb of which John 1:29 speaks. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

The Sheep Gate symbolizes the Cross of Christ. It is at the cross where we begin our relationship with God. He was the perfect sacrificial Lamb who took our place in paying for our sins. What will we do with Jesus? Will we believe He is the Son of God and Risen Savior? Will we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and be our Savior? Or will we reject Him?

McGee talked about this after his visit, "If you came around the Mount of Olives on the road to Jericho, you would be at the place where these men worked. The pinnacle of the Temple and the Temple area is at that spot."

Are we using our gifts, abilities, and resources to build up the people of God? To further the Kingdom of God?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for being my Sacrificial Lamb.