NEHEMIAH 3
In this chapter, Nehemiah starts to rebuild the wall, and each wall is described in this chapter, which also represents the spiritual walls we have to rebuild in our lives. Having a spiritual wall doesnt mean that we have to keep people out, or placing a barrier from other people, but it is to protect our spirits from the attacks of the enemy, it is to allow the grace of the Lord to freely flow in, and allow spiritual growth. It is to allow the dung in our lives be washed away by the blood of the lamb. As we study each of the gates, it really does show us that we need this wall, not in response to religion, but it is necessary for our walk to grow. We discovered that when the Wall was destroyed people were living in fear and anxiety, and Nehemiah's heart broke for the city, which is why he really sought the Lord to rebuild the wall. When we sinned, when the enemy attacked our walls, we lived in constant fear, and distress, we became a slave to that, and Im sure God's heart was broken. When He saved us, He built the wall not for us to barricade us against other people but to purpose our own spiritual city.
1. The Sheep Gate - this was named because this is where the sheperd brought their flocks whether it was for sacrificing. It was important to have this gate fixed up, in order for sacrificial ceremonies to happen. because God is holy, and people are sinners, God required a sacrificial offering at the tabernacle. There was blood that was shed, and that this is the result of our sin. That our sinfulness made this violent/ death necessary. Later in the new testament, we find that Jesus, God's only son was sent by God the father in place of this sheep offering. He is the Lamb of God who takes aways the sins of the world as the book of Isaiah prophesied. John 3:16 says that For God so Loved the world that HE gave his only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. So Jesus met the standard of God because of His perfection , and because Jesus is God. so we needed this sheep Gate to let the Lamb of God enter in our lives, and realize that we need HIM to be saved. All we need is faith and the right relationship with CHRIST !!!!!!
What does this mean to us as believers? We people have fallen short of the glory God, and that all have sinned, but our hope is in Jesus, who was offered as the lamb of God. we needed this gate in our own hearts to allow Jesus to freely move in to our hearts where he offers us the free gift of salvation through His body that was laid down.
2. The Fish Gate - (v. 3-5) - this was the gate where fishes shipped from north would come in. The bible says in Matthew 4:19-20 says that Jesus said to His disciples to "Come follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men." This means that we are not just followers of Christ by name, but in action, and that means that we are following HIM, and that we were instructed to win souls for Christ, and testify and witness in all Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. We are not doing this for our own benefit, but God wants us to tend His sheep, Fish Men for His Kingdom and give hope to the hopeless, and salvation for Everyone, and that's what He did 2000 years ago.
3. THE VALLEY GATE
- the valley is represented as a place of sorrow, as king David says in Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me." But these valleys that we go through refined us to be like Jesus. We have sufferings in this world, but we can over come it with the power of our Lord JESUS.It may seem that we cannot over come the valleys of our Lives but we will overcome it by Walking with God daily.
4. Old Gate
- this was one of the oldest gate in the city. It was said that the people who worked on this gate has given up their personal gain for God's glory. As believers, are we giving up our own gain for the cost of CHRIST? Luke 9:23 says that Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himselfand take up his cross daily and follow me." We have to give up our personal gain and agendas and follow Christ. What does that mean? if these men who worked on the old gate gave up their personal gain, may it look like financially, or other commissions for the glory of God, shouldn't this be an example for us? Isnt it a beautiful life to live, that we would give up everything to follow the commands of God? In all honesty, I had a fair share of personal experiences when it comes to living for my own personal gain, and trust me, it was hell on earth. When I gave up my life to the Lord, i laid everything down at the foot of the cross
5. The Dung Gate
- this gate was used to remove the garbage of the city, hence the name of the gate. In our own Christian Walk, when we allowed God to be our Lord, We allowed Him to take out and wash away the dirt and Garbage in our lives which is sin. As we continue to walk in our faith, we continue to be sanctified, and remove every spiritual waste out our Dung Gate that will hinder us to continue to walk with the Lord. We have to continue to leave those out of the gate. John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." our faith comes from hearing the word of GOD, and we are saved by Grace alone through Faith alone, so how does this tie in to the dung gate? because of our faith, we are saved, and because of that God cleansed and removed every dirt from our soul by HIS BLOOD.
6. The Fountain Gate
- this was located near the Etogel spring. What does this represent as a believer? The the teaching of the wise is a fountain of Life. (Prove 13:14). So what does it mean? we can describe a fountain as a structure that spurts out water. Just like our own walk with the Lord, Jesus, and His words springs up life in us
7. Water Gate
- The water gate is where the truth will enter in. Nehemiah 8:3 says: "Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the water gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of Law." The Scripture is the living water, so we may no longer thirst. In John 4, Jesus meets the woman at the well. and Jesus tells her if she can give him a drink. and Jesus later tells her that " Everyone who drinks from this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water i will give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." what does this mean? We may have physical water that can satisfy our thirst only for a moment, meaning things of this world, but God offers us the living water which will satisfy our souls entirely.
8. Horse Gate
this gate is by a horse stable. During this time Horses are used for wars. This gate symbolizes our spiritual warfares. The bible says that we do not fight against flesh, but fight against powers and rulers of darkness. But we do know that our God is in our side, and would always fight fo us.
9. East Gate
the East Gate symbolizes the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and His return. We know that He came down 2000 years ago, to save the lost. This east gate is needed because we need the messiah. We are sinner who desperately need of a savior.
10. Miphkad Gate
- this gate symbolizes the place where is the presence of God and His forgiveness by the blood and offering of the Lord Jesus. We know that we are forgiven by the blood of the lamb who is Jesus Christ, and all we need is to accept Him, and believe in Him.
1. The Sheep Gate - this was named because this is where the sheperd brought their flocks whether it was for sacrificing. It was important to have this gate fixed up, in order for sacrificial ceremonies to happen. because God is holy, and people are sinners, God required a sacrificial offering at the tabernacle. There was blood that was shed, and that this is the result of our sin. That our sinfulness made this violent/ death necessary. Later in the new testament, we find that Jesus, God's only son was sent by God the father in place of this sheep offering. He is the Lamb of God who takes aways the sins of the world as the book of Isaiah prophesied. John 3:16 says that For God so Loved the world that HE gave his only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. So Jesus met the standard of God because of His perfection , and because Jesus is God. so we needed this sheep Gate to let the Lamb of God enter in our lives, and realize that we need HIM to be saved. All we need is faith and the right relationship with CHRIST !!!!!!
What does this mean to us as believers? We people have fallen short of the glory God, and that all have sinned, but our hope is in Jesus, who was offered as the lamb of God. we needed this gate in our own hearts to allow Jesus to freely move in to our hearts where he offers us the free gift of salvation through His body that was laid down.
2. The Fish Gate - (v. 3-5) - this was the gate where fishes shipped from north would come in. The bible says in Matthew 4:19-20 says that Jesus said to His disciples to "Come follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men." This means that we are not just followers of Christ by name, but in action, and that means that we are following HIM, and that we were instructed to win souls for Christ, and testify and witness in all Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. We are not doing this for our own benefit, but God wants us to tend His sheep, Fish Men for His Kingdom and give hope to the hopeless, and salvation for Everyone, and that's what He did 2000 years ago.
3. THE VALLEY GATE
- the valley is represented as a place of sorrow, as king David says in Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me." But these valleys that we go through refined us to be like Jesus. We have sufferings in this world, but we can over come it with the power of our Lord JESUS.It may seem that we cannot over come the valleys of our Lives but we will overcome it by Walking with God daily.
4. Old Gate
- this was one of the oldest gate in the city. It was said that the people who worked on this gate has given up their personal gain for God's glory. As believers, are we giving up our own gain for the cost of CHRIST? Luke 9:23 says that Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himselfand take up his cross daily and follow me." We have to give up our personal gain and agendas and follow Christ. What does that mean? if these men who worked on the old gate gave up their personal gain, may it look like financially, or other commissions for the glory of God, shouldn't this be an example for us? Isnt it a beautiful life to live, that we would give up everything to follow the commands of God? In all honesty, I had a fair share of personal experiences when it comes to living for my own personal gain, and trust me, it was hell on earth. When I gave up my life to the Lord, i laid everything down at the foot of the cross
5. The Dung Gate
- this gate was used to remove the garbage of the city, hence the name of the gate. In our own Christian Walk, when we allowed God to be our Lord, We allowed Him to take out and wash away the dirt and Garbage in our lives which is sin. As we continue to walk in our faith, we continue to be sanctified, and remove every spiritual waste out our Dung Gate that will hinder us to continue to walk with the Lord. We have to continue to leave those out of the gate. John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." our faith comes from hearing the word of GOD, and we are saved by Grace alone through Faith alone, so how does this tie in to the dung gate? because of our faith, we are saved, and because of that God cleansed and removed every dirt from our soul by HIS BLOOD.
6. The Fountain Gate
- this was located near the Etogel spring. What does this represent as a believer? The the teaching of the wise is a fountain of Life. (Prove 13:14). So what does it mean? we can describe a fountain as a structure that spurts out water. Just like our own walk with the Lord, Jesus, and His words springs up life in us
7. Water Gate
- The water gate is where the truth will enter in. Nehemiah 8:3 says: "Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the water gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of Law." The Scripture is the living water, so we may no longer thirst. In John 4, Jesus meets the woman at the well. and Jesus tells her if she can give him a drink. and Jesus later tells her that " Everyone who drinks from this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water i will give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." what does this mean? We may have physical water that can satisfy our thirst only for a moment, meaning things of this world, but God offers us the living water which will satisfy our souls entirely.
8. Horse Gate
this gate is by a horse stable. During this time Horses are used for wars. This gate symbolizes our spiritual warfares. The bible says that we do not fight against flesh, but fight against powers and rulers of darkness. But we do know that our God is in our side, and would always fight fo us.
9. East Gate
the East Gate symbolizes the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and His return. We know that He came down 2000 years ago, to save the lost. This east gate is needed because we need the messiah. We are sinner who desperately need of a savior.
10. Miphkad Gate
- this gate symbolizes the place where is the presence of God and His forgiveness by the blood and offering of the Lord Jesus. We know that we are forgiven by the blood of the lamb who is Jesus Christ, and all we need is to accept Him, and believe in Him.
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