Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
(Nehemiah 3:1)
Throughout the history of Jerusalem the Sheep Gate was a place of a non-stop bloodshed. Most invaders, including the Babylonians, Romans and Crusaders, came to Jerusalem from the North and inevitably had to use the Sheep's Gate and adjacent walls to get into the City. It was the entry point in the city.
The gate as the name suggests, was used to bring sacrifices to the Lord. The offering of Lambs was via this gate. It is therefore likely that this was the point of entry into the city even for those who came for celebrations like the Passover feast. Notice who rebuilt this gate? The high priest.
The rules of choice of sacrifices were very stringent. Exodus 12:5 says “the animals you choose must be year-old males without defect”. So it wasn’t just a sacrifice it was a sacrifice that met the minimum baseline standards. This gate was critical in connecting the spiritual, economic and social systems of the society. Economic (livestock farming) activity conducted honestly and justly (social) produced a harvest that was offered as a thanksgiving to God (spiritual). Worship was intended to not just proclaim increase (profitability) but also to put a check on malpractices in trade and treatment of servants who involved in trade.
Who is our high priest? The Lord Jesus Christ in the new covenant. He was the ultimate sacrifice for us. So Jesus who was the ultimate sacrifice, without blemish, took our place. Jesus is both the High Priest and the lamb. The offeror of sacrifice as well as the sacrifice itself. On this gate, blood was shed once and for all.
Nonetheless this gate is a target for invaders. It is the gateway to all other parts of life. It’s like getting access to the main gate. You tie the gateman and you have access to the entire complex. You are a target. Who is manning your gate? Is this a soft target for them? Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
The gate was used as a conduit for trade, worship and tourism. The rebuild work started on this gate for obvious reasons. This was the face of Jerusalem to the outside world. It was a symbolic expression of restoration of the economic, spiritual and social stature of the city. Does your gate need a rebuild, perhaps it has been breached by raiders? Burned down and ravaged. You are a pale shadow of who God intended you to be. You can rise up from the ashes. Hand over the watch to the Lamb and the High Priest to man the gate for you. It will never be breached again with Him on guard.
We are in a war zone. The attacker is out to obliterate the promises of God in our lives. The lord however declares in Revelations 21:7 that “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children”. The enemy is not relenting. Perhaps just changing tact. One time being aggressive, the other being cunning, the other being ‘friendly’ etc. Do not give him a foothold. Do not be afraid because you have angelic protection. Hold firm because the war is soon coming to an end. When it does, you will be a citizen of a new city made of gold.
No comments:
Post a Comment