The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. (Nehemiah 3:13)
The valley gate, just like the old gate, exited to the west of Jerusalem. The gate and the piece of wall were constructed by Hanum, who is believed to be the chief or ruler of Zanoah, and its inhabitants. Zanoah, now known as "Zanna" is on the west side of Jerusalem, at a distance of about 10 kilometers. The valley gate led to two main valleys that defined Jerusalem geographically and historically. The Hinnom valey and the Kidron valley.
The Hinnom Valley is a deep, narrow ravine located in Jerusalem, running southwards on the west side of the Old City, then eastward along the south side of Mount Zion until it meets the Kidron Valley which separates the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives on the east side of the city. It is named from a certain "son of Hinnom" who apparently owned or had some significant association with the valley at a time prior to Joshua 15:8.
The Valley of Hinnom had a very horrendous history in ancient times. It was used as a place where the pagan worshipers did all sorts of vile and wicked things - including burning children alive as sacrifices to the idols Molek and Baal. 2 Kings 23:10, describes children sacrifice.
Upon return from the Babylonian exile, the Jews turned the Hinnom Valley into the city dump where garbage and anything deemed unclean (including the bodies of executed criminals) was incinerated. For that purpose, a fire was kept constantly burning there. Even though it was no longer used for evil worship, with all the filth and thick smoke it remained a very dark and dreary place.
The second valley was called the Kidron, which means "turbid, dusky, gloomy". It was across this valley that Jesus crossed to go to the Garden of Gethsemane (John.18:1). It was into this valley that the pagan altars and images were burned during the cleansing of Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:4-12; 2 Chr.15:16; 29:16; 30:14).
To the Israelites the historical association with Kidron valley was unpleasant. It was distasteful. The height of idolatry and human genocide in the name of worship. No wonder it was turned into a dump site and a crematorium. The second valley is quite the opposite, it was a redemptive valley. Jesus crossed through this valley to prepare Himself for the ultimate mission. It is also in this valley that pagan altars and images were burned as a way of showing disconnection and cleansing from other gods. Two valleys, different and completely opposite uses. One was a conduit for defilement while the other was a conduit for cleansing and restoration. All these served by one gate, the valley gate.
The term valley has been used in the scripture to depict trial, sorrow, gloom. Psalms 23:4, ‘though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death’. Jesus was going to face trial though innocent. He exited through the Kidron valley to pray for what lay ahead of Him. He recognized that the Father was with Him and all He needed was that reassurance. The valley gate led Him to Gethsemane and later Golgotha but a little later to glory where He was given a name that is above every other name. He triumphed in the valley to sit at the right hand of God.
Ruth, the Moabite, worshipped an idol called Chemosh. It is claimed that Ruth was actually a priestess in the temple worship where children were offered as sacrifices to this idol. But Ruth encountered the family of Naomi and her life changed. She later meets Boaz and soon she became a conduit of history through which Jesus is born. From a priestess in a pagan land to a great grandmother of David. What a transformation! Started in the valley of Hinnom (death and destruction) and ended up in the valley of Kidron (restoration and cleansing).
You may identify with these instances. Perhaps you have been branded a killer, a murderer. You are regarded as beyond repair. Beyond help. Death knell has been sounded on you, bang! The mention of your name evokes memories of Hinnom valley. Skeletons and acts that are unprintable. No one believes your story that you have changed. You are on the brink of being incinerated at the crematorium of despise, stigma, chauvinism, stereotyping etc. Don’t despair. If Ruth the idol worshipper could become the great grandmother of a man after God’s own heart, what about you? God is a garbage digger. He is a specialist in excavation of dump sites to find precious treasures lying beneath the filth and stench. Give Him your heart. His will transform it for His glory.
Perhaps you have been wrongly accused. Passing through the valley of Kidron like Jesus. Don’t whine, complain, talk to God. In your garden of gethsemane, pray. Perhaps this valley gate is your conduit to getting a name that you have never gotten before. Romans 5:4, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope”. Rejoice in this valley because God hasn’t brought you this far to let you wilt at Kidron valley. This is just but a passageway to Excellency. Don’t look at the desolate valley, rather look at the Majestic God cheering you on as you pass through the valley.
No comments:
Post a Comment