It may be time for another lengthy entry. Nehemiah 3 has 32 verses, which means it would be a very long sermon if I were to preach it. I imagine that if I preached it, maybe it’d reach up to more than two hours and the pulpit would go hungry and irritated. Across various commentaries, I think the late J. Vernon McGee’s Thru the Bible Commentary gives an extensive discussion out of the walls. I felt intimidated here because I’m not an engineer. I knew an engineer and deacon from many years back. Maybe, I should’ve talked to him more about this topic. I could imagine the hardness of this job is more difficult than studying this chapter. Using various commentaries, I’m not going to easily rely on just one commentary. It’s good I downloaded the KJV Study Bible which I can use for its references alongside the NIV MacArthur Study Bible.
In tackling the 31 verses, McGee divides his commentary discussing the Sheep Gate (3:1-2), the Fish Gate (3:3-5), the Old Gate (3:6-12), the Valley Gate (3:13), the Dung Gate (3:14), the Gate of the Fountain (3:15-25), the Water Gate (3:26), the Horse Gate (3:28), East Gate (3:29), and Gate Miphkad (3:31) which means review or Registry Gate. After that, everything goes back to the Sheep Gate. McGee wrote a booklet entitled The Gospel in the Gates of Jerusalem. There are details in every gate.
We are introduced to the character of Eliashib the High Priest. He’s a grandson of Joshua the High Priest in Zerubabbel’s era (Nehemiah 12:10). What was a shame was that Eliashib defiled the pastoral office as it’d be written in Nehemiah 13:7-9 when Eliahshib gave a chamber for Tobiah, who was an obvious enemy. That would be a discussion for another day since we’re still in chapter 3. It would be good to know the function of each gate. McGee uses these walls to demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus.
The Sheep Gate is where it all began (3:1-2)
If we’re going to understand the Sheep Gate, we need to understand its significance. McGee’s extensive explanation of the Sheep Gate and why it’s that important:
A tthe sheep gate is where it all began. This is the gate where the Lord Jesus entered into Jerusalem. We hae on record one occasion when He came through this gate and came to the pool of Bethesda (John 5:2). Frankly, I think He used the sheep gate to enter Jerusalem every time until His triumphal entry–when He entered through the east gate. There are those who mistake of identifying that east gate with the golden gate. I have heard people say that because the east gate is sealed up today, it will not be opened until Jesus Christ comes through it. The east gate is not the golden gate; the golden gate is the gate that leads to the temple. That is the gate that leads to the temple. That is the gate which will be opened for Him and which will lead Him right into the Holy of Holies.
The sheep gate is the gate through whcih the animals were brought for sacrifice. This is the gate the Lord used. I think He was acting out, as it were, a walking parable. He was illustrating what John the Baptist said about Him, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” (John 1:29b). He is the Lamb of God in His Person and in His work. He takes away sin of the world. Therefore, the sheep gate symbolizes the Cross of Christ. This is where you begin with God. The cross is the only place you can begin with God. God does not ask us for anything until we come to Christ and accept Him as Savior. God has omly one thing to say to the world and that is, “What will you do with My Son who died for you?” Not until you answer that question will He ask you about your life and your service. If you turn Him down and you do ot want to accept His Son, then He does not ask you for anything. He doesn’t want your good works, nor does He want your money. He does not want anyting from you. Instead, He has something to give you. His Son died for you. It is the sheep gate which sets that concept before us. It all begins at the sheep gate.
An interesting thing to mention again is Jericho. The Book of Joshua begins with the conquest of Jericho. Joshua 6:26 declared a curse on anyone who tried to reestablish the pagan city. Ahab tried to rebuild it and a curse fell on him. It’s a terrible curse. The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible gives this detail:
The wall was divided into portions, one of which was assigned respectively to each of the great families which had returned from the captivity. The distribution, by which the building was carried in all parts simultaneously with great energy, was eminently favorable to dispatch. “The villages where the restorers resided being mostly mentioned, it will be seen that this circumstance affords a general indication of the part of the wall upon which they labored, such places being on that side of the city nearest their place of abode; the only apparent exception being, perhaps, where they repaired more than their piece. Having completed their first undertaking (if they worked any more), there being no more work to be done on the side next their residence, or having arrived after the repairs on that part of the city nearest them under operation were completed, they would go wherever their services would be required.” [Barclay, City of the Great King]
The Fish Gate (3:3-5)
Okay, this is going to be a serious anthropology lesson. After knowing about the Sheep Gate, we’re into the Fish Gate. According to the NIV MacArthur Study Bible, it’s actually named that because merchants sold fish on the northern side of Jerusalem. The men of Tyre and other coastal towns went there to routinely sell fish (Nehemiah 12:39, 13:16). McGee would use the fish gate to illustrate the analogy of the literal Fish Gate. When Jesus chose His disciples, we must remember these words in Matthew 4:19. Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.
When it comes to fishing for men, there are some things worth noting. God never calls the unsaved to be fishers of men. Salvation precedes sanctification. In short, a life of good works comes after salvation. Manmade religion says you should do all the good you can to get saved. However, God’s salvation demands 100% obedience, something only Jesus did. Who can you trust between the gods of this world who are but flawed fictional superbeings or Jesus who knew no sin?
The answer has to be clear. Now, it’s time to share this passage from McGee’s commentary:
I believe that we are to fish for men in different ways. I disagree with people who insist that those hwo fish must go from door to door. I don’t think every person can do that. I think there are some people who are called to witness a little differently. For example, prayer evangelism is one way of effectively reaching people today. We have all different gifts; God made all of us differently. There are different ways to spread the gospel. However, I am of the opinion that all of us need to go to the fish gate one way or another. You should have a part in getting out the Word of God. “I want you to follow Me, and I’ll make you a fisher of men.”
It should be disappointing that Nehemiah 3:5 talks about people who believe they’re too good for that type of work. I remember growing up being told, “If you don’t study well, you’ll end up doing manual labor.” Manual labor is despised. However, in college, what happened was that we all had to do manual labor to do our booths. The professors graded us also for our contribution, even by arranging the chairs. Filipinos call this mentality the “haciendero” (owner of a hacienda) mentality. They think they’re too good for manual labor. It’s no wonder some people in the Philippines barely make ends meet.
I even laughed at McGee’s comment about having lily-white hands and not working. McGee rightfully calls these nobles as non-witnesses for God. I suspect that these rich people were probably overprotected by their wealthy parents, instead of being taught to work. Some people think it’ll be automatic but nope. The kings in David’s dynasty made that mistake especially when many of David’s descendants were wicked kings. Jehoshaphat sired wicked Jehoram. Jotham sired wicked Ahaz. Hezekiah sired wicked Manasseh who later repented. Josiah failed to raise good sons. Some rich people tend to be lazy because their parents failed to teach them proper character. A rich person who’s taught properly by their parents will sacrifice their lily-white hands for the greater good. Later, Nehemiah 6:17-1 reveals that some people had their own selfish agendas, as to why they teamed up with Tobiah. Again, a topic for another day.
The Old Gate (3:6-12)
Well, where do I even begin talking about ancient archaeology? Honestly, I wanted to go to Israel but my finances at that time didn’t permit me. Right now, the war between Gaza and Israel is still going strong. I can’t side with either as reports of terrorism left and right from both sides are happening. How can a Jew rejoice over an innocent Palestinian murdered? It’s foolish to condemn all Palestinians because of Hamas. If Israel is guilty of apartheid, it should pay for it. Today’s Israel isn’t the fulfillment of prophecy. Back on topic, why I raised this because Nehemiah was talking about his trip to Jerusalem. McGee asked to which was the Old Gate. They all looked old to McGee. The message in Jeremiah 6:16 was to ask for the old paths, where there is a good way, and walk therein. However, the people refused the old paths. Again, that’s not a call to reject modernization but to never forget the good lessons of old, in everything that we do.
A lesson from McGee is this. A constant looking for something new isn’t always the best thing. New technology is good I’m typing this blog entry using a PC. I’m typing my research work with much less paper wastage. However, we must focus on the old paths that Jeremiah is asking. There are old truths that remain the same. We can have new ways to play media. We went all the way from the Betamax to the VHS to the VCD to the DVD. Now, we have digital boxes. I’m mentioning this because of the use of home exercise. However, I’ll say that despite every innovation related to the health industry–the old truth remains that exercise is needed for a healthy body. Some old exercise videos from decades ago are now remastered. However, the same exercise principle for a healthy you remains. There are now new ways to get a Bible. There are digital Bibles. However, these new technologies are used to spread an old truth that still remains relevant today.
The record goes with Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, where goldsmiths did repair. The perfumers are recorded in the KJV as apothecaries. Interestingly, they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall. The broad wall is on the western side of the northern sector. It should be an honor that they worked with huge stones. God took note of them and recorded them in His Word. We may never get the list of workers in Nehemiah’s day. However, I can imagine that every redeemed person’s curiosity in talking with them in Heaven.
Nehemiah talks about women’s liberation. Women were often looked down on in Jewish society. However, verse 12 tells us that Shallum the son of Halohesh did not have any sons. Did this mean that he was useless? On the contrary, better to have useful daughters than useless sons. It’s a shame some people tend to value sons for simply being sons, even if these sons are bums. The daughters went to help work in building the wall in some way. Whoever says the Bible is oppressive to women hasn’t read it all. The same Bible that says to submit to your husband also says husbands should submit to their wives. Submit yourself one to another (Ephesians 5:21).
The Valley Gate and the Dung Gate (3:13-14)
Verses 13-14 discuss the repair of two grim pictures. One’s the Valley Gate and the other’s the Dung Gate. Verse 13 mentions the two locations at once. But first, let’s discuss the Valley Gate in its practical application. It should be noted that Psalm 23 talks about the valley experience. It’s not a pleasant experience. Preachers often use it to talk about difficult times in the Christian life. I remember being told that if I hadn’t become a Christian, their lives would have never been difficult. People today want to have the happy, healthy, and wealthy all the time. Sorry to say but that’s not what the Bible says. The prosperity gospel is a sham. Worse, it has caused other unbelievers to laugh at Christianity to how it never works. I even heard how someone wanted to punch Jim Bakker, a prosperity gospel preacher, who did a splendid job conning people. Was it true? If it was then Bakker deserves his arrest. Bakker earned filthy lucre by preaching a lie. No real Christian would ever want to make such stupidity a lifestyle.
Moving forward, I’d like to share this insight by McGee:
When I think of this gate, I think of the valley of the shadow of death. All of us are walking in that valley. David spoke of it in Psalm 23. As you walk down that canyon, it keeps getting narrower and narrower until–if the LORD doesn’t come–you will walk out right through that gate.
This gate also has a practical side. It is the gate of humility, the gate of humbleness. God sometimes has to lead us through trials and difficulties in order to teach us some lessons. We are told that faith develops in us different virtues, and one of them is the lowliness of mind. In the Epistle to the Colossians it is called “humbleness of mind” (Col 3:12). This is something you cannot cultivate in your own human strength.
Humility has to come from the inside. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I am reminded of the man who said to his friend “I have been trying to be humble and at last I have succeeded.” The friend said, “Well, I know you are proud of that.” The man replied, “I sure am.” Humility is not attained by human effort. We have to be humbled by the Spirit of God.
What do we learn about the Dung Gate? This is an important gate for the health of the city. However, not much is said about it. Reading through Leviticus, human waste disposal was to be done at a certain part of the city. The Dung Gate was a sewer. This was all about proper waste disposal. The principle to be learned in the Christian life is all about separation. In garbage disposal, we segregate so different types of garbage will be thrown in different types of locations. There’s no room for sinful living in the Christian life. Today, this gate leads to the Wailing Wall. However, in Hemeiah’s day, it was located at the southwest angle of Mt. Zion. 2 Corinthians 7;1 says that to put away all filthiness of the flesh aside. Nobody can do that but the believer. Idolaters try to do that through various rituals but idolatry is among the fruits of the flesh.
The Gate of the Fountain (3:15-25)
McGee only gives one verse in the commentary. I was looking at the details in verse 15. SHalum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, rebuilt it, covered it, and set its doors, bolts, and bars. This same person built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stars that go down from the City of David. This would be a very massive project. A huge list of people who did the repairs goes down from verses 16-25. We get the list of people who led in the repairs. It’s also mentioned that there are the Levites. We see that important men did the work, unlike the previous nobles in verse 5. It should A lot of repairs were done and I can’t imagine how heavy the work as. I personally wished I knew engineering to understand this section. Hopefully, I can get an engineer to help elaborate on this.
The important lesson is given by McGee with this:
At the Feast of Tabernacles, Christ stood up and said, “He that believeth on Me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow living rivers of living water” (John 7:38). In the next verse, John explains His statement, “(BUt this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (john 7:39). In Romans 8:9, Pal says, “But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” The gate of the foauntain, therefore teaches the fact that every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God, and that he needs an infilling of the Spirit. When the believer is filled with the Spirit, he is not just a well, but a fountain of living water, which will gush out to be a blessing to other people. All of us should be a blessing to others in these days in which we live.”
The Water Gate (3:26-27)
For two verses, we read of the account of the Water Gate. Ophel led in the repair of the point opposite the Water Gate, on the east and the projecting tower. The Teokoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. I would think this was to enhance security, as the Water Gate would’ve provided the water of the city.
McGee’s commentary gives this interesting note which I won’t cite everything:
The water gate was the gate used to bring water into the city. An aqueduct brought some water into the city but not all of it. The remainder was carried in through the water gate.
What does the water gate have to say to us? I beleive it symbolizes the Word of God. When we get a little farther along in this book,we will see that it was where that Ezra put up a pulpit. When Ezra erected a pulpit at the water gate, he read from the Word. The place he chose was symbolic; it was no accident. The New Testament makes this clear when it speaks of the washer of water by the Word. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Now ye are clean through the word of which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). In His prayer in John 17:17, the Lord said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth.” The water gae pictures the Word of God. We are washed by the water of the Word. It is through this gate that we are trying to spread the Word. We all need to be water boys, helping to bring the water to those who are thirsty.
The Horse Gate (3:28)
The priests repaired the Horse Gate, each opposite their own house. Okay, it’s just one verse but there’s so much depth in this one. In fact, McGee also shares the significance of the Horse Gate. I’ll only share the first three stanzas:
Now the horse was an animal ridden by a warrior. Zechariah 1:8 speaks of a man riding upon a red horse. Behind him there were red horses, speckled, and white. Revelation 6:4 says, “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the Earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” These symbolic horses are powerrs of making war.
The Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey. He was not meek because He rode upon that animal; it was the animal ridden by kings. It was not considered a humble little animal in that day. Men only rode horses during a time of war. The horse was a symbol of war.
The horse gate speaks of the “soldier service” of the believer today. In Ephesians 2:6 Paul tells us that God has “…raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” The great truth is in the first part of the book. In the second part of Ephesians we are told to “… walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph. 4:1). Our heads are up to the heavenlies, but our feet are down here on the ground where we have to walk. Not only that, in Ephesians 6:11, we are told to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” There is a real battle to be fought. It is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 continues: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in this battle. As I write this, there is an increasing interest in the Word of god. There are also a great many adversaries. Paul said the same thing in his days: “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9).
The East Gate (3:29)
Quickly, we move towards the East Gate. Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite of his own house. I was thinking about what verse 30 says. Shemaiah the son of Shechanian led in the repairs. After that, we have Hananiah the son of Selemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph who repaired another section. After him, Meshullam, the son of Berechaih repaired opposite his chamber.
I still feel the urge to type more insights from McGee. Here’s an interesting rundown to which I’ll type the first two stanzas:
The next gate we come to us the east gate, a gate that fills us with anticipation and excitement. Obviously, this gate was located on the east side of the city. It was the first one that was opened in the morning. The east gate in modern Jerusalem is sealed. There are those hwo seem to think that it is the gate through which the Lord Jeuss Christ will come when He returns to Earth. He may do that but Scripture does not not say that He will. Scriptures indicates that He will enter through the golden gate, which is not in the wall of the city, but in the temple.
Although the east gate is now sealed, it was the first gate oepned each morning, because it was facing in the direction of the rising sun. All during the night the watchman was on the wall, walking up and down, making his rounds. Early in the morning he comes around to the east gate and watches the horizin for the first sign of daybreak. Perhaps there wer epeople in the city who were disturbed that night, fearing there might have been an enemy out in the darkness, and they could not sleep. Maybe, they paced up and down most of the night. Finally they ask, “Watchman, what of the night? Isn’t it ever going to end?” The watchman replies, “Well, it is dark out there, but the morning is coming.” After a while there is a glimmer of light in the eastern horizon. Finally, the watchinman gives the signal and says, “It is light out here; I can see that there is no enemy. And the sun is coming up.” What a sigyh of relief goes up from that city.
Also, there is this man Meshullam who did the repair of the part against the chamber where he lived This is a lesson that believers may not be able to witness to everyone but they can reach out tho the neighborhood and loved ones. There is always the responsibility to just preach, not try to convince others. Having embraced Reformed Theology or Calvinism, I’m going to stress that people can’t respond to the Gospel unless God has chosen them first (John 6:44-65).
Gate Miphkad or Muster Gate (3:31)
I’d like to say that finally, it’s time to hit the final part. Phew, I must admit that typing around 4,000+ words in this entry can be tiresome. Like, I believe I’ve hit up to three hours and some minutes! However, after getting a gentle rebuke a few days ago, I realized that not meditating on God’s Word has caused me to act out of tune with what is expected of me. Meditating on God’s Word isn’t about praying the Rosary where repeated prayers are being said. It’s serious Bible study. It’s applying the Joshua 1:8 principle. In Cebu Bible Baptist Church, the huge sign says, “What the Bible Says”. Pastor Armie F. Jesalva, the pastor emeritus, would quote Joshua 1:8. Now, it may sound out of tune but the Gate of Miphkad or the Muster Gate means review or registry. It was the gate of review! QIt was here that David reviewed his soldiers returning to battle. David loved his men and they loved him.
McGee proceeds to talk about the Rapture and the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11). There’s really that reporting to be done. How much fruit was born? The Parable of the Sower talks about different degrees of fruit-bearing and some will only bear thirtyfold. John 15:1-8 talks about the vine and the branches. How often did a believer abide in Christ to bear fruit? Since nothing impure enters Heaven, the bad deeds of the believer have to be burned off. There is always that holy terror that is present in believers. Paul even mentions that he will keep himself busy. It’s really that Paul had no time for nonsense. I really wish I had Paul’s resolve in one way or another.
Verse 32 goes back to the Sheep Gate. It’s really back to where we started. This is because everything is a cycle. The Sheep Gate symbolizes the Cross of Christ. The cry is, “There is no Christ without the cross!” We begin and end with the Gospel, the Cross of Christ. All the gates are connected and go back to the Cross of Christ.
Reformed Baptist Christian Blogger 