The Nugget has received requests from subscribers to run a
series focusing on gates in the Bible. The Bible is full of references to
gates, many of which were in relation to the gates of ancient Jerusalem.
This ongoing series, "The Gates of Jerusalem", looks at what these gates can
teach us today. Many thanks to Nugget author and Answers2Prayer volunteer,
Sue Ramsey, for supplying the research that this series is based upon. For
previous lessons on "The Gates of Jerusalem", please see:
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/Folder5/gates_in_the_bible.htm
.
THE GATES OF JERUSALEM, Part 10
The Horse Gate
In last week's lesson on the gates of Jerusalem, we saw that first we must
go through the Valley Gate where the trials and tribulations are allowed to
uncover the rubbish; then the Dung Gate where the rubbish can be done away
with. Next comes the Fountain Gate, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and
this brings about the cleansing, the Water Gate. Today's lesson takes us to
the next gate mentioned in the series: The Horse Gate.
"Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own
house." (Neh 3:28-29 NIV)
The next gate was known as the Horse Gate. The Horse Gate was on the east
side of the city, overlooking the Kidron Valley. It seems to have been a
gate by which horses approached and left the old palace of David, which lay
north of the temple. [1] Due to its approximation to the temple and the
Water Gate, it may have also been used to water the horses. Some rabbis
suppose that in order to go to the temple, a person might go on horseback to
the Horse Gate, but then they would be obliged to dismount and leave their
horse here, as a horse could not go any further. [2]
What does the Horse Gate signify for us today?
Horses were never abundant in Jerusalem, [3] and are generally used in the
Bible as something symbolic of war: "I saw Heaven opened, and behold a WHITE
HORSE; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness does He judge and MAKE WAR." (Revelation 19:11)
Friends, the Horse Gate speaks to us of warfare. Whether we know it or not,
we are all engaged in warfare: Spiritual warfare! Take a look at the
following texts:
"For our struggle is NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the POWERS OF THIS DARK WORKD and against
the SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS." (Eph 6:12 NIV)
"FOR THOUGH WE LIVE IN THE WORLD, WE DO NOT WAGE WAR AS THE WORLD DOES. The
WEAPONS we fight with are NOT THE WEAPONS OF THE WORLD. On the contrary,
they have DIVINE POWER to demolish strongholds." (2 Cor 10:3-5)
"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain
from sinful desires, WHICH WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL." (1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV)
If we are at war, then we must also be prepared. But how can we be prepared
for Spiritual warfare? Let's look at the following texts:
"PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may
be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take
up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows
of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
which is the word of God." (Eph 6:13-18 NIV)
". . . DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS and every PRETENSION that sets itself up against
the knowledge of God . . . TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to
Christ." (2 Cor. 10:4,5).
Friends, we live in a war zone! We have to be prepared! But the good news
is, that if we dress ourselves in truth, righteousness, faith, peace,
salvation and God's Word, if we learn to take every thought captive, if we
apply the truth found in God's Word to every argument brought to our
attention, we WILL BE VICTORIOUS, for "God is faithful; he will not let you
be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also
provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Cor. 10:13-15)
There is yet one other point to be made by the Horse Gate. The last three
gates, as we will see in the upcoming two lessons, are prophetic, they speak
of the return of Jesus Christ! "I saw heaven standing open and there before
me was A WHITE HORSE, whose rider is called FAITHFUL AND TRUE. With JUSTICE
he JUDGES and MAKES WAR." (Rev 19:11-12 NIV)
The horse gate speaks of the day of the Lord and the end time judgment. What
do we need to do to be prepared? "For you know very well that the DAY OF THE
LORD will come like a thief in the night . . . But you, brothers, are not in
darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons
of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the
darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but LET US BE
ALERT AND SELF-CONTROLLED . . . PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE as a BREASTPLATE,
and the HOPE OF SALVATION AS A HELMET." (1 Thess 5:2-8 NIV)
Enough to ponder, friends, but do ponder this: The Horse Gate not only
reminds us that we are all engaged daily in spiritual warfare, but it also
reminds us of the soon coming of Jesus Christ! We need to be prepared for both,
and we can do so by putting on Jesus!
Join us next week to take a look at what the "East Gate" and the prophetic
message that it has for us.
God bless each of you abundantly.
Sue Ramsey & Lyn Chaffart
Volunteers, Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org
[1] from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft,
on Nehemiah 3:17-30
[2] from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996
by Biblesoft, on Nehemiah 3:28
[3] from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated
Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., on Nehemiah 3:28-32.