And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. (Nehemiah 2:13-15)
In these verses we see Nehemiah is making a assessment of Jerusalem in the night. Ever notice it’s in our darkest hour that we wonder how did we get here? Or if we are alone in this situation? Life is a long road with many gates. Now a gate does not have to be a fence. Gate marks a boundary, either physical or spiritual between inside and outside. It serves to permit or prevent movement from without to within. But the Bible teaches us that whether we want to or not we will have to go through many gates.
Jesus Himself needed to go through Samaria ( John 4:4)
We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 14:22)
But rest assured the gates of hell can not prevail against you. (Matthew 16:18)
In this chapter Nehemiah passes through seven gates. What gate are you passing through?
Is it the Valley Gate?
Valley is often used symbolically to refer to the difficulties of life. All of us will go through these trials, but God is present with us protecting us during these times.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4)
Is it the Serpent, Dragon or Jackal Well?
Most biblical references associate these animals with desert ruins or dry places. We all will go through a wilderness but what are we telling ourselves during the journey. Are we giving up or believing God.
They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God : “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 37:11-12)
Is it the Refuse Gate?
Used for the disposal of garbage, what are we buying or feeding into? Let God be true and every man a liar. Let’s get the garbage out of our lives. Our enemies are not supposed to feed us but we are supposed to feed them.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over. (Psalms 23:5)
Is it the Fountain Gate?
The Fountain Gate represents the flow of the Holy Spirit. But notice Nehemiah came to this gate last. Could it be that God is saving the best for last. And could it be that we have been feeding and drinking from the wrong source. For Jesus says….
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)
Full Definition Of Broken
1 : violently separated into parts : shattered
2 : damaged or altered by breaking: as
3 : having undergone or been subjected to fracture <a broken leg>
4 of land surfaces : being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
5 : violated by transgression <a broken promise>
6 : discontinuous , interrupted
7 : disrupted by change
8: of a tulip flower : having an irregular, streaked, or blotched patternespecially from virus infection
9 : made weak or infirm
10 : subdued completely : crushed, sorrowful <a broken heart> <a broken spirit>
11 : bankrupt
12 : reduced in rank
13 : cut off : disconnected
14 : imperfectly spoken or written
15 : not complete or full
16 : disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent<children from broken homes> <a broken family>
17: not working properly
18: not kept or honored
19: separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc.
Humpty Dumpty’s mistake was thinking that the king’s men could mend his broken pieces. It is not man but God who can mend our brokeness. A ship does not sink because of the water that is around them. A ship sinks because of the water that gets in them.
And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter. (2 Chronicles 23:19)
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