The Book of Nehemiah is about the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem after Israel had sinned grievously and had been taken captive by the Babylonians where the powers there attempted to change everything about them including their worship of God- much like what is happening in America today. Nehemiah was a godly man who was cupbearer to the king who heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burned with fire, which left the city with no protection from the enemy. Walls and gates speak of restraints and there were basically none. Again, much like what is happening in America.
Nehemiah asked for and received permission from the king to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem and did so under much persecution. Proverbs 25:28 says a man without selfcontrol is like a city with broken walls! A person without walls and gates in their lives will be taken captive by the enemy. So, Nehemiah and his followers rebuilt the walls and the ten city gates. These gates are symbols of how a man rebuilds his life. These are the gates in the order they were rebuilt: Sheep, Fish, Old, Valley, Dung, Fountain, Water, Horse, East, and Inspection.
They began with Sheep Gate, where sacrificial lambs were brought in which is a picture of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Next, they build Fish Gate where fish from the sea was brought in because Jesus calls his followers to be “fishers of men”. The third gate was Old Gate which refers to the fact the bible tells us to remember the old ways, the right ways, the true ways and walk in them and not to be deceived by the “new morality”. Then they built Valley Gate. Valley Gate speaks of the fact that as Christians, we will not always walk on the mountains but sometimes we’re called to walk through the Valley of Death, but we are not to fear because the Lord is with us. Next was Dung gate, the sewer gate, reminding us that there are some things in our lives that need to be flushed and removed at all costs.
Then we get to Fountain Gate. Fountains, or springs of water, speak of our need to live under the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians are called to let the Holy Spirit live through us. Next, we come to Water Gate where life giving water entered. The Word of God is called water for our souls, and we need to drink daily. The second to last gate was East Gate, a gate that is still sealed to this day! Why? Because Jesus Christ will come out the east and walk through that gate as King of the World. Finally, we come to Inspection Gate where the troops entered after battle and were inspected by the King. As Christians, we will not be inspected for our salvation because that was already done on the cross of Calvary, but we will give account for our time as soldiers of Christ. Don’t neglect rebuilding your walls and gates, the King is coming!
