12 Gates

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving” —Psalm 100:4

Nehemiah chapter three describes the workers who rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. The wall was sectioned off by 12 gates.  These 12 gates describe the Christian walk from beginning to end:

1.     The SHEEP gate (3:1) = The SALVATION gate. The sacrificial lambs were lead through this gate.  Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb that provides SALVATION. This is where the Christian life begins.

2.     The FISH gate (3:3) = The SOUL-WINNING gate.  As we follow Jesus we become fishers of men (Mt. 4:4).

3.     The OLD gate (3:6). The SECURITY gate in seeking “the old paths” (Jer. 6:16).

4.     The VALLEY gate (3:13; cf. 2:13) = The gate of SUFFERING. There are valleys in the Christian life.

5.     The DUNG gate (3:13, 14) = The SIN gate. We need to get the filth out of our life (2 Cor. 7:1).

6.     The FOUNTAIN gate (3:15) = The gate of the SPIRIT’S filling (John 7:38-39).

7.     The PRISON gate (3:25 cf. 12:39) = The SUBMISSION gate. Paul referred to himself as the “prisoner of Jesus Christ.”

8.     The WATER gate (3:26; 8:1-8, 16) = The gate of SCRIPTURE (Eph. 5:26; John 15:3). Notice that NO REPAIRS needed on the water gate. God’s Word needs no repairs. It is perfect.

9.     The HORSE gate (3:28 cf. 2 Chron. 23:15) = The gate of SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Horses were used battles (Jer. 8:6).

10.   The EAST gate (3:29 cf. Ezek. 9:2; 44:1-3) = The gate of our Lord’s SECOND COMING, He will enter by the eastern gate.

11.   MIPHKAD (inspection) gate (3:31) = The gate of SELF-EXAMINATION.  “Miphkad” means inspection. (see 1 Cor. 11:28).

12.   EPHRAIM gate (8:16; 12:39) = The SEPARATION gate. Ephraim was the tribe God said to leave alone, because they were joined unto idols (Hos. 4:17).

In Nehemiah 3:32, we see the sheep gate mentioned once again. Why? Because everything begins and ends with Jesus, the Lamb of God.