The Gate

GATE: 1 : an opening in a wall or fence2 : a city or castle entrance often with defensive structures (as towers)3 a : the frame or door that closes a gate b : a movable barrier (as at a grade crossing)4 a : a means of entrance or exit b : STARTING GATE c : an area (as at a railroad station or an airport) for departure or arrival d : a space between two markers through which a competitor must pass in the course of a slalom race5 a : a door, valve, or other device for controlling the passage especially of a fluid

NOTE: The word gate is mentioned approx. 275 times in the Bible.

In the Bible, gates are usually reffered to physically in the Old Testament. But, there are places like in Jeremiah chapter 7 where the "gate of the Lord" is mentioned. Before battles, the gates were the focul points to penetrate cities. Isa 28:6b "...for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate." The gate just as Webster's Dictionary states is "a means of entrance," "a movable barrier," or "a device for controlling passage." Without the gate, no one could come in or out of the city; a convenience for those that lived within. But, the gate can be penetrated. That is why Proverbs 17:19b says, "he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. " Those who thought their gate could not be destroyed were in danger of that very thing, because they took their defense off of their gate.

We, as Christians, could learn a huge deal from this. The most obvious gate is our minds. The enemy knows that our minds can be penetrated and he will do everything in his power to do it. He comes at people's minds through television, music, book/magazines...the list goes on!!! You may not watch tv or listen to worldy music, but he will find a way to get to you. That is why it is so very important to not take our defense off of our minds. The closer we draw to God, the more attacks the enemy is going to try and throw at our gates.

In the Old Testament the elders would sit at the gates. Why? I like to think it is because they have so much to give in way of wisdom. They are there to see and filter what comes through the gate. Lam. 5:14a says, "elders ceased from the gate." I feel like there has been a long stretch of time where the elders of the church have not been watching the gates. They have left the entrance to the gates and there has been a "slipping in" of the unholy. I feel that God is calling the elders to go back to their place to watch the gates.

The afflicted and the poor would also sit at the gates. I find this significant, spiritually. Think about it. When you are going through battles and "rough times" you tend to sit at the gates of your mind. You are hyper-sensitive to what is entering your mind. I feel like God takes us through those times for that reason, so that we will sit at the gate and watch. We tend to retreat when there is nothing "going on." He wants us on the alert.

One more thing I am feeling impressed upon my spirit is in Eze. 8:14, which talks about the "door of the gate of the Lord's house." We don't tend to think of there being a door within the gate, but there is. This door is not usually very visible from the outside of the gate. This door is always open and is seldom locked, only being watched by a "guard." God has shown me recently through a book that I read that this doorway is the "passage between heaven and earth." It should never be closed and only locked when God says to hide within us what He has given us that may not be shared or allowed out. This door should only be watched because we are called to be on the look out for the prescence of God. It should also be watched, so that nothing that is against God's character can enter. But, this door is only known by God and the ones who have it, us. Yet, we do not always keep this door accessable to the Holy Spirit and we tend to turn God away when He asks to enter. We must not do this, because when God knocks, we are called to answer. So, think about it. Today, spend some time praying about the gate and door to your mind.