When the remnant of Judah returned to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon, they were few in number and had many enemies, but they determined in the fear of the Lord to repair the ruined walls of the city. This was a great work, but it was “the work of their Lord” (Neh. 3:55And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. (Nehemiah 3:5)), and He had stirred up their hearts to do it. No part of the wall was overlooked. Every gate was repaired, and as they built each in his place, they had the whole in view. An important lesson is taught us here: Nothing less than the whole circle of God’s truth and work must occupy our thoughts. We may not be able to do great things, but what we do must be done with the whole of God’s interests in view.
The Sheep Gate
The first of the gates to be repaired was the sheep gate, and at this gate we must all start. Happy is that soul that has heard the Shepherd’s voice and can say, “The Lord is my shepherd.” He came seeking the sheep. He was the good Shepherd who laid down His life for them (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)). Amid the whole universe that He has brought into existence by His power, there is one company He calls “His own,” and you and I, through grace, form part of this flock. He gave His life for us, and that is why we must begin at the sheep gate. Notice too that there were no locks and bars on this gate; it was always open, as is the way to Christ.
The Fish Gate
This seems to be the gospel gate. When we have been established in the precious truth that we are Christ’s sheep, it is our privilege to go out and fish for souls. God would have us earnest in this blessed work: The heart of the Lord was set upon it, for He said to His disciples, “Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:1717And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)).
We can all be of some use in this service. If we cannot preach, we can pray for those that do. May we be kept closely in touch with this work of the Spirit of God, and so help to build “the fish gate.” Keep it repaired and wide open that souls may “be added to the Lord” daily.
There is one important note in connection with this: “Their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord” (Neh. 3:55And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. (Nehemiah 3:5)). It is a wonderful privilege to be associated with Himself in any way; let us not be like these men of position that put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
The Old Gate
The old gate reminds us of the passage, “Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:1616Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)). There is many a saint of God who needs to have the old gate repaired, to be built up in that which was established from the beginning in Christ. May God remove the rubbish and enable us to build up our souls in the truth that existed in His eternal purpose before all worlds. Man changes; God does not. He has established all the blessed truth in the death, resurrection and ascension of His beloved Son, and those who by His grace are built up in that which was from the beginning are able to help others back to the old paths.
The Valley Gate
We may feel our lack of power, and how feeble are the desires of our hearts after Christ, but do we remember that these things can be gained only by the way of the valley of humiliation? It is a wonderful moment when we are willing to be led into the valley and have to do with God there. There must always be a going down before the going up, the valley before the mountain, the cross before the crown, the sorrow before the reigning. This is always God’s way, that we may be “bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor. 4:1010Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)).
The Dung Gate
Paul knew something of this place; he accepted the cross, and in his practical experience had to say, “We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day” (1 Cor. 4:1313Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. (1 Corinthians 4:13)). We may shrink from it, yet what shall we say when we think of that way which was trodden by the Son of God? He, the Eternal Son, the Infinite One, was cast out, rejected, rebuffed, scorned, despised, spit upon! He has no other place for us here. “It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master” (Matt. 10:2525It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25)).
The Fountain Gate
If we know something of what it is to be an outcast, there is the gate of the fountain—the fountain of John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14) (JND), springing up to everlasting life. This gate, as the remainder of Nehemiah 3:1515But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. (Nehemiah 3:15) shows us, is intimately connected with the king’s garden by the pool of Siloah and with “the stairs which go down from the city of David,” which He, the sent One, descended, when He laid aside His Messiah glory, that He might open up the way for His own into the garden of His own delight—the Father’s love (John 14:11Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)).
It may be our portion to be cast out here, but in the power of the Spirit we may have the foretaste of the joys eternal. “With Thee is the fountain of life” (Psa. 36:99For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. (Psalm 36:9)).
The Water Gate
If there is the springing fountain of John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14), there must also be the flowing waters of John 7:3838He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38). If the fountain within us springs up to God, there will be the flowing out also of streams of living water for thirsty souls around. How great a privilege to be channels of that of which Christ is the source! “This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive” (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)). Thank God, His Spirit is still with us, and He is not less occupied with the whole interests of God than He was at the beginning of the church.
The Horse Gate
The horse is used in Scripture as the symbol of power, and power, whether for joy, worship, service or endurance, is always connected with the Spirit of God. He it is who recalls to us the words of our Lord, leads us into the deep things of God, and, unveiling the future, shows us things to come that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit and so repair the east gate.
The East Gate
The east gate is the gate of the sunrise. Are we waiting to see the Morning Star arise? May we be as men that wait for their Lord. Is it less bright in our souls than when it first came to us? It ought to have grown brighter, for we are nearer to that moment when we shall see Him as He is. “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
There is only one gate more—ten in all—for the wall in Nehemiah is connected with us in our responsibility here, and ten in Scripture stands for this. There are twelve gates in the heavenly city of Revelation, for there all is perfect—the true administration of God’s will with men.
The Gate Miphkad
That word, “Miphkad,” is translated in 2 Samuel 24:99And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. (2 Samuel 24:9) “number,” and in Ezekiel 43:2121Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary. (Ezekiel 43:21), “appointed place.” Beloved saints, that blissful moment is soon to dawn when God shall make up the number of His elect in the appointed place; soon the Lord will fulfill His own word for us, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there ye may be also” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)).
May God grant us to keep before our souls the whole circle of the truth with which the Spirit of God is occupied, and may He grant that our hearts may rejoice in carrying on earnestly any part of that work which falls to our lot.
There is just a word for our sisters in connection with the building of the wall. You will find in verse 12 that the daughters of one of these men took their share in the work: “Next unto him repaired Shallum ... he and his daughters.” I think that is very precious; everyone has some work to do, something to build up of Christ in the soul of another, however obscure her place may be. You have the opportunity for passing on that which has been made precious to your own soul, to those you come in contact with. Whatever you yourself, dear sister, have received of Christ, pass it on, and His name shall be glorified.
J. T. Mawson (adapted)