The Ten Gates of Jerusalem. Pt. 11

Good Morning to all of You.

God is so good to have given us His word. We would be floundering in darkness if we did not have the light of His inspired truth. I need to be more grateful to my Father in heaven for bestowing this great blessing. 

• The Sheep Gate (Salvation) points us to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God and our salvation.

• The Fish Gate (Service) points us to serving Jesus Christ by being fisher's of men.

• The Old Gate (Standards) points us to the unchanging standards of Jehovah's Word and our need to stay in the good path and the good way that scripture marks out.

• The Valley Gate (Suffering)  points us to the sufferings of Christ and the general struggles of living in a sin cursed world. Born again Christians are in a battle against a fierce enemy who would seek to send us into a dark valley of suffering.

• The Dung Gate (Sanctification) points out our need to carry out the dung and trash (sin) that accumulates in our minds or through our actions. 

• The Fountain Gate (Supplying) points us to relying on the Spirit of God.  Jesus said the Spirit is like a river of waters springing up to life everlasting. 

• The Water Gate (Sufficiency) reminds us that God gave us everything we need to know for this life and for preparation of eternal life. The Scriptures are the full revelation from God to man.  We cannot live without them nor can we have spiritual life without them. 

The Horse Gate is the next gate that we encounter.  To understand its function and message we will need to see what the Word of God says about horses.  First, we will read the text and see what it is telling us about this gate.

In the wall leading up to the Horse Gate we see that the Tekoites did the repair work.  As you recall they were hard workers but their "nobles" were lazy. 

Apparently there was a strong tower at or near the Horse Gate. This tower protruded out from the main structure of the wall.  The priests were also involved in making repairs to the Horse Gate. 

What do we know about the Horse Gate?  Well, its location provides a key.  You see, the Horse Gate leads right out to the Kidron Valley.   A lot of things happened at the Kidron Valley.

This is where King Asa burned all the idols and where Hezekiah destroyed all the idols in his day.  It is the place where Absalom accidentally hanged himself and the place where Judas Iscariot hung himself.  The Kidron Valley is where more than 250,000 lambs' blood flowed from the alter on Passover.

I think we can say that the Kidron Valley represents sin, and idolatry against God and therefore represents Heavens constant war against idolatry.

The Horse Gate leads us out into the battle. 

The Horse Gate is where the King's army would ride out to battle on their horses.  It is a gate that represents going into warfare against the enemy. 

Nehemiah 3:27-28 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. 
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

The text below from the book of Revelation shows 4 horses of judgment and many images of war and battle; death and misery. 

Revelation 6:2-8  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs.  He built massive stables for his war horses.  The King reminds us that although a horse may be a weapon of choice for a battle, our safety is from the LORD. 

Proverbs 21:31 "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

The Horse Gate and its proximity in overlooking the Kidron Valley teaches us that God is at war against all idolatry.  This battle will continue until the final consummation of all things as described in Revelation.  Moses also reminded us that in these battles we must rely upon the LORD.

Deuteronomy 20:1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 

This battle is a spiritual battle. 

Now let's take a look at the New Testament perspective of spiritual warfare.  The Apostle Paul tells us we must be strong in the Lord. This alerts us to the fact that we do not have this kind of strength in ourselves.  The word "be strong" means to receive strength from another. 

Next, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God.  You can read Ephesians 6:14-18 for the description of that armor.  The point is that armor is put on when you are going to war.  We read that the battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers of darkness, principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places.  The Devil is the one orchestrating the battle against the things of God. 

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

It is a battle for our minds. 

Paul reminded the Corinthians about the spiritual nature of this battle.  We do not war using anything of the flesh.  Our weapons are those things that God has given us and he especially notes where this battle is waged.  In our minds. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:"    

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"    

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Paul wrote to young Pastor Timothy about the importance of enduring in this lifelong spiritual battle.  He urges Timothy to "war a good warfare."  The word "war" means going on a military campaign with a strategic plan to fight and win. 

1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;     Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:     

It is a lifelong battle that we are in until the day that Christ calls us home. 

Paul urges TImothy to pass on the Apostolic truth to other faithful men so that they can also teach other Christians.  There is a need for each generation of believers to pass eternal gospel truth onto the next generation. 

Then Paul returns to the subject of spiritual warfare.  He tells Timothy that he must endure the battle with hardness.  To endure is the idea of going through affliction or suffering for Christ.  The same Greek word is translated hardness.  This is the idea of going through the difficulties of battle repeatedly so that you get used to it. 

A new believer may be shocked and distressed at being in a battle against the enemies of God.  However, as he learns the truth about spiritual warfare he will gird himself up and go into each day prepared for battle. 

A good soldier of Christ will not be caught up in all the things of the world because they are a distraction to the warfare that must be waged. 

2 Timothy 2:2-4 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."    

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."  

Paul completes his analogy of spiritual warfare by reminding Timothy that the apostle is near the end of his earthly life.  He wants young Timothy to fully grasp these truths and to readily go into battle prepared for the fight.

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"     

In every battle there are casualties.  Some Christians will be wounded or injured, some will be scared or scarred, and some will battle bravely and some timidly.  One of the glorious truth about being born again is that we were translated (picked up and planted somewhere new) out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:12-14) 

The message of the Horse Gate shows us that we must put on the armor of God and do battle against the powers of darkness. It is a gate that represents struggles and strife. 

If you look at the armor in Ephesians 6 you will see that we are putting on the truth of God's word.   We are putting on righteousness which is Christ's righteousness imputed to us.   We are taking the gospel message with us.  We are acting in and living by faith in what God has said.  We are going out as regenerated, born again Christians.  We are taking the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.  This armor is capped off with prayer and supplication. 

We are in a battle of spiritual warfare.  We must use the spiritual tools that God has provided for us.   We do not know how God will use us but, if you look at  lost people around you as souls under Satan's dominion, then you can see the importance of the armor of God.  He may use us to rescue those who will otherwise die and go to hell. 

Ephesians 6:14-18  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Points to Ponder....

• The Horse Gate reminds us of battle. But this war is a spiritual war.

• Every born again Christian is in the war zone because Satan will seek to inflict harm upon us if he can. He will seek to destroy our integrity and ruin our lives. This is why we must go in the strength of the Lord.

• This spiritual warfare is a battle for our minds. 

• This spiritual warfare is a lifelong battle.

• We must be prepared and equipped by being in the Word of God, spending much time in prayer and seeking our great God's assistance.

I hope that we all benefit from the clear teaching about spiritual warfare.  This is a battle that God must fight but we are blessed to participate.  We can pray for lost souls to come to Christ and we can share gospel truth with ones we come in contact with.  We can earnestly  read, study and learn the scriptures so that we can be useful to help disciple other people.  Bringing the lost into the light is a most worthy occupation for all of us. 

May the Lord of glory take this truth and drive it deep into our hearts  and give us a burning desire to share Christ with the lost, to live out gospel truth so people can see the difference Christ makes, and so we can continue to press toward the mark of the high calling of God!

Have a Blessed Day!
Bob