The word of God is so deep and wide that we can never completely explore it. God has specific insight, instruction, and lesson from every chapter, from every character, every word, every statement, etc. in the scripture. The truth remains that not a jot in the word of God is there for decoration.
This is a challenge to all of us to change our attitude to the word of God. We need to prayerfully pay attention to every word we come across in scripture. Otherwise, we would miss the specifics that the Lord intend to reveal to us in His holy writ.
It is noteworthy the attention the scripture give to details in the Bible, especially in the book of Nehemiah. This is obvious in chapter three of the book of Nehemiah where the Bible records the names of the builders of the walls, their specific contributions, those who build and those who did nothing, etc. This chapter also list all the 10 gates of the city of Jerusalem. Apart from the importance of gates to a city, the twelve gates of Jerusalem is equally symbolic of the Christian life.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will send His help to you and I as we study about the 10 gates of Jerusalem tonight in Jesus Name.
Ø The Sheep Gate - Neh. 3:1; John 10:11
Ø The Fish Gate - Neh. 3:3; Matt. 4:19; Luke 13:9
Ø The Old (Jeshanah) Gate - Neh. 3:6; Rom. 6:1-23; Jer. 6:16; Gal. 5:19-21
Ø The Valley Gate - Neh. 3:13; 2 Cor. 1:3-5, 8-11; Ps. 23:4; Isa. 43:1-2; Psa. 23; Isa. 43
Ø The Dung Gate - Neh. 3:14; Gal. 5:19-21
Ø The Fountain Gate: Neh. 3:15; John 7:37-39
Ø The Water Gate: Neh. 3:26; Eph. 5:26; Ps. 119:9
Ø The Horse Gate: Neh. 3:28; Eph. 6:10-18; Rev. 19:11-16
Ø The East Gate: Neh. 3:29; Ezek. 44:1-3; Zech. 14:4; 2Tim. 4:8
Ø The Inspection (Miphkad Gate): Neh. 3:31; 1Cor. 3:9-15; 2Cor. 5:10
Ø The Gate of Ephraim - Neh. 8:16-18
Ø The Gate of the Guard - Neh. 12:39; 1Cor. 9:19-20
It is my prayer that the Lord will fill each of us with an unceasing and enduring hunger for the word of God. May God give us a fresh appetite for His word. More importantly, may the Lord help us to maximize the lessons presented by these gates.