The Water Gate
The seventh gate that speaks about the christian life is the water gate. The water gate represents the Word of God. Whenever you see water mentioned in the bible, it speaks about the Word of God. Paul said at Ephesians 5:26 That He (the Lord Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse it (the church) with the washing of water by the Word. Therefore at the water gate, christians need to daily meditate, read, and study the Word of God to defeat the devil and get victory over this troubled world.
Psalm 1:1 says Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. In other words if anyone daily studies and meditates on the Word of God, the Lord Jesus will fix all their worries, sickness, and troubles in this world.
Notice that the water gate speaks about the Word of God. Pictured above Ezra preached the Word of God at the water gate. Nehemiah 8:2 says And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from morning until midday, before the men and women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
The water gate is also mentioned at Nehemiah 3:26: Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. The Nethinims drew water at the water gate for the house of God.
Notice that the Nethinims and the Tekoites built the water gate. The Nethinims were temple servants for the Levites related to the Gibeonites that hewed wood and drew water for the house of God after they deceived Joshua. The story of how the Gibeonites tricked Joshua can be found at Joshua 9. After Joshua came across the Jordan river, went around Jericho seven times causing the walls of Jericho to fall down, and defeated Ai, there was a group of people up in Gibeah who put on old raggedy clothes, old worn out shoes, and brought mouldy bread, acting like they'd been walking for hundreds of miles. The Gibeonites met Joshua and said we've traveled a long distance with worn out shoes, worn out clothes, and mouldy bread. The Gibeonites said Joshua please don't kill us and make peace with us.
Joshua did not enquire of the Lord whether to make a peace treaty with the Gibeonites and sinned by making a covenant to not harm the Gibeonites in the name of the Lord. Joshua 9:27 says And Joshua made them (the Nethinim Gibeonites) that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose. Later David also sinned and allowed the Nethinim Gibeonites to become his servants, allowing them to be hewers of wood and drawers of water. Ezra 8:20 says Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, 220 Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
Notice that the children of Solomon's servants worked with the Nethinim temple servants on the house of God. Ezra 2:58 says All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants were 392 (220 Nethinims and 172 children of Solomon's servants). The lowly humble Nethinims and children of Solomon's servants considered it an honor to belong to the house of God hewing wood and drawing water even though they served in the lowest office.
Like the Nethinims and the children of Solomon's servants, christians need to be humble and consider it an honor to serve the Lord Jesus and witness Jesus everywhere. Psalm 84:10 says For a day in thy courts (Lord Jesus) is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Just to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus in heaven as a lowly doorkeeper would be an honor for any christian. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Notice that the lowly humble Nethinims lived at Ophel. The Hebrew definition of Ophel is an elevated hill. Like the lowly humble Nethinims, if you are a humble servant witnessing Jesus everywhere, the Lord Jesus will exalt you to the highest heights of Ophel. James 4:10 says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Jesus said at Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Be like the Lord Jesus who was willing to wash feet and is exalted with a name above all names because of His humility and obedience to die on the cross of Calvary to save lost sinners.
Very soon during the millennium, the Lord Jesus will be the King of all kings ruling on this earth with a rod of iron at Mount Zion in Jerusalem that will be the highest hill on this earth (higher than Mount Everest). Isaiah 2:2 says And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
The Tekoites who earlier built the fish gate also built the water gate. Like the Tekoites, after you complete a task for Jesus, continue to serve Jesus and be willing to complete new tasks for the Lord Jesus. There is no retirement when you witness about Jesus and save lost sinners. Note that the word Tekoa means trumpet blast from a shofar ram's horn for a battle signal. Be like the citizens of Tekoa and build God's water gate while you blow the trumpet of God's voice in Zion to save lost sinners for Jesus everywhere. Isaiah 58:1 says Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Like the Nethinims and the Tekoites, Brother Bob considers it an honor to witness Jesus everywhere to thousands of nations on this earth. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Be willing to be a Nethinim servant for Jesus and when you are walking through Walmart, shopping at the Kroger grocery store, or dining at Cracker Barrel, if the Holy Spirit tells you to witness about Jesus to any lost sinner, tell them how to be saved. Don't be selfish. You might be the only Jesus that anyone sees on this earth. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.
