The Sheep Gate

This gate was the first gate to be re-built, and the description of Nehemiah 3 starts and ends here. Lying to the North of Jerusalem, and close to the temple this was the gate most used by the priests. Its name comes from its purpose. It was here that the sheep destined for sacrifice in the temple were brought in to the city. It is therefore a natural step for the priests to begin their re-building in their work-place, so to speak.

Nehemiah 3:1

1. Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

Three key spiritual decisions are formed at this gate in our lives.

• Salvation
• Worship
• Leadership

Depending on where you are with Christ right now, the focus of those decisions differs, but these three questions remain, and must be dealt with up front. It is no coincidence that this is the first gate of Nehemiah.

Salvation

- because this was the sheep gate. Jesus described himself as the Shepherd, and we are the sheep.

John 10:7-9

7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

In this light the first and most important decision we make is to follow Christ in the first place. This is the start of our Christian walk, even as this gate was the start of the re-building work.

Leadership

- because this first gate was taken on by the spiritual leaders of the city.

The priests lead from the front. Even the meaning of the high priest’s name is significant. Eliashib means, God will restore. Nehemiah came with the hand of God upon him, and passed on the vision to Eliashib, restoring by the power of God.
The question for us is either, how will we lead, or who will we let lead our lives? Really the question is one and
the same for you cannot lead until you are willing to follow.

Worship

- as that was the purpose of bringing in the sheep.

This is the sheep gate. The first step in re-building has to be here. We must be following the leadership of God, worshiping God, and leading others to him. This stronghold must be built up in order to encourage us in the work of re-building the other gates of the walls.

Living with Purpose

We know that Christ died for us. We know he has put us where we are today for his purpose, but often our understanding is really bad.

The Twelve Gates of Nehemiah

The exact location of the gates is not known, as no extensive excavation has been done, nor is it possible. Further, the position of the current walls does not match the position of the walls in Nehemiah’s time. Indeed it is not surprising to find that in the intervening two and a half centuries the walls have moved many times. A handful of the gates have been positively identified, for the rest, even the archaeologists turn to Nehemiah to work out the positions. Even then there are arguments over the extent of the walls, and whether or not to on include the western hill of Jerusalem.

As I set to studying in preparation for a series on the gates of Nehemiah I hit the first problem. Where are they? I eventually came up with this map. I have edited it, but the original was published in Jerusalem, the saga of the Holy City By Dr. H.M.Z. Meyer (1945)


The order and reality of the gates is important to us, but not the definitive geography of Jerusalem. It is far more important to understand why God gave us the words of Nehemiah chapter 3, and what application these words have in our lives.

What kind of grapes do you produce?

All of us who are in the vine are either bearing fruit, being pruned or re-growing. Where are you?

Faith, life and fire

God has the power to save us from all attackes and most of all, from hell itself, but our task is to speak and live according to his word.

Finance and the believer

The problems Israel of Nehemiah's time faced (Family growth, economic downturn, bills and loans) are the same problems we face today.