Israel, We Remember You and Your Beautiful Gates
Dear Israel:
You have been on our minds and on our hearts for quite some time now. We have been sending up fervent and effectual prayers to our God for you especially as we, your siblings are grafted into the same vine in Christ Jesus.
Our passion for all of Israel to re-unite and to be healed has come as a cost to us but nothing compared to what you have endured and continue to endure, and for which you continuously fight. We are expectant and look forward to you coming into all that our Lord has stored up for you. Remember that the blessings of our Lord are unrepentant. The canker worm and the palmer worm will have to cough up what they took illegitimately from you.
Some of us have visited your hometown and others your home. Thank God for the benefit of technology! Our visits are either physical or by us taking a virtual tour of your homeland. Sometimes we catch up with you through books and the plethora of conversations between you and the countries with tremendous authority. That power though as we know is given only by our Sovereign God.
Part of our biblical memories of the city are the fortified walls built for protection against your enemies. We can almost understand the agitation Nehemiah had knowing that Jerusalem was without walls. He helped in giving us an impetus to work and to work until the task is over.
Consequently to the custom of always having walls erected around the confines of the city, Solomon also built Bethhoron the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities with walls, gates and bars (2 Chron.8:5). We are still amazed at the precision with which those were done, but again, it was only through God.
Speaking of gates – that was a sight to behold! They were usually made up of wood and stone, or wood that had been armored with metal. The Psalmist speaks of gates of brass (copper), and gates of iron (Psalm 107:16). Often they were two-leaved (Isaiah 45:1), and were provided with locks and bars (1 Samuel 23:7).
We wonder what your meeting places are like these days because back in the Old Testament days, your gateways had multi-purposes. The gateways of ancient wall cities and the open spaces near them, were popular meeting places for people. They seemed like large halls that could care for great assemblies. Being vaulted, they also provided a cool place to meet on a hot day.
“The opening of the gates are described by Proverbs as “the chief place of concourse (Proverbs 1:21). The giving of an address or proclamation was given there. Do you remember the comfortable words spoken by King Hezekiah to the people at the gateway? We remember as if it were yesterday. It is found in 2 Chronicles 32:6.
Another eventful occasion was Mordecai sitting in the king’s gate in order to attract attention from the sovereign. We are usually wide-eyed when it comes on to monarchies so that event has not yet faded in our memory. Life has its fill of good and bad. David’s persecutors gossiped about him right there at the city gates (Psalm 69:12). Some of us are still learning how to keep a watch before our tongues.
We encountered a very important use of the gates. It was for holding court. Stone seats were provided for the judges…imagine that! Genesis 19:1 reminds us of Lot sitting at the gate as a judge. Boaz went there to redeem the estate of Elimelech thereby receiving Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:1). The prophet Amos preached to Israel to establish judgement in the gate. The Mosaic Law recognized the city gates as the place of justice (Deut.16:18). Rather than judging you though Israel, we will continue to pray for you.
Sincerely,
Your Sisters and Brothers in Christ.
PRAYER FOR ISRAEL
Heavenly Father, we pray for Israel’s total healing. We pray that You Father be the Bishop of their souls with territorial authority over them and that they will surrender to You and not to their enemies. You have done it through their ancestors many, many times and You have promised that Israel will prevail. Your seven (7) promises to Israel are:
- Peace within your gates [I will give you peace]
- I will protect you
- I will be your strength
- I will be with you
- I will answer you
- I will provide for you
- I will always love you
Thank you Jehovah Yeshua, Adonai, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Saboath,Yahweh, Elohim, El Shadai for answering our prayer.
Reference
Wight, F. (1994) Manners & Customs of Bible Lands, Chapter: The Oriental Town or City, Pages 238 – 241
