01/06/13

Gate to prosperity through the crown of thorns

Nehemiah 3:3 - But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.


Theologians have great difficulty in understanding why the gates in the wall of Jerusalem were given different names, like in today's scripture we see the gate completed by the sons of Hassenaah was called the Fish gate. Some believe it was called so because this gate was the way to the sae coasts and most of the fish came from this gate.

Was the Lord giving so much importance to the fish diet that the Bible names a gate after it?

In some scriptures this gate is also connected to Hebron because it was also the way to the mountains of Hebron.

Gate is a figurative term in the Bible; Jesus used the term gate for Hades not that Hell has a compound and a gate. Isaiah personifies the gates are lamenting and mourning which causes the city to be desolate. Heaven is said to have gates made of pearls; when Heaven cannot be measured how it can be enclosed by gates? Psalms talks of gates of righteousness, could gate keep the Law to be righteous. Proverbs talks of not oppressing the afflicted at the gate that did not mean they could be oppressed elsewhere. So the term gates did not really gates but symbolic to understand things hidden from man.

Jerusalem city had many gates in its wall and some of them are listed below.

Valley gate, Dung gate, Fountain gate, Sheep gate, Old gate, Water gate, Horse gate, Gate of Ephraim, Gate of the guard, Prison gate, Fish gate, East gate and Corner gate

Today's message talks of the Fish gate and it being built by sons of Hassenaah. To understand this we need to get to do Word study, find the meanings of the Hebrew words and its root meanings.

The Hebrew word fish comes from the root meaning 'to multiply' and the word Hassenaah means 'thorny'.

In Genesis we read when man sinned God cursed man and one of the curses were that thorns and thistles would grow in his field. Thorns in the field symbolize problems in work and thistles lack of profitability/loss.

Before sin Adam did farming and hardly had to work for its up keeping. The field was watered from the underground water table. He just needed to till the ground, sow and reap its harvest. He did not even need to protect his harvest since nature was not against him but for him. But after sin came into man and due to the curse of God man has to struggle in his work to reap for his needs.

Jesus through His sacrifice dealt with all the problem areas and this curse was one of the areas which Jesus dealt with. We read before He was crucified people put a crown of thorns over His head and reed [thistles] were given in His hands. This had to be done so that the curse of thorns and thistles be broken in our lives. Jesus took the curse on Him and now anyone who believes in the complete sacrifice of Jesus will be also free from the curse.

Today's message is telling us if we are facing problems in our work, it may be business, profession or even the work of the Lord. Let us remember Jesus took the thorns on His head and freed us from the curse. Let us tell our problems "we are free from this curse for our Lord has dealt with you, you have no place or power in our lives".


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, even though in your anger You cursed man but in your love You paid the price on behalf of man and freed him from the curse. Time and again Lord we forget that You freed us from the curse and allow the curse to come into our lives. Let us remember whom the Son as set free is free indeed. Jesus took the crown of thorns on His head and also took hold of the thistles, and set us free from problems in our work area. Today we will sow and we will reap a good harvest, not because we are great but because You are great and your Hand is over us. You Lord, work in hidden ways, ways unknown to man but your children reap the fruit of it...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Zephaniah 1:10 - And in that day, saith Jehovah, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Isaiah 3:26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Isaiah 60:9-12
9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Psalms 118:19 - Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

Proverbs 22:22 - Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Genesis 3:18 - thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Matthew 27:29 - And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed [thistles] in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)