G AT E K E E P E R S O F T H E

T E M P L E

An Examination of the Role of Gatekeeper in the Old

Testament and its Lesssons for the Christian Life

Today

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the

written permission of the author.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
1- The Gatekeepers
2- Guarding the Entrance
3- Protecting Temple Property
4- Temple Finances
5- The Gatekeepers and the Worship of Jehovah
6- A Position of Honour
7- A Picture of Work of the Lord
8- Lessons to Learn from the Gatekeepers of the Temple
About The Author

PREFACE

ome years ago, I was studying French in the province of Quebec in

Canada. To help with the learning process, my wife and I attended

a French church. At that time, we did not have enough knowledge

of the language to communicate or even understand the pastor’s sermon. I

remember feeling quite lost and useless in that church.

The believers met in a local school, and so the hymn books were brought

each week and placed on the desks so that people arriving would be able to

sing. When the service was over, the pastor would gather up those hymn

books and take them home with him. I remember watching him gathering

up the books after the Sunday service. I realized that this was a task I could

do –one that didn’t require that I have a good knowledge of the language.

From that point on, I made it a point to help gather up those hymn books

after church.

What I have never forgotten was the sense of fulfilment and joy I felt in

gathering up those books. I felt as if the Lord had given me a ministry in a

church where I could not communicate verbally. I had a deep sense of

serving the Lord. Somehow, I believe He smiled as I joyfully performed

this task each Sunday.

The roles God calls us to do are not always visible. Sometimes they go

unnoticed. No ministry is unimportant, however. Each part played in the

Christian life is a vital one and needs to be done with a heart of joy and

gratitude to the Lord. The function of the gatekeeper was one of those

duties. People would walk past these men at the entrance of the temple and

hardly notice them. Their role, however, was significant in the overall

functioning of the temple.

Not only was their role essential, but it also has much to teach us about

God’s expectations of us as believers in the church today. I trust that this

study will help us to see the significance of the role of gatekeeper and what

it teaches us about God’s expectations as we seek to live out our Christian

life today.

F. Wayne Mac Leod

1- THE GATEKEEPERS

his is a study about the gatekeepers of the temple. I admit it is an

obscure topic. I believe, however, that there are no unimportant

roles to play in the work of the kingdom of God. I am convinced

that these individuals teach us something significant about God and our

walk with Him.

In the most basic terms, the gatekeeper was one who stood at the doors

watching over what came in and out of the temple. The Bible and its

various versions use different terms to describe these workers. Consider the

references below from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

[10] For a day in your courts is better than a thousand

elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my

God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84)

[21] Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the

entrance of the tent of meeting. (1 Chronicles 9)

[4] I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber

of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which

was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of

Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold.

(Jeremiah 35)

The ESV version of the Bible uses the terms “doorkeepers,” “gatekeepers,”

and “keeper of the threshold,” to refer to this function in the work of the

temple. The KJV Bible adds the word “porter.”

1 Chronicles 23:2-6 tells us that the role of gatekeeper was not given to just

anyone:

[2] David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests

and the Levites. [3] The Levites, thirty years old and upward,

were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. [4] “Twenty-

four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the

work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and

judges, [5] 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to

the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.”

[6] And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the

sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (1 Chronicles 23)

From this passage, we see that King David organized the Priests and

Levites into divisions, each with their various responsibilities. Of the thirty-

eight thousand priests and Levites, four thousand were gatekeepers. Notice

that the gatekeepers were selected from the priests and Levites. The task of

keeping the gates was a function of the Levitical priests of the day. This is

confirmed in 2 Chronicles 34:12-13:

[12] And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set

Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and

Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to

have oversight. The Levites, all who were skillful with

instruments of music, [13] were over the burden-bearers and

directed all who did work in every kind of service, and some of

the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers. (2

Chronicles 34)

Notice the phrase, “and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and

gatekeepers.” The implication here is that the role was given only to those

God had chosen to be His priests. They were responsible for what came in

and out of the temple of God.

1 Chronicles 26 tells us that the decision about who would be responsible

for the various gates around the temple was determined by lot:

[12] These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their

chief men, had duties, just as their brothers did, ministering in

the house of the LORD. [13] And they cast lots by fathers’

houses, small and great alike, for their gates. (1 Chronicles 26)

From 1 Chronicles 26:17-19, we learn about the number of gatekeepers

required to be on duty at the temple every day:

[17] On the east there were six each day, on the north four each

day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the

gatehouse. [18] And for the colonnade on the west there were

four at the road and two at the colonnade. [19] These were the

divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons

of Merari. (1 Chronicles 26)

Six gatekeepers worked on the east gate. The north entrance only required

four. In the south, four Levites were stationed at the door and another four

at the gatehouse. Six more men were positioned at the west—four at the

road and two at the colonnade. In total, twenty-four men guarded the

various entrances to the temple every day.

In 1 Samuel 2:22, we have a reference to the sons of Eli and their sin. It

appears that they were having sexual relations with the women “who were

serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”

[22] Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons

were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who

were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. (1 Samuel

The task these women performed is not clear from the passage. We should

not, however, confuse them with the gatekeepers. The gatekeepers were

chosen from among the Levites and given the role to watch over what came

in and out of the temple. The women described here likely performed many

necessary tasks connected with keeping the entrance of the temple clean

and presentable, but they were not gatekeepers in the conventional sense of

the word.

We have a New Testament reference to a servant girl in the courtyard of the

high priest’s home in Matthew 26:69. It was this servant girl who asked

Peter if he knew the Lord Jesus. She was not an official guard or gatekeeper

but, like the women of Eli’s day, carried out her responsibilities at the

entrance to the priest’s home.

The gifts of God’s people supported the gatekeepers and provided for their

basic needs. This is evident in Nehemiah 12:47:

[47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of

Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the

gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites;

and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

(Nehemiah 12)

These daily portions of food and provisions were stored in chambers in the

temple and used as needed by the priests and gatekeepers.

[4] Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed

over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was

related to Tobiah, [5] prepared for Tobiah a large chamber

where they had previously put the grain offering, the

frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil,

which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and

gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. (Nehemiah

13)

From Jeremiah 35:4, we understand that some gatekeepers lived in

chambers in the temple:

[4] I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber

of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which

was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of

Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold.

(Jeremiah 35)

Notice the reference to the “chamber of Maaseiah, the son of Shallum,

keeper of the threshold.” It appears that he had a room in the temple where

he could stay. This is not to say that all gatekeepers lived in the temple.

These men would have their own homes. We do understand, however, that

some rooms were set aside as lodging for gatekeepers and temple officials.

We understand then that some of the Levites were given the responsibility

to be gatekeepers. Each day twenty-four of these Levites were stationed

around the temple watching what came in and out. These gatekeepers were

supported by the gifts of God’s people and exercised an essential role in the

everyday functioning of the work that took place in the temple. In the next

chapters, we will examine the roles these men played in greater detail.

For Consideration:

Why would the temple of God require gatekeepers? What kind of things do

you suppose these men would be keeping out of the temple? What kind of

things would they not allow to leave the temple?

How important was the role of the gatekeeper? Would this have been a

highly sought-after job?

What kind of tasks go unnoticed? How important are those responsibilities?

For Prayer

Take a moment to thank the Lord for individuals in your family, work or

church who faithfully perform ordinary and unnoticed duties that make life

easier for everyone.

Ask the Lord to help you to see the importance of the role He has given you

to play.

2- GUARDING THE

ENTRANCE

ne of the responsibilities of the gatekeepers of the temple was to

keep watch at the entrance. There are many reasons why we

might want to guard a property. The first reason has to do with

protecting what is ours. The temple of Solomon was richly decorated with

gold and silver. There were many valuable articles housed inside its walls.

It would be natural for the people of God to protect this from anyone who

wanted to profit from its wealth. This, however, was not the primary reason

for the gatekeepers.

As mentioned in the first chapter, the gatekeepers were priests. If the

concern of the gatekeeper was merely to protect the wealth of the temple,

they could have hired soldiers to watch the doors. The gatekeepers were

Levitical priests for a reason. Their responsibilities were spiritual and

rooted in their understanding of God and His purposes.

The God of the Jews was holy. Speaking to His people through Moses, the

Lord said:

[44] For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves

therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile

yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.

[45] For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of

Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am

holy.” (Leviticus 11)

This holiness separated God from all that was sinful or unclean. Notice in

the passage above that a person could be defiled by touching an insect that

crawled on the ground. A quick examination of the book of Leviticus shows

us that many things could make a person unclean. Unintentional sins

(Leviticus 4) or deceiving a neighbour (Leviticus 6) would require an

offering for forgiveness. Beyond this, however, a person was impure if he

or she touched any form of human uncleanness (Leviticus 5:3), had a bodily

discharge (Leviticus 12, 15) or skin disease (Leviticus 13). The Law of

Moses required that those who entered the presence of God first be cleansed

of any impurity. To enter the presence of God in an unworthy manner, was

to show great disrespect to God and His temple.

1 Samuel 2:22-25 recounts the story of the sons of Eli, the priest. They

defiled themselves through sexual relations with the women who served at

the entrance of the tabernacle. When Eli heard what his sons were doing, he

rebuked them, but they refused to listen. 1 Samuel 2:25 tells us that God put

Eli’s sons to death. He did so because they defiled the temple and the holy

name they represented through their actions.

Leviticus 15 contains the requirements of God for men who had an

emission of semen or a woman who had her menstrual period. The chapter

concludes with the following warning:

[31] “Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from

their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling

my tabernacle that is in their midst.” [32] This is the law for

him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of

semen, becoming unclean thereby; [33] also for her who is

unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or

female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a

woman who is unclean. (Leviticus 15)

There were severe repercussions for entering the tabernacle without first

being cleansed of bodily discharge. Those who did so defiled the tabernacle

and dishonoured the name of their God. Leviticus 15:31 warns of death to

those who showed such disrespect.

The gatekeepers restricted access to the temple. They did so to protect those

who entered, but more importantly to show respect and honour to the

temple and the God they served. 2 Chronicles 23 is an account of the

reforms that took place under Jehoiada, the priest. Of significance is a

reference in 2 Chronicles 23:19 to the posting of gatekeepers at the gates of

the house of the Lord:

[18] And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD

under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites

whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the

LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, as it is written in

the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according

to the order of David. [19] He stationed the gatekeepers at the

gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who

was in any way unclean. (2 Chronicles 23)

2 Chronicles 23:19 states that Jehoiada posted gatekeepers at the gates of

the house of the Lord so that “no one should enter who was in any way

unclean.” It was the heart of Jehoiada to respect the holiness of God. The

gatekeepers at the various entrances of the temple were to watch out for

anything that might offend the God of Israel.

Writing in Psalm 24, David says:

[3] Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy

place? [4] He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up

his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

[5] He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the

God of his salvation. (Psalm 24)

David speaks here about the “hill of the Lord.” This is a reference to the

temple that was located at a high point in the city of Jerusalem. He asks the

question, “who shall stand in his holy place?” In other words, what kind of

person can come into the temple to worship the Lord God? David answers

this question in verse 4 but telling us that it is the person who has clean

hands and a pure heart. The one who had not given his soul to what is false

or sworn deceitfully can enter the holy presence of God. It is this person

alone who can expect a blessing from the Lord (verse 5).

As we enter the presence of God, we must respect His holiness. Sin and

uncleanness are repulsive to Him. No one can stand before Him who has

not cleansed of his or her impurity. The sacrifices offered day after day on

the courtyard altar sought to purify those who had defiled themselves.

The gatekeepers were a reminder to Israel of her obligation toward a holy

God. They restricted access to the temple to anyone who was not clean.

They were to be zealous for the honour of God. Nothing was to pass by

them that would defile the temple. Nothing unclean was to blaspheme the

name of their God.

For Consideration:

Why were gatekeepers necessary at the entrance of the temple?

What do we learn here about the holiness of God? Do we understand or

respect this holiness today in our churches? How important is it to

recognize God’s holiness?

How did the gatekeepers remind the people of God about their obligations

as they came to worship?

What kind of impurities can we bring to the worship of God today? How

can we be cleansed of these impurities?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that, as a holy God, He is separated from all uncleanness

and impurity.

Ask the Lord to search your heart to see if there is any impurity you need to

confess to Him.

Ask the Lord to give you a greater respect for His holiness. Pray that He

would help you to live a life that honours this quality in Him.

3- PROTECTING TEMPLE

PROPERTY

e have seen that the gatekeepers were stationed around the

temple watching out for anything that might offend a holy and

righteous God. The responsibility of the gatekeepers did not

end there. We discover that they also had the responsibility to watch over

what entered the temple doors.

People came to the temple regularly with offerings. They brought grain and

financial gifts for the Lord and the work of the temple. The gatekeepers and

priests depended on these contributions for their wages. These donations

were placed in storerooms in the temple and guarded by the gatekeepers.

We have the names of six gatekeepers tasked to care for the storehouses at

the gates in Nehemiah 12:25:

[25] Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and

Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of

the gates. (Nehemiah 12)

From 1 Chronicles 9, we learn that it was the chief gatekeepers who were

entrusted with the care of the storehouses and treasures of the temple.

[24] The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north,

and south. [25] And their kinsmen who were in their villages

were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with

these, [26] for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites,

were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the

house of God. [27] And they lodged around the house of God,

for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of

opening it every morning. (1 Chronicles 9)

These men lived on site while performing their duties, assuring the safety of

the donations. The donations were not the only articles these men guarded.

1 Chronicles 9 goes on to say:

[28] Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for

they were required to count them when they were brought in

and taken out. [29] Others of them were appointed over the

furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour,

the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. (1 Chronicles 9)

It is evident from these verses that the responsibility of the gatekeeper was

to watch over the utensils used for sacrifices and other priestly duties. These

utensils would be stored and taken out as needed by the priests. The

gatekeepers would assure that what went out came back and was safely

stored. They also watched over the furniture of the temple, making sure it

was kept safe and in good order. 1 Chronicles 9:29 tells us also that the

supplies needed by the priests such as flour, wine, oil, incense and spices

were also under the responsibility of the chief gatekeepers.

At times repairs would be required. We have a record in Nehemiah 3:29 of

a man by the name of Shemaiah, the keeper of the East Gate. He was

responsible for repairing the city wall in the days of Nehemiah.

[29] After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his

own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the

keeper of the East Gate, repaired. (Nehemiah 3)

The gatekeepers were not always faithful in their duties. The temple was

defiled at times. This may have been because the gatekeepers were lax or

negligent in their duties. Such was the case when Josiah came to the throne

of Israel. The temple of God was in disrepair. To restore the worship of

Jehovah God in his nation, Josiah issued an order to the priests and keepers

of the threshold:

[4] And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the

priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to

bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels made for

Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned

them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried

their ashes to Bethel. (2 Kings 23)

It was the task of the priests and gatekeepers of Josiah’s day to remove all

defilements from the temple. Notice how the gatekeepers and priests

removed vessels made for Baal, Asherah and the hosts of heaven. This was

an indication that the gatekeepers had not been doing their duty. All these

pagan articles were carried outside the city and burned.

During that reign of the evil Queen Athaliah in Judah, a priest by the name

of Jehoiada determined to restore order to the nation and return it to the

worship of God. To do so, he planned a rebellion against the Queen. His

idea was to replace her with the rightful heir to the throne, the young king

Joash. 2 Chronicles 23:4-6 detail his purpose for the priests and Levites in

this overthrow of the evil queen:

[4] This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and

Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be

gatekeepers, [5] and one third shall be at the king’s house and

one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people

shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. [6] Let no one

enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering

Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people

shall keep the charge of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 23)

Notice the function of the gatekeeps in this time of evil. They were to guard

the gates of the house of the Lord so that no one would enter except the

Levites and priests who were holy before the Lord. With gatekeepers in

place, Jehoiada proceeded to anoint Joash as king. When Athaliah heard

about it and came to see what was happening, Jehoiada ordered the soldiers

to kill her. With the evil queen out of the way, Jehoiada and Joash went on

to restore the worship of God in the nation. The gatekeepers had a role to

play in the removal of an evil queen and the restoration of the worship and

service of God.

These verses show us that gatekeepers were not only responsible for

guarding the entrance to the temple, but they also had the care of temple

offerings, utensils and furnishings. Defilements did not always come from

outside the walls of the temple. If what was already in the temple was not

kept secure and in good repair, it hindered the worship of God. Imagine that

offerings could not take place because the utensils required had been lost or

misplaced. Imagine that the offerings of God’s people were spoiled because

they were improperly stored. While the role of gatekeeper may not have

been as noticeable as that of the High Priest, it was nonetheless a vital

ministry.

When defilements did enter the temple, the gatekeepers were involved in

cleaning and restoring the purity of the building and articles of worship so

that the name of God might be honoured. Their work assured that the

worship of God in the temple would be unhindered and that the name of the

Lord was held in high regard.

The God of Israel deserved the highest praise. This meant that He could not

be worshipped carelessly. All the articles used in the adoration and praise of

His name were set aside, kept clean and secure so that nothing would defile

this worship. The service of the gatekeepers was itself an act of worship.

For Consideration:

Can we disrespect God by misusing or abusing what belongs to Him?

Explain.

How can caring for what belongs to God be an act of worship? What has

God given you to care for today?

What kind of defilements enters the church of our day? What do you need

to deal with personally?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to show you if you have been slack in caring for what He has

placed under your responsibility.

Ask God to show you if there are any defilements in your life or church that

need to be removed.

Ask God to give you the grace to be a good gatekeeper over what He has

given you personally.

4- TEMPLE FINANCES

e have seen that the gatekeepers were responsible for temple

property. They watched over this property to assure it was in

good condition and accessible to the priests. This ensured the

proper functioning of temple services.

The gatekeepers were not always faithful in their duty. In the days of King

Jehoash, the house of God was in great disrepair. King Jehoash had a

burden to see the temple restored and commanded the priests of his day to

take the offerings of the people and repair the temple:

[4] Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy

things that is brought into the house of the LORD, the money

for which each man is assessed—the money from the

assessment of persons—and the money that a man’s heart

prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, [5] let the

priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house

wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” (2 Kings 12)

The king reprimanded Jehoiada, the priest for his neglect of the temple. He

also commanded that all money received as donations be handed over for

repairs:

[7] Therefore King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and

the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing

the house? Now therefore take no more money from your

donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.” (2 Kings

12)

What is essential for us to note in 2 Kings 12 is what Jehoiada did in

response to the king’s command.

[9] Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in

the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one

entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded

the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the

house of the LORD. [10] And whenever they saw that there was

much money in the chest, the king’s secretary and the high

priest came up and they bagged and counted the money that

was found in the house of the LORD. [11] Then they would give

the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workmen

who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they paid

it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the

house of the LORD, [12] and to the masons and the

stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for

making repairs on the house of the LORD, and for any outlay

for the repairs of the house. (2 Kings 12)

Jehoiada put a chest at the entrance of the house of the Lord. When money

was donated to the temple, the “priests who guarded the threshold”

(gatekeepers) would bring the money and put it in the chest. When the chest

was full, the king’s secretary and the high priest would bag the money and

give it to the workmen for the restoration of the temple. It was the

gatekeepers who were responsible for seeing that the money donated to the

service of God was placed in that chest.

Later, under the leadership of king Josiah, further repairs were required in

the house of the Lord. Listen to the command of King Josiah in 2 Kings

22:4-5:

[4] “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the

money that has been brought into the house of the LORD,

which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the

people. [5] And let it be given into the hand of the workmen

who have the oversight of the house of the LORD, and let them

give it to the workmen who are at the house of the LORD,

repairing the house. (2 Kings 22)

Notice the phrase “count the money that has been brought into the house of

the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the

people” (2 Kings 22:4). Again, we see from this that the gatekeepers

assured that the financial gifts of God’s people were adequately accounted

for and kept safely for the work of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 9:26 shows us that it was not only the responsibility of the

gatekeeper to receive the gifts of God’s people but also to ensure their

safekeeping. They were to guard the “treasures of the house of God:”

[26] for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were

entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the

house of God. (1 Chronicles 9)

2 Chronicles 31 teaches us that they were also charged with the

responsibility to distribute those treasures to those who needed them:

[14] And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east

gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the

contribution reserved for the LORD and the most holy

offerings. [15] Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah,

and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in the cities of the

priests, to distribute the portions to their brothers, old and

young alike, by divisions (2 Chronicles 31)

Notice that Kore, the keeper of the east gate, was given the task of

distributing the contributions and offerings. A team of priests assisted him

in distributing these gifts to their brothers in various cities.

As you can imagine, the task of gatekeeper required absolute integrity.

Writing to Timothy, the apostle Paul would say:

[10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is

through this craving that some have wandered away from the

faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6)

We have all read stories of men and women who have abused their position

of trust because of their love for money. The people of God entrusted their

finances into the hands of these gatekeepers who saw to it that their gifts

were safely stored, accounted for, and distributed as intended. It was their

duty to guarantee that every donation, no matter how small, was used for

the glory of God.

In the days leading up to the death of the Lord Jesus, He and His disciples

were at that home of Lazarus. Mary, his sister, took some costly perfume

and anointed the feet of Jesus. While this was a prophetic statement about

that death of Jesus, Judas objected to Mary’s extravagance, claiming that it

would have been better to sell the perfume and give the money to the poor:

[4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about

to betray him), said, [5] “Why was this ointment not sold for

three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12)

Notice, however, the motivation behind the objection of Judas:

[6] He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but

because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he

used to help himself to what was put into it. (John 12)

Judas was a gatekeeper of sorts. He received and safeguarded the donations

given for the work of the Lord Jesus and His disciples. The problem was

that his love for money was such that he would help himself to what was in

the moneybag. He was not trustworthy.

The work of God requires reliable gatekeepers. The task will not

accomplished without the generous contributions of God’s people. We need

men and women of confidence to assure that the donations of God’s people

are kept for the purpose intended and distributed faithfully to accomplish

the goal for which they were given.

For Consideration:

How was the position of gatekeeper a position of trust? What would be the

result if gatekeepers were not trustworthy?

How essential were the contributions of God’s people for the work of

ministry in the Old Testament period? How significant are these

contributions today?

What has God given you personally? Are you accountable to Him for the

use and safekeeping of the gifts He has given? Have you been faithful?

The task of the gatekeeper was to assure that all contributions were

distributed to those for whom they were intended. Have you been faithful to

see that what the Lord has given you has been given to those who need it?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for what He has entrusted into your care. Ask Him to help

you to be faithful in getting what He has assigned to you to those who need

it.

The gatekeeper did not own what was contributed; he was merely to watch

over it and assure that those for whom it was intended received the benefit.

Ask the Lord to give you this heart. Ask Him to forgive you for believing

that what we have received is for us alone.

Ask God to give you absolute integrity in the handling of the gifts He has

given you.

Pray for the men and women in your church who have responsibility for the

finances. Pray that God would give them victory over any temptation to

dishonesty and greed.

5- THE GATEKEEPERS

AND THE WORSHIP OF

JEHOVAH

hile the role of the gatekeeper was a “behind the scenes” role,

it was nonetheless a vital one. The significance of their

responsibilities became quite evident in the worship of Israel.

1 Chronicles 16 recounts the story of how David brought the Ark of the

Covenant to Jerusalem and placed it in a tent. This was a significant event

in the history of the city. It was over this Ark that that Lord God revealed

His presence in the temple. Speaking to Moses, the Lord said:

[22] There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat,

from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the

testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in

commandment for the people of Israel. (Exodus 25)

God told Moses that He would meet with him at that ark. From there, He

would speak to Him and reveal His purpose for the nation. The ark

contained a copy of the ten commandments given to Moses. The Ark of the

Covenant was placed in the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place in the

temple. This place was so holy that even the priests could not enter lest they

die:

[2] and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not

to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before

the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I

will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. (Leviticus 16)

The writer to the Hebrews teaches us that the High Priest alone could go

into the Holy of Holies. He did this only once a year to perform his duties

before the ark. Before doing so, however, he had to purify himself to be

sure he brought no defilement before God in this most holy place.

[6] These preparations having thus been made, the priests go

regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,

[7] but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but

once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for

himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. (Hebrews

The Ark of the Covenant was so crucial to the worship of Jehovah that

according to 1 Chronicles 16:37-38, David assigned gatekeepers to watch

over it.

[37] So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark

of the covenant of the LORD to minister regularly before the

ark as each day required, [38] and also Obed-edom and his

sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun,

and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. (1 Chronicles 16)

Obed-edom and Hosah were to be gatekeepers of the ark (verse 38). Their

task was to protect the ark at a distance assuring that nothing would enter

the Holy of Holies to defile it.

It is interesting to note that when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into

Jerusalem for the first time, it was accompanied by priests and singers who

played on musical instruments. Harps, lyres and cymbals offered loud

praise to God as the Ark approached the city (1 Chronicles 15:16). In the

middle of this celebration, however, we also find the gatekeepers:

[23] Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

[24] Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah,

Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets

before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be

gatekeepers for the ark. (1 Chronicles 15)

Notice the reference to gatekeepers twice in these two verses. They were an

essential part of the worship of God that day.

2 Chronicles 35 recounts the history of the revival that took place under

King Josiah of Judah. After cleansing the land of its impurities, the king

ordered the celebration of the Passover. This Passover was like no other

Passover:

[18] No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days

of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such

a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the

Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the

inhabitants of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 35)

As the celebrations of that day began, we read in verse 15:

[15] The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place

according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman,

and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers were at each

gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their

brothers the Levites prepared for them. (2 Chronicles 35:15)

The singers and gatekeepers were in place as the celebrations began. Each

had their role in the worship of Jehovah. The singers praised His name in

song. The gatekeepers watched for anything that would offend His holy

presence. This was their act of worship. It was an essential service to the

community. Nothing would drive the presence of God from their midst like

sin and evil. These men stood guard, assuring that the Lord was worshipped

in the “splendour of holiness” (see 1 Chronicles 16:29).

The Ark of the Covenant was not the only article in the temple for which

the gatekeepers were responsible. 1 Chronicles 9 lists the responsibly of the

gatekeepers:

[28] Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for

they were required to count them when they were brought in

and taken out. [29] Others of them were appointed over the

furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour,

the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. (1 Chronicles 9)

Many of the articles used for the worship of the Lord were under the care of

that gatekeepers. It was their responsibility to watch over these articles and

assure that they were kept securely and in good condition so the worship of

God would be unhindered.

We should notice here that the task of the gatekeeper was not only to protect

the temple from any desecrations but also to let in those who would bring

joy and gladness to the worship of Jehovah God.

We have a story in 2 Kings 7 about how the Syrians attacked and

surrounded the city of Samaria in the days of Elisha. This event caused

great distress to the inhabitants as the food supplies were cut off. Mothers

resorted to eating their children and despair filled their hearts. Amid this

suffering, the prophet Elisha promised an abundance of food for the city.

While some mocked his prophecy, the fulfilment came when the angel of

the Lord caused the Syrians to hear the sound of an army approaching. This

caused their hearts to fear and, in panic, they abandoned their siege of the

city and fled, unknown to the inhabitants of Samaria.

It was some starving lepers in the region who discovered that Syria had

abandoned its siege, leaving behind an abundance of provisions as Elisha

had prophesied.

Not feeling it was right to leave the city to starve while they basked in

abundance, the lepers approached the gatekeepers of the city to inform them

of what they had discovered.

[9] Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This

day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the

morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore

come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” [10] So they

came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them,

“We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no

one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and

the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” [11] Then the

gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king’s

household. (2 Kings 7)

It was the gatekeepers who announced to the inhabitants of the city that the

prophesy of Elisha had come true. The result was that the city went out and

brought back provisions of food. The lives of the inhabitants of Samaria

were saved. The gatekeepers announced the good news that brought their

salvation. The report these gatekeepers gave cause for the citizens of

Samaria to give praise and honour to their God who had provided for their

need.

The gatekeepers played a vital role in the worship of God. They

safeguarded the sacred articles of the temple and kept them from

defilement. They stood guard as the people praised and gave thanks to the

Lord for His goodness. For the Old Testament believer, the worship of God

was not taken lightly. They set a guard around the worship of Jehovah.

Gatekeepers were charged to stand watch as the people worshiped their God

so that no distraction or defilement would hinder the praise of His name.

For Consideration:

In what way was the Ark of the Covenant central in the worship of the Lord

God? What responsibilities did the gatekeepers have toward the Ark?

What role did the gatekeepers have in preserving the integrity and purity of

worship? How significant was this role?

Why is it essential to guard our worship of God? What kind of distractions

can enter our worship of His name?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He is worthy of our sincere worship.

Ask the Lord to show you if anything is distracting you in the praise of His

name. Pray that these distractions will be removed.

Ask the Lord to guard the purity of worship in your church? Ask Him to

raise up man and women of faith who can warn us of distractions and errors

in our worship.

6- A POSITION OF

HONOUR

he role of the gatekeeper was, for the most part, unnoticed. It was a

service role to the other priests, who were more visible in the

temple. This is not to say, however, that their position was not an

honourable one.

In 1 Chronicles 6:31-33, we have a list of priests given the responsibility for

music in the worship of the temple. Among those listed were the sons of

Korah (verse 33). According to 1 Chronicles 9, these sons of Korah were

known as the Korahites and were tasked with the responsibility of being

“keepers of the threshold” or gatekeepers.

[19] Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah,

and his kinsmen of his fathers’ house, the Korahites, were in

charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of

the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the

LORD, keepers of the entrance. (1 Chronicles 9)

These Korahite gatekeepers were also involved in the temple music. As

musicians, they composed eleven psalms (see Psalm 42, 44-49,84-85, 87-

88). Of note is Psalm 84, where they speak about their role as gatekeepers.

[10] For a day in your courts is better than a thousand

elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my

God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84)

The Korahites saw their role as gatekeepers to be an honourable one.

Standing at the door of the house of the Lord was better than living in the

luxury of wickedness. One day serving in the court of the house of God was

better than a thousand days serving anywhere else. They felt privileged to

play a role in the worship of the Lord God as gatekeepers.

Many years ago, I attended a French church as part of my language

preparation for serving in Mauritius and Reunion. In those early days of

language study, I was unable to understand that message or even speak with

the members of the church. I felt useless. The church was meeting in a

school at that time. I remember watching the pastor gather up the hymn

books after the service and felt the Lord speaking to me about helping with

this. I remember to this day the joy I had on Sundays to serve in this way. I

believed that this was the ministry the Lord had given me in that church. As

I read Psalm 84:10, I get this sense of joy in the hearts of the sons of Korah.

They delighted in the work they had been given and served with all their

heart.

When Ezra was commissioned to return from Babylon to Jerusalem to teach

the Jews who had returned to build the city, he did not go alone. Ezra 7:7

tells us that he brought with him priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and

temple servants:

[7] And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of

Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of

the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the

temple servants. (Ezra 7)

Ezra believed in the importance of gatekeepers in the worship of God.

Nehemiah also was a leader in the reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem

after the exile. In Nehemiah 7, we read that the Lord put it on his heart to

make a list of those who had returned from exile to Jerusalem to help in the

rebuilding of the nation:

[5] Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles

and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy.

And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at

the first, and I found written in it: (Nehemiah 7)

In that list, we discover the following:

[45] The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the

sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons

of Shobai, 138. (Nehemiah 7)

Six families of gatekeepers responded to the call to return from exile to be

involved in the reestablishment of the nation of Israel. One hundred and

thirty-eight gatekeepers were among those who resettled in the ruined city

of Jerusalem.

The people who returned from exile settled in various parts of the nation of

Israel. In Nehemiah 11 it was determined that the population of the city of

Jerusalem needed to be increased to defend and manage its affairs. The

leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, but many of the people were

living outside the city where they could make a living off the land.

Remember that the city had been burned and left in ruins by their enemies.

Life in Jerusalem would have been somewhat challenging in those early

days of rebuilding.

The people decided that they would cast lots to see who would live in the

city. One out of ten families were chosen by lot to live in Jerusalem. The

rest would live elsewhere in the nation.

[11:1] Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And

the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in

Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the

other towns. [2] And the people blessed all the men who

willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 11)

Notice in Nehemiah 11 that the people blessed those who willingly offered

to live in Jerusalem. They recognized that this decision would not be easy

as there would have been many inconveniences, at least until everything

was restored. Among those chosen to live in the city of Jerusalem in those

days were one hundred and seventy-two gatekeepers:

[19] The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who

kept watch at the gates, were 172. [20] And the rest of Israel,

and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of

Judah, every one in his inheritance. (Nehemiah 11)

These gatekeepers willingly offered to serve their brothers and sisters by

settling in the city. The citizens of Israel respected the humble servant

attitude of the gatekeepers.

2 Kings 25 tells us what took place in Jerusalem when the Babylonians

invaded and sent the Israelites into captivity. Nebuzaradan burned the

temple, the king’s palace and the other homes in the city of Jerusalem (2

Kings 25:8-9). He stripped the temple of its treasures and carried them off

with him to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13-16). He also took the key leaders of the

city captive and brought them with him to Babylon to present them to the

Babylonian king. 2 Kings 25:18-20 is a list of these officials:

[18] And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest

and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the

threshold; [19] and from the city he took an officer who had

been in command of the men of war, and five men of the king’s

council who were found in the city; and the secretary of the

commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land;

and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the

city. [20] And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them

and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. [21] And

the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at

Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out

of its land. (2 Kings 25)

Among those taken into captivity were both religious and political leaders.

Here is the list of men presented to the king of Babylon:

1. An officer in command of the men of war

2. Five men from the King’s council

3. The secretary of the army commander

4. The high priest Seraiah

5. Zephaniah, the second priest

6. Three keepers of the threshold (gatekeepers)

7. 60 men of the people

Notice that among these officials were three gatekeepers. They were taken

along with the two highest ranking priests at that time. All these men were

put to death by the king of Babylon.

The gatekeepers of the Temple were men of honour who certainly left their

mark. Among them were the psalmists of Israel who composed psalms for

the worship of God. They volunteered their time and efforts in the

reconstruction of the nation of Israel after the enemy destroyed it. They

were among those who willingly offered to settle and defend the city of

Jerusalem in the early days of its resettlement. Finally, at least three of them

lost their lives as they stood proudly before the king of Babylon with the

other officials of Israel. They saw it as a privilege to be a “doorkeeper in the

house of the Lord” (Psalm 84:10). Their humble attitude in a service role is

one we need to see today.

For Consideration:

The gatekeeper’s role was a humble but honourable role. Do we recognize

the significance of people in our day who have this kind of position in the

church?

Psalm 84:10 shows us the attitude of a gatekeeper toward his humble

position. What does this psalm teach us about how blessed the psalmist felt

in his status as a keeper of the threshold? What is your attitude toward the

role God has given you in His kingdom?

What evidence do we have in this chapter of the servant attitude of the

gatekeeper? What challenge does this bring us today as servants of God?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you the grace to accept and delight in the role He has

given you in the advancement of the kingdom.

Take a moment to pray that the Lord would help you to be a willing servant,

ready to sacrifice your all for the blessing of His people and the glory of His

name.

Thank the Lord for men and women in your church and community who

serve with no need for attention or affirmation. Ask the Lord to bless these

humble servants.

7- A PICTURE OF WORK

OF THE LORD

he gatekeepers of the Old Testament not only served a vital role in

the worship of God, but their position has something to teach us

about the heart of God for the lives of His people.

The apostle Paul had this to say to the Corinthians:

[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy

Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your

own. (1 Corinthians 6)

What it the temple of God today? According to Paul, the bodies of believers

are temples of the Holy Spirit who lives within. If our bodies are temples of

the Holy Spirit, they need to be kept from defilement just as the temple of

God in the Old Testament. This requires a gatekeeper.

Speaking about his suffering for the Gospel, the apostle Paul told Timothy:

[12] which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I

know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able

to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. (2

Timothy 1)

The apostle Paul suffered much for the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was

not afraid for he knew that the Lord God would guard what he had

entrusted to him. Paul knew that, as a temple of the Holy Spirit, God had

placed His Holy Spirit in him, and now God was working out His purpose

in the temple of Paul’s body. That purpose of God was so sacred that God

Himself chose to guard it. God stood as gatekeeper over the work He was

doing in the heart and life of the apostle.

This idea of God as a gatekeeper brought great comfort to Paul as it did to

Solomon. Listen to the words of Solomon in Psalm 127:

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. [127:1] Unless the LORD

builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the

LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

[2] It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating

the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

(Psalm 127)

Solomon knew that he could post watchmen at the gates of his city, but

unless the Lord watched over the city, the work of these guards was in vain.

The only way Solomon could sleep well and secure at night was in the

assurance that the Lord God, Himself acted as the gatekeeper of his city.

The apostle Paul shared this same bold confidence. He was assured that

God would keep what He had entrusted Him. His salvation was assured

because God stood guard at the gate of his earthly temple.

Isaiah adds another dimension to this thought when he says:

[9] “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my

praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. [10]

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in

the furnace of affliction. [11] For my own sake, for my own

sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I

will not give to another. (Isaiah 48)

Notice what God says through the prophet here. He told His people that He

would restrain His anger for the sake of His praise. He would not allow His

name to be profaned, nor would he give His glory to another. The task of

the gatekeeper was to honour the name of the Lord God by restricting the

access to that temple. They kept out anything that hindered the praise of the

Lord God. This is what the Lord said He would do for Israel. He would

restrain His anger lest it cause His people to cease offering Him praise.

Consider the words of the Lord God to Hosea concerning Israel:

[5] For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived

them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my

lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my

flax, my oil and my drink.’ [6] Therefore I will hedge up her

way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she

cannot find her paths. [7] She shall pursue her lovers but not

overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them.

Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for

it was better for me then than now.’ [8] And she did not know

that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and

who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

(Hosea 2)

Through His servant Hosea, the Lord told his wandering and unfaithful

people that He would not allow them to continue in rebellion against Him.

He would pursue and overtake them. In the end, they would return to the

Lord their God and praise Him for His bounty and mercy. As the gatekeeper

actively pursued anything that would defile the worship of God, so the Lord

God seeks to remove anything in us that would keep us from bringing Him

the honour and praise He deserves.

In Isaiah 48:10, quoted above we see that God told His people that He had

refined them

[10] Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried

you in the furnace of affliction. [11] For my own sake, for my

own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My

glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48)

It was the duty of the gatekeepers not only to protect the temple but also

make sure that its utensils and articles used in worship were in good repair.

Notice what God told Isaiah in chapter 48 of his prophecy. God told him

that He had refined his people in the furnace of affliction. God took it on

Himself to purify and cleanse His people of their sin and defilements so that

they could be true worshippers of His name. Of course, the best example of

the passion of God in this regard is the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus,

who assured our pardon and cleansing.

Listen to what the Lord God has to say through His servant Ezekiel:

[25] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean

from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will

cleanse you. [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new

spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone

from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will

put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes

and be careful to obey my rules. [28] You shall dwell in the

land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people,

and I will be your God. [29] And I will deliver you from all

your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it

abundant and lay no famine upon you. (Ezekiel 36)

God promises to cleanse us from our uncleanness and put a new heart and

spirit in us. This is a task that the Lord God takes on Himself. Indeed, if He

did not take this task on Himself, we would have no hope of being clean

before Him. As our gatekeeper, the Lord God stands guard over us,

protecting us from evil and cleansing our impurities so that we can worship

Him in purity and integrity.

The Scripture often speaks about how the Lord God watches over His

people and what He has entrusted to them. The writer of Proverbs, writing

about a God who knows all things says this:

[12] If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he

who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch

over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to

his work? (Proverbs 24)

Notice the question the writer asks here: “Does not he who keeps watch

over the soul know it?” God watches over our souls. He has an interest in

our spiritual life. He knows every detail about the condition of our soul and

commits Himself to care and to look after us.

Psalm 121 promises that God will keep us from evil:

[7] The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your

life. (Psalm 121)

It was the prayer of Jesus to the Father that He would protect those who

belonged to Him from the evil one:

[15] I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that

you keep them from the evil one. (John 17)

King David not only understood that God was his gatekeeper, but he prayed

that God would keep watch over the door of his lips.

[3] Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the

door of my lips! [4] Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to

busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work

iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (Psalm 141)

David knew how dependent he was on the Lord God to be the doorkeeper

of his lips, heart and actions. He understood the temptation of his flesh to

speak evil. He knew the evil inclinations of his heart toward evil. He found

himself in the company of wicked men, desirous of eating the enticing

delicacies of sin. He pleaded with God to watch over his soul. If God was

not his gatekeeper, David knew he would fall. He depended entirely on the

work of God to guard what was coming in and out of the temple of his

body.

David also cried out to God to watch over his thoughts. He invited the

heavenly gatekeeper into his mind to search out any impurities and remove

them.

[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know

my thoughts! [24] And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139)

What a comfort it is for the believer to know that the Lord God acts as a

gatekeeper over our soul, protecting, cleansing and keeping it so that we

can worship Him aright.

There is another aspect to the image of God as a gatekeeper that we need to

see. Speaking about the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28, the Lord said:

[16] In the abundance of your trade you were filled with

violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a

profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O

guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel

28)

As a gatekeeper, the concern of God is for holiness and righteousness. This

means that He will judge anything that defiles His purpose and cast it out.

This is what Ezekiel tells us happened to the king of Tyre. He was removed

from the presence of God, “as a profane thing” and destroyed.

When the apostle John saw his vision of the temple in Revelation 21, he

made the following statement:

[22] And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord

God the Almighty and the Lamb. [23] And the city has no need

of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light,

and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] By its light will the nations walk,

and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, [25] and

its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night

there. [26] They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the

nations. [27] But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone

who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are

written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21)

The gates of the city of the New Jerusalem will be guarded and protected.

Nothing unclean, detestable or false will enter to defile. While there is no

reference to gatekeepers in this passage, it is evident that the gates would be

kept from anything sinful. Nothing evil will enter these gates for God acts

as the gatekeeper of the city.

There is one more detail I want to mention regarding the Lord God as a

gatekeeper. We read the following in John 10:

[10:1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the

sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is

a thief and a robber. [2] But he who enters by the door is the

shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The

sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and

leads them out. (John 10)

Jesus uses a parable here to explain the way of salvation. In this parable,

Jesus used an illustration of a shepherd and his sheep. At night the

shepherds would bring their sheep to a pen where they could spend the

night. This pen was large enough that the fold of many shepherds could

spend the night. The shepherds of these various folds would then hire a

gatekeeper to remain by the gate at night to protect all the sheep. In the

morning, the shepherds would come to the fold. Because the gatekeeper

recognized them, he would open the gate for them. Each shepherd would

call out to his sheep. The sheep, understanding their shepherd's call, would

then make their way to him. The shepherd would then lead them out to

pasture where he would spend the day with them.

The gatekeeper would not open the gate to anyone other than the shepherds.

He would judge anyone who tried to enter any other way as a thief and

defend the sheep against this intruder. As a gatekeeper, the Lord God opens

the door to His son to call out to us. He gives us access to His Son by

opening the gate for us to follow Him. Only those sheep who respond to the

call of the shepherd can leave the fold for green pastures. The gatekeeper

then closes the gate to all who do not answer to the voice of the Shepherd.

This is a sobering thought. The gatekeeper restricted access to the temple.

The gates of heaven are not open to all. As a gatekeeper, God only allows

those who respond to the voice of His Son to enter the city. How important

it is then that we hear the call of the Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd.

What do we understand from this? The gatekeepers reflected, by their work,

something of the character of God and His purpose. They did this in two

ways.

First, they protected and guarded the temple of God. Similarly, the Lord

God watches over what He has entrusted to us. He preserves the work He

began in us. He purifies us of our sins and cleanses us so that we can bring

Him glory. Without His work as a gatekeeper, protecting and maintaining

we would surely be lost. We depend on Him to watch over and keep us.

Second, the gatekeeper was responsible for restricting access to the temple.

Nothing impure could enter. Nothing that would defile the holiness of the

temple was given access. As a gatekeeper, the Lord God also restricts

access to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Only those who respond to the call of

His Son will be permitted to enter. Only those who have been forgiven and

cleansed by the work of Christ have the privilege of eternal life in His

presence.

[7] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be

his God and he will be my son. [8] But as for the cowardly, the

faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral,

sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the

lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

(Revelation 21)

For Consideration:

Why do we, as temples of God, need a gatekeeper? Can we serve as

adequate gatekeepers of our souls?

What assurance does having the Lord God as your gatekeeper give? We

have examined some verses in this chapter that speak to this work of God.

Is there one that gives you comfort?

The gatekeeper was responsible for keeping the utensils used for worship

clean and in good repair. What can defile our souls before God? What

comfort do you find in the fact that God, as a gatekeeper wants to cleanse

you of these defilements?

Is the gate of heaven open to all people? What are the requirements for

entering? With God as the gatekeeper, will any enter who do not respond to

the voice of His Son?

Why is it important that nothing evil or unclean can enter heaven?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He has committed Himself to keep what He has

entrusted to us. Pray that you would be open more to this work of His Spirit

in your life.

Confess to the Lord that you are in yourself unable to keep what He has

entrusted to you. Confess to Him your weakness and ask Him to guard your

mind, body and soul against evil and temptation.

Praise the Lord that heaven is closed to sin and evil of all kinds. Thank Him

for sending His Son to forgive you. Thank Him for giving you His Holy

Spirit to enable you to walk in righteousness.

Take a moment to ask the Lord to search your heart and mind to see if there

is any evil way in you. Ask Him to cleanse you so that you can bring

greater glory to His name.

8- LESSONS TO LEARN

FROM THE GATEKEEPERS

OF THE TEMPLE

want to conclude this study with a word about what the role of

gatekeeper teaches us about our obligations before God today. Let’s

begin with what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians:

[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy

Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your

own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in

your body. (1 Corinthians 6)

Paul told the Corinthians that their bodies were the temple of the Holy

Spirit. If they belonged to the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit lived in them. The

conclusion Paul brings from this is that the believer was to glorify God in

the body. The purpose of a temple is to honour God for whom it was made.

These bodies were created by and for the Lord:

[16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on

earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or

rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and

for him. (Colossians 1)

Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:19 (quoted above) that they did

not belong to themselves because they were bought with the blood of Jesus

Christ. It is for this reason and more that the apostle challenges us to

glorify God in the earthly temples of our bodies.

In the last chapter, we saw that God acts as a gatekeeper of our temples.

This, however, does not excuse us from personal obligation. Scripture calls

us to participate with God in the protection and use of our temples for His

glory. This means that we too are to be gatekeepers. This is why the apostle

Paul challenged the Corinthians to glorify God in their body (1 Corinthians

6:20). In saying this, the apostle showed the Corinthians that they had a

responsibility to be active gatekeepers over their bodies.

Many sacrifices were made in the temple of the Old Testament. The Lord

God was worshipped through these sacrificial offerings brought each day.

Consider what the apostle Paul told the Romans in Romans 12:1:

[12:1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of

God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not

be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal

of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of

God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12)

The sacrifices of the New Testament are not animal sacrifices but the

presentation of our bodies as holy and acceptable offerings to God. Paul

told the Romans that for this to take place, they were not to be conformed to

the world and its standards. On the contrary, they were to be renewed in

mind so that they could discern what was pleasing to God and walk in it.

What we need to see from Romans 12:1-2 is that God expects that we offer

ourselves not just as living sacrifices but as holy and acceptable sacrifices

to God. God demands more than a sacrifice –he requires holiness. Defective

lambs did not bring honour to the Lord. Paul told the Romans that if they

were going to offer themselves as holy and acceptable sacrifices, two things

needed to happen. First, they were not to bconformed to this world. Second,

they were to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. We could go

into great detail here on Romans 12:2 but suffice it to say in this context

that for us to honour God and be the holy and acceptable sacrifice He

desires we need to resist the influence of this world and embrace the

renewing work of God’s Spirit in us.

As gatekeepers of our bodies, we must watch over our minds. The world

around us bombards us with its way of thinking and its priorities. A good

gatekeeper has enough discernment to know what is godly and what is

unholy. It is our responsibility to resist the ungodly influences of this world

and refuse them entrance to the temple of our bodies lest they hinder the

work of God’s Spirit to renew our minds.

Imagine that you were on a ship that struck a rock and tore a hole in its side.

The result is that you are taking in water. To remedy this, you send your

crew down into the hull of the ship to bail out the water. They work for

hours but don’t seem to be getting anywhere. They keep bailing water, but

the hole in the ship’s side keeps allowing water in, and they can’t get ahead

of it, so the vessel continues to be a risk of sinking. What is the remedy to

the problem these sailors are experiencing? The solution is to fix the hole in

the ship so that the water can no longer pour in. This is what Paul is saying

to the Romans. He is telling them that if they wanted to honour God in their

bodies, they needed to plug the holes that allowed the ungodly influences

and thoughts to flood into their mind. This is our role as gatekeepers of our

temples.

Consider what Paul told Titus:

[11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for

all people, [12] training us to renounce ungodliness and

worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly

lives in the present age (Titus 2)

According to Titus 2, we are to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.

We must not allow these evil thoughts entrance to our minds. Nor are we to

allow our bodies to submit to their temptations. When Paul told Titus that

the believer was to learn how to “renounce ungodliness and worldly

passions,” he was telling him that we need to stand guard and actively fight

off the influences of the world. As gatekeepers, we must jealously guard the

temple of our bodies lest they are defiled by the sinful lusts and passions of

the world. We are to keep watch on ourselves:

[6:1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you

who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6)

It is not just the influences from outside that the believer was to avoid. As

sinners, the old nature raises its head and reveals its presence more often

than we would like. Paul told Timothy that he was to refrain from

“irreverent babble:”

[16] But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into

more and more ungodliness, (2 Timothy 2)

While Paul does not clearly define what he meant here, the Spirit of God

will reveal this clearly to us by convicting us about our words. It is our task

as gatekeepers, not only to protect ourselves from outside influence what

will contaminate but also to maintain the purity of the utensils used for

worship of God already in the temple. Our tongue is one of those utensils

committed to the praise of Jehovah. We must take care lest it becomes

unclean and defile the temple in which the Spirit of God dwells.

Listen to what the Lord told His people in Deuteronomy 8:

[17] Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the

might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ [18] You shall

remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you

power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he

swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8)

God challenged His people to watch over their heart lest they allow it to

believe that they had become wealthy because of their efforts. In other

words, they were to guard their hearts against pride. The Lord would go on

to tell His people:

[9] Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart

and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and

your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give

him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be

guilty of sin. [10] You shall give to him freely, and your heart

shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the

LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that

you undertake. (Deuteronomy 15)

Because all their wealth came from the Lord, they were to give it to those in

need. As gatekeepers of their heart, they were to watch out for greed, lest it

defiles the temple of God. If we are to worship God in these bodies, we

must be careful not only to keep outside contaminating influences out but

also assure the purity and cleanness of what is in the temple.

There is one other detail I want to touch on in this regard. Listen to Paul’s

challenge to Timothy:

[20] O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. (1 Timothy

He would go on in his second letter to Timothy to say:

[6] For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of

God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-

control. (2 Timothy 1)

Paul encouraged his son in the Lord to faithfully guard what God had given

to him for ministry purposes. He was not only to guard this gift but fan it

into flame. He was to use what God had given him boldly. One of the duties

of the gatekeeper was to assure that the gifts God’s people gave were used

for their intended purpose. Paul makes it very clear to Timothy that the gifts

God had given him were to be used for His glory. These gifts were not to be

hoarded up or stored away unused.

Writing in 1 Peter 4, the apostle Peter said:

[10] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as

good stewards of God’s varied grace: [11] whoever speaks, as

one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who

serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in

everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him

belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4)

The apostle challenges us as gatekeepers of the temple of our bodies to be

faithful stewards of the gifts that God has given us. We are to walk in those

gifts. If we have gifts of speaking, we are to speak the words God gives us.

If we have gifts of serving, we are to serve with all the strength God

supplies. Notice the purpose for our stewardship of these gifts – “that in

everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (verse 11).

The purpose of the temple was to provide a place to glorify God. God was

exalted as the gatekeeper kept out sinful influences. God was praised when

what the keeper of the threshold kept what was inside the temple clean and

undefiled. God was honoured that same gatekeeper made sure that the gifts

given for God’s purpose were used as intended.

What is true for our personal lives is also true of our church life. Our

churches need gatekeepers as well. We need prophetic men and women who

are discerning and wise to warn us of the evil influences of the world

creeping into our midst. We need gatekeeping pastors who to help us to

walk in integrity and holiness of life. We need gatekeeper teachers who will

train us in the ways of the Word of God. We need men and women of faith

who will be wise stewards of the gifts God has given and step out boldly in

the use of those gifts to minister in Christ’s name.

As gatekeepers of our temples, we have a vital role to play. Have we been

slack as gatekeepers? Has this resulted in weak spiritual lives and churches

filled with ungodly influences? Have we hindered the work of God’s Spirit

who resides in us by our failure to be gatekeepers? Has the church lost its

position of power and influence in our society because it has been defiled?

In the last chapter, we saw that God has promised to be a gatekeeper, but

this does not mean that we are excused from our obligation. We are called

to join the Lord God in this task of maintaining the purity of the temple of

our body and the purity of His church. We are challenged by the Word of

God to be diligent in our role as gatekeepers. We must guard our body,

mind and soul, lest the evil of this world defile them. We must respect our

body, mind and soul as the temple of the Holy Spirit and maintain their

purity and godliness. We are called to see to it that the gifts given to this

temple are used faithfully to bring glory and honour to the Lord, for whom

we were created. Only as the temple of our body, mind and soul is

maintained and offered as an acceptable and living sacrifice to God can it

become all that God intended and bring Him glory. May God give us the

grace to be wise and discerning gatekeepers for the glory of His name.

For Consideration:

Romans 12:1-2 tell us that we are to offer ourselves as holy and acceptable

sacrifices to God? Can we do this if we are not guarding our hearts and

minds?

Can we expect to be all that God calls us to be if we are not blocking out

the evil influences of the world? What kind of worldly influences hinder the

work of God’s Spirit in our lives?

The role of the gatekeeper of the temple was to assure that the gifts brought

to the temple were being used as God intended. Have you been faithfully

using the gifts God has given you? Are their spiritual gifts that you have not

used?

Why is it essential that we have gatekeepers in our church today? Who are

these gatekeepers? Is their role an easy one? What are the challenges for the

gatekeeper today?

For Prayer:

Ask God for discernment to recognize the evil influences that hinder the

work of His Spirit in our lives?

As gatekeepers, sometimes there are difficult decisions to make. Ask the

Lord to give you grace not to compromise when it comes to His glory in the

church and your personal life?

Thank the Lord that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him

to give you such a delight in this thought that you will do whatever is

required to keep anything that would hinder His work in you away.

Ask that Lord to show you any area of your life that needs to be cleansed.

Ask Him to reveal anything that needs to go so that He can work more fully

in us.

Pray that God would give you greater boldness to use the gifts He has given

so that His name would be glorified through you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a

book writing and distribution ministry reaching

out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy

pastors and Christian workers around the world.

These books are being used in preaching, teaching, evangelism, and

encouragement of local believers in over sixty countries. Books have now

been translated into a number of languages. The goal is to make them

available to as many believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith-based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path Book Distribution visit our

website at http://www.lighttomypath.ca