In last week’s lesson on the gates of Jerusalem, we saw that when God walks us through the “Valley” experience, He often does so to uncover rubbish of our own sinful natures. Once out in the open, this needs to be transported out of our lives, through the Dung Gate, to be burned so as to never return. Today’s lesson takes us to the next gate mentioned in the series: The Fountain Gate.
“The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David.” (Neh 3:15-16 NIV)
We know from the above text, based on the description of the adjoining length of wall that Shallum also repaired, that the Fountain Gate was on the wall of the pool of Shelach, also known as Siloah, by the king’s garden. [1] We also know that the pool of Siloah received its water from a subterranean conduit 1750 feet long, cut through the rock from the Fountain of the Virgin [2]. Hence the name, Fountain Gate!
It is interesting to note that there is no length of wall given in Nehemiah to separate the Fountain Gate from the previous Dung Gate. There are many possible explanations for this. Some speculate that this portion of wall had not been destroyed, therefore it did not need to be rebuilt. Others would argue that the rebuilding of every portion of the wall was not always outlined in Nehemiah, while some hypothesize that the Dung Gate and the Fountain Gate were very close together.
And what does the “Fountain Gate” represent for us today?
There are many symbolic references to a fountain in the Bible. The first is wisdom: “The TEACHING OF THE WISE is a FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, turning a man from the snares of death.” (Prov 13:14 NIV).
The next text makes reference to the fountain being the fear of God: “The FEAR OF THE LORD is a FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, turning a man from the snares of death.” (Prov 14:27 NIV)
The fountain is also righteousness: “The mouth of the RIGHTEOUS is a FOUNTAIN OF LIFE.” (Prov 10:11 NIV)
In addition, fountains are used to refers to our relationship with God: “You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water . . .” (Song 4:15 NIV)
And finally, fountains are used to represent a cleansing and renewal process: “On that day A FOUNTAIN WILL BE OPENED to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, TO CLEANSE THEM FROM SIN AND IMPURITY.” (Zech 13:1 NIV)
Cleansing, wisdom, righteousness, relationship . . . Doesn’t this sound a bit like the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? “For I will pour WATER on the thirsty land, and STREAMS on the dry ground; I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. (Isa 44:3 NIV)
Let’s review for a few moments some of the things that Holy Spirit is said to be for us:
Counselor (John 14:16, 26; 15:26) Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13) Teacher (John 14:27) Guide (John 16:13 Memory augmentor (John 14:27) The One who bears witness to Jesus (John 15:27) Power (Acts 1:8) Prophecy (Acts 2:17) Holiness (Rom 1:4) Love of God (Rom 5:5) Hope (Rom 5:5) Life (Rom 8:2, 6, 11) Our help in weakness (Rom 8:26)
The list could go on and on, but the point is, the Fountain Gate speaks to us of the living waters of the Holy Spirit that cleanse our lives and empower us for our Christian life!
Let’s remember for a moment the previous two gates: The Valley Gate represents the trials and troubles that we are allowed to go through in order bring to our attention the “rubbish” of the old self; and the Dung Gate, where the rubbish can be disposed of. Any who have tried to clean out their own lives soon realize that the sinful life is not so easily disposed of. In fact, the only way to do so is through the power of the Holy Spirit: “he who raised Christ from the dead WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO YOUR MORTAL BODIES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, who lives in you.” (Rom 8:11 NIV)
Remember that there was no section of wall mentioned as being rebuilt between the Dung Gate and the Fountain Gate. No matter what the true reason is for this lack of information, I believe that God is using it to tell us that we have help–immediate help!–in cleaning up our lives. The moment we’re ready to do away with the rubbish in our lives, the Holy Spirit is right there to help us along!
Enough to ponder, friends, but do ponder this: After the trials that reveal the garbage in our hearts, God brings us to the Fountain Gate: He fills us up with His Holy Spirit, so that we will be empowered to live as Christ would have us to live!
Join us next week to take a look at what the “Water Gate” and what it has to teach us!
God bless each of you abundantly.
Sue Ramsey & Lyn Chaffart Volunteers, Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
[1] from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. on Nehemiah 3:15.
[2] from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc on Nehemiah 3:15.
(To access the entire “Gates in the Bible” mini-series, please click here.)