Malchijah the son of
Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He
rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
THE STUDY:
“Dung Gate” was also known
as the Refuse Gate. It was the southernmost gate, leading to the trash dump in
the Hinnom Valley. It is probably to be identified as the Potsherd Gate
mentioned in Jer 19:2. In the NT, the trash dump outside the Refuse Gate is
associated metaphorically with the place of the eternal punishment of the
wicked (e.g., Matt 5:22, 29, 30; Luke 12:5; Jas 3:6).[1]
The sanitary disposal of
waste materials is essential to the health of a city. This gate did not have a
beautiful name, but it did perform an important service! It reminds us that,
like the city, each of us individually must get rid of whatever defiles us, or
it may destroy us (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 1:9).[2]
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY
WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that just like a city that needs to dispose of garbage and waste in a physical sense for its health and well-being. A person needs to do the same thing spiritually in order for them to be healthy and clean which is the way God had designed it!
APPLICATION:
I have been blessed to have crossed
paths with many of the saints of today. One of the things that I admire about
them and long to experience within myself is that unbreakable oneness with
Jesus. These folks don’t have to wake up in the morning and decide if they are
going to serve Christ or be used by Him that day. They don’t have to spend a
large amount of time in prayer trying to decipher what God is trying to tell
them. Their very nature is saturated
by Christ!
I am not saying I have to make a conscience
decision every day to follow Christ or not. I am getting better at hearing and
listening to the Holy Spirit. What I long to have is the “OLD ME” gone and
nothing but the Holy Spirit dwelling within.
We all have those moments of the “old
me” rearing its ugly head. For me, it doesn’t have the same power or control.
For others they are able to surrender it to Christ and be delivered from it. But,
for some, they still hang on to this garbage or waste and never sense the
healthiness Christ has for them. Today, let go of that garbage and waste that
has been negating the blessings and freedom Christ wants to give you.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
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