I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates. Nehemiah 6:1b NIV
Nehemiah and the people worked hard to repair the broken down wall and that was good news! Closing the gaps was important, for every gap provided the enemy with an easy entry point. But what good is closing the gaps if the enemy can walk right through a missing door? We too have an enemy who prowls about looking for gaps in our wall of defense and missing doors in our gates.
The key difference between a gap in the wall and a door is this: The wall around a city is long, stretching out for many miles, and if in need of repair, may have gaps we aren’t even aware of. The door is the entryway over which we have the most control, it’s an obvious entry point where we get to decide who and what we let in. That’s where the gatekeepers come in.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” Nehemiah 7:1-3 NIV
Look at the emphasis Nehemiah placed on controlling who was able to gain entrance into the city. He was intentional and direct in setting up precautions. Nehemiah 11:19 tells there were 172 men assigned to keep watch at the gates! You are the primary gatekeeper of your life. Are you as intentional about keeping the enemy from gaining access? Do you have the necessary precautions in place?
God is faithful in helping us strengthen our defenses. He gives us His armor and helps us close every gap, but we must carefully choose who and what we let in the door. We have the responsibility to keep out the influences we know will make us vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.
Isaiah 28:6 tells us that God will be, “a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” It’s a whole lot easier to defend against the enemy when he is on the outside of the gate!