Oh, I know you have met one! A lady who you do not want to mess with! Sometimes her caution can be the result of good boundaries as she is protecting and guarding what God gave her. Parents, you are the gatekeeper of the home, and your roles matter!
Not often do we recognize menial tasks as God-given roles. Yet, the Chronicler, known for writing history with a bent toward addressing faithfulness and unfaithfulness, takes the time to separate out the role of gatekeeper.
It’s never too late to start….
The role of a gatekeeper…
It seems pretty self-explanatory, a ‘keeper of the gates’. Yet, the responsibility goes a bit deeper.
A gatekeeper was mostly considered the guardians of the entrance. 1 Chronicles lays out this distinct role that mostly entailed guarding the temple gates. However, gatekeepers not only ‘kept’ the temple secure, some were assigned as gatekeepers to the Ark of the Covenant, the storehouses, Jerusalem, other city gates, palace gates, or the Tent of Meeting.
What else do we know about gatekeepers? They:
- had their own stations in the temple;
- held different roles: chief, overseer, divisions, etc.;
- inherited this familial duty as Levites;
- performed specific tasks;
- held the keys to the gate for opening each morning;
- protected the temple from those who entered;
- oversaw the money and belongings in the temple;
- could be reassigned (2 Chronicles 23:5);
- guarded the king to protect him, when assigned;
- clocked on for 7-day stints;
- were responsible for the rooms and treasuries in the temple;
- slept there during their assignments;
- counted and tracked the articles; and
- cared for the furnishings of the temple, other articles, flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.
This was a Levitical duty, they were trusted leaders of the people with specific tasks.
The Old Testament Reminder…
Reading through the Old Testament should be with a sense of who the author is speaking to, what the importance was for the receiver, yet also seeing the bigger picture for us today. The bigger picture being, that it points to Jesus in the New Testament.
Already you may have taken specific notice of how the tabernacle and temple offer glimpses of Heaven. Here, we have the role of gatekeepers as an important function for the temple. The gatekeeper protects the temple.
If you are a parent, you know that the most important role you hold is as a spiritual leader within your home: a spouse and kids are to be the number one recipients of your mission field. As a part of the family of God, let’s recognize this sacred duty that is passed on through generations.
Gatekeeper of the Home…
The gatekeepers of the temple could not be lazy or lackadaisical. They needed to be alert, on guard, aware. You don’t just hand out a position of trust like that to Joe Blow off the street, you were hand-picked for the role. God does not make mistakes, your family is your home and you need to uphold your role as His child to keep your home protected.
What do we learn about why God blesses us through children? To be fruitful and increase in number (Genesis 1:28). Man was originally created in God’s image, and as saved Christians, we are image-bearers of Him, not Adam (Genesis 5:1-3). Yet, do our lives reflect this? Are we protecting our homes and those inside? Protecting God’s image?
Would you think it advisable to hand off that role to the next person you saw walking down the street? It’s time we recognize that God is a God of order, that this may be your sole purpose in the midst of chaos, but it is still your role if you are a spouse or parent. Are you protecting God’s image to your children?
A literal mama bear is a prime example of one who protects. She does not allow anyone to harm her cubs, and if a threat is imminent, she goes full rage. While full rage may not be advised in these circumstances, a figurative mama bear mode is. Lukewarm is not an option in the Bible; you are either for God or against Him. Since He cannot be mocked… He knows where you stand.
Jesus is the Gate…
While not a popular secular belief, not everyone will make it into Heaven. Frankly, the Bible states most people will not make it. The way is narrow, we are warned of this multiple times. Who is at the threshold, our one way to eternal life? Jesus.
Our gate is Jesus and He leads us to Heaven. We need to carry a grave sense of God’s sovereignty when we consider this. The temple gatekeepers were put in positions to maintain safety, order, and reverence. So too, we ought to practice the same positions in our walks.
Now don’t think you’re on your own! Our God in Heaven knows we need to enter through the gate (Jesus) and sends us a helper (the Holy Spirit) to lead us. If that isn’t a beautiful picture of the Trinity, I don’t know what is?!
Let’s go through this week consciously recognizing our helper who wants to point us to Jesus so that we may pass through that gate to be with God in Heaven. Whether that means your mindset shifts to full mama bear or not, remember that YOU are the gatekeeper of the home.
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Great post, Becca! Thank you for sharing and thank you for hosting!