THE GATEKEEPERS

Gates are mentioned often in Scripture, and gatekeepers were an important part of maintaining order
in ancient societies.

Gatekeepers were guards stationed for protection at various kinds of gates, which could be city gates,
palace gates, or temple gates.

Ancient cities had high, thick walls around them to keep out wild beasts and invading armies (Joshua
7:5; Judges 5:8; Nehemiah 12:30).

Heavy gates were set within those walls to allow entrance and exit. A gatekeeper had to be
trustworthy and alert for any signs of trouble.

A gatekeeper lax in his duties could bring ruin upon an entire civilization, so the idea of gatekeeping
implies alertness and security.

The keeper of the gates in Psalm 141:3 is none other than the Lord Himself, as He guards our mouths,
preventing us from unwise speech.

First, this service began in Israel’s history during the early time of the Judges.

Second, David confirmed this service according to the instruction of Samuel.

Third, the gatekeepers had many varied responsibilities.

David and Samuel appointed 212 gatekeepers for “positions of trust” in guarding the temple of the
Lord (1 Chronicles 9:22), and those so appointed rotated through week-long assignments (verse 25).
Verses 26–29 speak of the four principal gatekeepers, “who . . . were entrusted with the responsibility
for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.

Ezra records that 139 gatekeepers made the trip from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Ezra
2:42).

When Nehemiah had finished the rebuilding of the wall around the city of Jerusalem, gatekeepers
were some of the first positions he appointed (Nehemiah 7:1).

This is significant because, before a city can conduct business, it must be protected from outside
invaders.

The Lord’s house required gatekeepers for the same reason. Before God’s business could be
conducted properly, only the prescribed priests and other designated servants could be allowed
through the gates.

God had given clear commands about temple business (Exodus 25:8–9; cf. Hebrews 9:1–7).

Gatekeepers were part of that holy business, and their positions were considered sacred (1 Chronicles
9:26; Nehemiah 12:47).

In 1 Chronicles 9:17-34 we see the intriguing descriptions of the responsibilities of the sons of Korah.

Samuel’s advice to David concerning the kingship apparently included knowledge of what people
would be best to serve in trusted positions of the temple establishment. It is also noteworthy that
while there was a small group of the sons of Korah (the chief gatekeepers) who served normally,
during the pilgrim feasts of God their brethren from the villages came to Jerusalem to serve the
overflow crowd that arrived during the time of the Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles.
During these feasts, the whole nation of Israel would see the sons of Korah serving as the gatekeepers
of the Tabernacle and Temple.

Responsibilities:

1. The sons of Korah who served in this trusted office lived in the chambers in the Tabernacle
and Temple near the priests, where they were responsible for opening the Tabernacle and
Temple in the morning for the morning sacrifices, and presumably closing it after the evening
sacrifice 1 Chronicles 9:26-27.
2. They also were trusted in charge of protecting and monitoring the treasuries of the house of
God, ensuring that the tithe and offering money was properly protected and accounted for.
These faithful servants of God were given very serious responsibilities for the security of the
house of God.
3. Let us also remember that the Korahites who served as the Tabernacle and Temple
gatekeepers were responsible for enforcing the death penalty on those who entered the
temple illegally. The Apostle Paul was nearly killed by a mob under the suspicion of this crime
of defiling the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:26-36). The responsibilities of the sons of Korah in
the temple were indeed noble, trusted, honorable, and heavy responsibilities.
4. 1 Chronicles 9:28-30 gives a brief overview of some of the responsibilities of the Levites in the
Tabernacle and Temple service: “Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for
they brought them in and took them out by count. Some of them were appointed over the
furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour and the wine
and the oil and the incense and the spices. And some of the sons of the priests made the
ointment of the spices.”
5. 1 Chronicles 9:31-32 gives the important responsibility of preparing the showbread:
“Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over
the things that were baked in the pans. And some of their brethren of the sons of the
Kohathites were in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath.”
6. Finally, let us note the responsibilities of the sons of Korah in the musical service of the house
of God in 1 Chronicles 9:33-34: “These are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the
Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were
employed in that work day and night. These heads of the father’s houses of the Levites were
heads throughout their generations. They dwelt at Jerusalem.” Psalms by Korah Psalms 42—
49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
 Practical Lessons

We are too positional Levites, High Priests and also Gatekeepers 1 Peter 2:9-10 Just like
Korah, we have received mercy too through Lord Jesus Christ

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,
that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful
light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

There are four Gatekeepers in our Spiritual Realm:

1. Body: We need to be keepers of the gates of our bodies and our very lives: “Know ye
not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1
Cor.3:16). We must filter and screen what comes through the gates of our ears, eyes,
mouth, nose, and skin: what we listen to, hear, watch, see, taste, eat, inhale, and
touch. We must also protect the gateway to our sensual and sexual intimacies – in
satisfying the appetites of our minds and bodies. Proverbs 8: 34-35 Blessed are those
who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who
find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

2. Conscience: Definition of conscience - a person's moral sense of right and wrong,

viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour. Act_24:16 Herein I also exercise
myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always. Rom_9:1 I
say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy
Spirit. 1Co_8:12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their
conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. 2Co_1:12 For our glorying is this,
the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly
wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more
abundantly to you-ward. 2Co_4:2 but we have renounced the hidden things of
shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the
manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the
sight of God. Heb_10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure
water. Heb_13:18 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience,
desiring to live honorably in all things. 1Pe_3:21 which also after a true likeness doth
now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the
interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ.

3. Fear of the Lord: Job_28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that
is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding. Isa_29:13 And the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips
 do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a
commandment of men which hath been taught them; Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD
prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. Psalms 147:11 The LORD
favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

4. The Holy Spirit: Rom 8:2-6 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives
life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. The mind governed by the flesh
is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 1 John 2:27 27 As for
you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need
anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that
anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Holy Spirit will convict you, use your conscience along with Word of God to align with
Fear of God to Glorify God. He will convict you defend faith, gives you knowledge,
open your eyes and ears to understand Word of God.