Valley Gate

The Valley Gate

This gate led to two main valleys that defined Jerusalem geographically and historically. The Hinnom Valley separated Mount Zion from the Hill of Evil Counsel and the "plain of Rephaim" to the south (Deuteronomy 2:20-21; 2 Samuel 21:16-22). Solomon erected high places for Molech in this valley (1 Kings 11:7), to whom children were sacrificed by fire (2 Kings 16:3; 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah.7:31). Josiah rendered the valley "ceremonially unclean" by spreading human bones over it (2 Kings 23:10,13-14). From then it became the garbage tip of the city. Because of its ceremonial defilement and its history of human sacrifice by fire, this valley came to be called "Ge Hinnom" or "Gehenna" - the name used for hell itself, the Lake of Fire (Matthew 5:22; 10:28; 23:15,33).

The second valley was called the Kidron, which means "turbid, dusky, gloomy". It was across this valley that Jesus crossed to go to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1). It was into this valley that the pagan altars and images were burned during the cleansing of Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:4-12; 2 Chron.15:16; 29:16; 30:14).

"Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, hung its doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Refuse Gate."

Neh 3:13(NKJV)

It is interesting to note that the first gate Nehemiah went through to examine the state of the walls and gates of Jerusalem, before starting the construction work, was this one (Nehemiah 2:13-15). As Nehemiah went through the valley he would have had the best view of the walls and gates. We get the best understanding of the state of our spiritual walls and gates (our spiritual well being) from the valley experiences in our lives!

Examining the map you notice that there is a long distance before you come to this gate. For a new Christian the Lord allows a 'honeymoon' type period where He teaches you and His presence is strong in your life. This can go on for some time as indicated by the positioning of the old and valley gates. But sooner or later the valley gate must come. The valley gate speaks to us of humbling and trials - valley type experiences used by the Lord for our personal growth. These times are never easy, but the Christian needs to remember that in the natural nothing really grows on the mountain tops, but it certainly does down in the valleys. So it is in the spiritual. Valley times are never nice experiences but always produce fruit.

The Valley Gate can represent firstly what we have been taken out from, snatched from the fires of hell by the grace of God (Valley of Hinnom); and secondly, a valley we enter by choice, the valley of suffering and cleansing (Kidron Valley). (Psalm 23:4; 84:6-7).

Two tests leading to the Valley Gate...

a] The Broad Wall. In Hebrew this means "the wall of Rahab". I believe this is our first test as a Christian. Do you know what Rahab was? A prostitute. How much do you believe in the Mercy of God? How much do you believe in the Saving Power of God? Will you accept a born-again former prostitute sitting in your church family with unconditional love? I believe a lot of Christian stop right here .. their self righteousness is more important to them than the mercy of God! Will a wife forgive and live with a husband who has committed adultery? Would a man forgive his wife? God did (Hosea & Gomer). Let's accept what God is doing in the lives of those of us around us and go on and grow up with God.

b] Tower of the Ovens. It is normal after being a Christian for a time, to begin to feel the next test - the heat and pressure of being a Christian with the tribulations that will surely come. Jesus said, "In this world you shall have tribulation". In Proverbs it says, "If you crumble in the day of adversity, your strength is small". This is when you begin to walk by faith (act as if the Word of God is true). This is when our mettle is tested. We are tested by fire (1 Peter 4:12-14)! Will we stand for God? He stood for us!

Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah built this gate. Their names mean 'favoured' and 'rejected'. Valley experiences are the times when we will be favoured by God, but rejected by man.

Following are more thoughts about Valleys and trials....

a. Valleys are places of Battle

1. 1Ti 1:18-19 - "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:"

2. 2Ti 2:1-4 - "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

b. Valleys are a way of Life -Till we get home

1. Lu 3:5 - "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;"

2. 1Pe 4:12-14 - "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."

c. Valleys are places for destroying our idols

1 Kings 15:13 - "Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron."

d. Valleys are places of refreshing and growth (if you can wait out the dry season)!

Individual Valleys

1. Valley of Doubt - When our faith begins to waver in light of problems, Satan attacks

2. Valley of Discouragement - When we are tempted to give up,

Satan attacks

3. Valley of Disappointment - When we see the wicked do well and God's people have problems, Satan attacks

4. Valley of Discipline - When we fail the Lord and He deals with us, Satan attacks

5. Valley of Defeat - When we give in to the flesh, Satan attacks

6. Valley of Decision - When we don't know which way to go,

Satan attacks

7. Valley of Division - When family and friends turn upon us and separate from us, Satan attacks

8. Valley of Death - When loved ones die, Satan attacks

Church Valleys

1. Valley of Dryness - Churches get into ruts, Satan attacks

a. Need to keep worship and life in services (say AMEN! if you feel like it or not

2. Valley of Division - Sometimes the enemy creeps in, Satan attacks

a. Need to keep the ear to the ground

b. Need to be willing to resist instead of run

3. Valley of Unconcern - Sometimes churches get caught up in living for self, Satan attacks

a. Unconcern for souls (I'm too busy)

b. Unconcern for missions (Oh no, another missionary)

c. Unconcern for church work (let someone else do it)

4. Valley of Sinfulness - Sometimes sin gets into a church, Satan attacks

a. Preachers fall

b. Church members fall

Click here for a wonderful message about the 'Valley of Baca'.

The 5 'P's of Valley Experiences....

a. The Providence of Trials

1. Ge 50:19-20 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

b. The Promise of Trials

1. Ac 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2. 1Pe 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

c. The Purpose of Trials

1. 1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

d. The Prize of Trials

1. 1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

e. The Purposing of Trials (don't quit)

1. 1Pe 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Conclusion:

After the mountain-top experiences of the first three gates, this gate brings us back to reality and on into a deeper cleansing. Fruit does not grow on the mountain-top. The river does not flow on the mountain-top. These things happen in the Valley - through trials that must be endured with Joy. Then we will go through the next gate, the Dung Gate, that will purify us and prepare us to be empowered for service.