I Chronicles 7-10

There's an interesting passage I never really picked up on before in all the years of reading through the Bible in I Chronicles chapter 9 from verses 17-27. This is the part of the genealogy where the Israelites who resettled Jerusalem upon entering the promised land of Canaan are being listed including Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh and some Levite priests, temple servants and most interestingly gatekeepers. The gatekeeper role in ancient Mesopotamian culture was very important often times kings, rulers and other magistrates would do business at the gates of the cities which is where traveling merchants and people seeking entrance into the city would gather and be screened for entry. Gatekeepers were guards in whom great trust was placed because who is allowed into the city could be highly consequential to the wellbeing of the greater population.

I Chronicles 9:22 (NIV) "The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer."

A principle introduced in the book of Proverbs emphasizes this concept of gatekeeping through the guarding of ones heart as it relates to operating in wisdom.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

David writes similarly regarding being careful with his tongue:

Psalms 141:3 (NIV) "Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."

The imagery about cautiously vetting the things allowed in one's ear and eye gates is crucial because as Jesus taught in Mark 7, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and a person's heart that evil thoughts come. O LORD today I choose to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, I choose to think true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy thoughts that honor and glorify You. I cannot tame my own tongue, by the power of your Holy Spirit who dwells within me and in the Name of Jesus cleanse me, make me clean O LORD as you sanctify me day by day. 

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