City Gates
God’s People are to…
• Follow God’s Law – Love him above all – Shema • Put God on display• Bring Shalom to Chaos – Deut. 10:18– Poverty is symbol of chaos
• Be set apart – not corrupted by the “world” – Deut. 12:29-32
• Meet needs in the name of God – Deut. 14:29
City on a Hill
• Very few can live in the city• What does a city represent?– Safety– Wealth– Justice– Order
• You LOVE the city
Surrounding communities – daughtersJesus mourning for “daughters of Jerusalem”
Word Pictures – City Gates
Trade
• Providing needs– Matthew 6:1-4 – tzedakah
• Watching out for the traveler/alien/poor– Exodus 22:21, 23:9– Leviticus 19:10, 19:33-34– Psalm 146:9– Jeremiah 7:6-7
City elders sit hereGen. 19:1, Esther 2:21, Ruth 4:12 Sam. 19:8
Justice/courtsProv. 22:22, Ps. 100:4, Amos 5:12
Isaiah 5:7 – tzedakah, tzeakahPut community’s priorities on display
Esther 2:23, Deut. 21:20
Kingdom of Heaven
• Heaven is brought here – city gates now– Feed the alien, poor, widow, orphan– Do not withhold justice– God uses us to bring shalom to chaos
• City – New Jerusalem– Jesus is the gate (John 10:7-9)– Revelation 21:25 – gates will never be shut
Next Week
• Garden• Read Isaiah 5