“The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people –

past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,

over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, 

as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.”

Nehemiah 12:38 – 39

Last time we saw the first thanksgiving choir and our teacher of the law, Ezra, lead them south and around to one side of the city wall – remembering to Whom our allegiance belongs and which Kingdom we represent. Today we see the second choir’s path the other direction.

Nehemiah, our narrator-governor, is noting how he followed this choir (followed here is achar – behind, afterward). Seems an appropriate thing to do: begin with praise and thanksgiving, then follow up with civic duties. Have our perspective elevated to heaven first, then focus on how to live that out on the ground.

Nehemiah also mentions he’s together with half the people (am – regular folk). I love this as only official leaders were mentioned last time. But, oh, is the work ever feet on the ground and all hands on deck. Not only that, but these folks were right up there alongside the choir giving praise to Him.

So fun that as I write this we’re having a yard sale, and a precious woman just talked about how much she loves the Lord. Every person – title or no, seminary degree or not – God has brought out of a pit gets to surround the city with rejoicing.

“Past the Tower of Ovens and the Broad Wall…”

Well, we’re back to our map:

As the entire group headed toward the city from the top of our map, rather than going right (south), this second choir went left (north) toward the Tower of Ovens and the Broad Wall. You may remember this section of the city is one that was left out in the rebuilding. While we’re not told why, part of the old city wasn’t included within the walls of the new.

Does that strike you in any particular way? Anything you need to leave from the past as you seek to celebrate a new season? New calling or assignment? If it’s sin, we better ditch it. But what if it’s not? What if what we sense God calling up to leave behind isn’t wrong? It’s simply not the direction He’s moving us?

That, my friend, I feel you on. For some reason, even with years of experience to the contrary, I can still clench my fists and cling to what has been good, even a gift, in the past instead of reach for what He is leading me toward in the now. It’s not bad, it was a beautiful season. But sometimes we have to let go. And I wish it would get easier.

How about you? If you can relate, let’s just keep opening our hands to Him. He is only capable of leading us places for our good.

Gate of Ephraim is mentioned next, whose name means “Double Fruit.” It comes from apher – a bandage, covering, turban, ashes. I like those meanings put side by side. Not just fruit, but double fruit. And something to cover – a hurt, a head in the sun, shame or our frail humanity. What do you think those things mean when put together?

I’ll never forget when an older woman spoke of Who Jesus had become to her when I was in my early twenties. When walking through a difficult time, she had asked Him to meet her in the process. Not only did she work through her anger, but He gave her a vision of Him covering her shame with His cloak. Just the hem of His garment can heal, how much more a tender pulling in? Standing between her and this situation, making Himself the Lifter of her Head. He’s too good for mere words sometimes.

And that double fruit? You may think I’m making it up, but at the time of this writing, two of my sweet almost-4th-graders FacedTimed me, just being little girls in the summertime. What a precious reminder of how He blesses. And when we put those two definitions together, it seems to point to His tendency to bless in areas in which we’ve been healed. Like our Savior, wounded healers clinging to Him and reaching out to others. Abiding is our job, fruitfulness is His. And if He gifts a double blessing, particularly where we’ve seen Him cover, may we be aware and grateful.

Jeshanah Gate is listed next, a name which comes from yashan, meaning “old or to sleep.” We haven’t seen this gate listed before, and its name seems to originate from a city near Bethel. My instinct is to make a joke about sleeping and old age as we’re currently moving, assured people we could sleep on the floor in sleeping bags for a week, and proceeded to borrow air mattresses from two separate friends. It’s crazy how easily our bodies wear out as we age.

But even more enduring is how the sleep definition is referring to death. As we age, for our bodies to fully give out and we end our time in this way. It makes me wonder if this city had a long history before being named Jeshanah. And what significance it had in Israelite history to be named as a gate in the rebuilding.

Either way, the ancientness of our God always causes me to pause. El Olam, the everlasting One, Ancient of Days, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. What do we have in our present He hasn’t seen? How do we struggle that He does not know? Never slumbering, always has been, always will be. Sometimes we might think too little of such a Most High God.

The Fish Gate is next, which comes from dag or dagah, meaning to multiply or increase. You may remember, this was the main entrance through which fish were brought into the city from Tyre and the Sea of Galilee.

Is the above what you picture when you read about Jesus teaching from a boat? Or calling Peter to be a fisher of men? Or calming a storm?

I think I’m more likely to picture a lake for some reason – something smaller, more manageable. But I love that He walked on water here. That when God confined Himself to a human body, the water is where He spent much of His time.

Tower of Hananel is listed next, a name which means “God is gracious” from el and chanan – to show favor, bend in kindness. Which flows nicely with the next gate listed, the Sheep Gate. You may remember this gate was named such for the animals led in to be for temple sacrifices, and it is mentioned in John chapter 5, a story which always kills me.

A man cannot walk for 38 years, only to be beat to the healing pool every time he tries to make his way there. But when God Himself asks, “Do you want to be well?” he begins to point to all the reasons he can’t be.

I often wonder if we want to be well. If we’re willing to do the work to acknowledge what’s broken and let the temporary increase in difficulty come because we can keep the longer vision in our minds. As my sister pointed out recently, everything can be considered a hassle. Doing the right thing and the results of not. Planning ahead or the consequences of irresponsibility. Making the steps to face squarely how things have been messed up or pretending we can’t handle looking. It’s all work, but only one direction is a worthy one.

And I would be remiss to not at least mention the recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Talk about one group going one direction and the other another, like our group of choirs. If you want to see me emotional, you will talk about anything related to children dying. I am pro-life. But I cannot in good conscience, with the supportive family, resources, medical insurance, and stable lifestyle I’ve always had, pretend I understand what the news is like for someone without those things. Who cannot afford childcare, who has an abusive partner, is struggling with addiction, or works two jobs as is and can barely afford rent.

I realize the answer is not to end that child’s life. And there are so, so many believers I know and know about who put their time and money and convenience where their beliefs are, willing to foster, adopt, house mothers, help with expenses. But what those who are walking around the opposite direction, still surrounding the city to worship God, are focused on are the systems that are broken making this decision difficult on mothers: healthcare, living wages, maternal death rates, particularly in women of color, safety in schools. Our individualistic, capitalist culture makes for a difficult environment in which to bring up children if you are in a vulnerable state. Not to mention my firm belief that those at the top have used the abortion debate to their advantage, with little concern for those actually affected. And while I don’t have answers, I do wonder if we want to be well.

The good news is, we have a Savior ready and willing. One so much bigger than all the reasons we can think of that it’s not possible or worth the work. He is worth it every time and promises to meet us in the hard.

Our choir, regular folk, and following governor finally stop in today’s verses. Stopped here is amad – to take one’s stand. And they halted by the by Gate of the Guard, which is mattara – guard, ward, prison, target, mark; from natar – to keep, angry, bear grudge, reserves, care take, to cherish anger.

This is such a difficult balance to strike, at least for me. Looking back at what needs to change and forward in what healthy boundaries need to be protected – but without bearing grudges, cherishing anger, requiring a warden to to forcefully keep tabs.

For today’s purposes, this gate is mentioned so we as the readers know how far around the city the second choir walked. Choir 1 halted at the Water Gate, and today’s choir 2 ceases at the Gate of the Guard. We will see next time this is because they were all about to take their places in Temple.

And that’s a lovely picture to end with: both choirs surrounding the city, prepared to give praise to God in the Holy place, likely in harmony: singing different parts with the result being music, not chaos. Let’s keep our eyes on Him above and feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace on the ground. He alone is the King eternal, immortal, invisible. The only One worthy of worship.