“The gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.”
Nehemiah 11:19
Last time we saw two Levites who stayed in the city, grateful that our God of justice always rolls out righteousness. Today we see two specific gatekeepers for Jerusalem.
Gatekeeper is shoer from shaar – gate, opening, court, town, port. It’s been awhile (2 years) since we’ve been focused on this responsibility. During the rebuilding fo the city, Nehemiah put gatekeepers in charge of not only protecting Temple, but guarding the city itself. Our governor gave them specific instructions, including opening the gates late in the day, and closing them before the sun went down.
Our first gatekeeper is Akkub, which means “insidious,” from aqab – follow at heel, assail insidiously, circumvent, overreach, supplant, take, deal craftily. Wha? Those are some rough synonyms. Perhaps those are the qualities you would want, however, in someone guarding your city.
Given the news and stuff in personal relationships, though, I am more likely to compare this name’s definition to sin. The way it numbs you to a tender heart, creeping in on relational bonds, finding crafty ways to try and hem us in. With the entire goal of taking over who is on the throne of our personal and corporate lives.
The beautiful part is there is nothing sin can touch that overreaches God’s domain. Bowing, confessing, repenting in actions is just one decision away. The heart doesn’t even have to be fully persuaded yet, the right action can come and the desire can follow. It really can be that easy. But we must be just as insidious, as consistent in following the heel of obedience, as we were veering off course. Change of mind, change of action, takes work.
Our second gatekeeper is Talmon, a name we’ve seen in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 and 11. It’s from the word chargol – oppressive, a type of locust, cricket, creeping insect; from charag – to quake, leap suddenly, be afraid.
Again, not the most delightful name. But it’s interesting to me that oppressive and be afraid are both listed here. I often think that is the bottom line of oppression in individuals and collective groups – fear. Fear of losing power, fear of being found out, losing control, changing.
But we weren’t designed for it – to oppress or be oppressed. So letting go is always a relief. After all, “[o]nce developed, a locust plague is almost impossible to stop or control.” (Source) It devours everything in sight.
So this Akkub and Talmon were the men who kept watch over Jerusalem – shamar: to keep, watch, preserve, guard, protect, hedge about with thorns. Sounds like a good thing, as much was at stake.
How about us? Mind you, we don’t make a thorny hedge or presence between us and other people in general. On the contrary, we spend our lives for the gospel on behalf of our neighbor. But we do guard what is precious, not throwing pearls to pigs. We refuse to let locusts eat what God has allowed to bloom – in our families, churches, in movements to justice and peacemaking.
Gates let in the good and keep out the evil. May we have discernment and strength in Him to do the same.