#38

“I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of the Secret Place, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who calls you by your name, am the God of Israel.”  Isaiah 45:3

Act 4 of our love story-----

“Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there.”  Ruth 4:1a

Boaz was on a mission!  His future with the love of his life was at stake, and he had a matter to settle.  Boaz knew that he could find his relative at the city gate.  He was searching for him to discuss who would be Ruth and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer and take full responsibility for them.  “Boaz knew that no one could enter or leave town without traveling through the gate.  Merchants would set up their temporary shops near the gate, which also served as “city hall”.  Here city officials gathered to transact business. Because there was so much activity, it was a good place to find witnesses and an appropriate place for Boaz to make his transaction.”  (NIV Life Application Study Bible)

Gate:  Opening in a city wall, often protected by barriers and towers; place of judicial decisions, announcements, and trade.  (NIV Study Bible)

Sometimes we will go to the gate and sit there.  There is a lot of activity at the gate.  Most of the time there is a battle at the gate, and always the Kinsman-Redeemer will meet you there.
“He will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, source of strength for those who turn back the battle at the gate.”  Isaiah 28:6b, NIV

The Father loves to bring us to the gate.  It is at the gate where we find new beginnings.  It is at the gate where we grow.  It is at the gate where we experience new things.  It is at the gate where we discover more about ourselves.  It is at the gate where we discover more about our Father. 

The enemy loves to keep us from going through the gate.  It is at the gate where he holds us in fear.  It is at the gate where he holds us in bondage.  It is at the gate where he keeps us from growing.  It is at the gate where he keeps us from intimacy with the  Father.

The gate = breakthrough. 

 “At that time the Lord who commands armies will become a beautiful crown and splendid diadem for the remnant of His people.  He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions, and strength to those who defend the city from attackers.”  Isaiah 28:5-6, NET

Praise God that His gates are never shut.  Once we reach those gates, sit there long enough to turn the battle back, break through so that we are defended from the attack, we will find ourselves in a new place, a new realm with our Father, and in the Holy of Holies with our Kinsman-Redeemer.

“Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring You the wealth of the nations—their kings in triumphal procession.”  Isaiah 60:11 

The gate is a busy place.  God may bring us to a gate every day.  Will we walk through?  Will we turn back the battle at the gate?  Or will the battle turn us back?

Father, take us into the Holy of Holies…take us in by the blood of the Lamb…

“Therefore, brothers, since we have full confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great Priest over the House of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”  Hebrews 10:19-23