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