NEHEMIAH 3 (FROM CAC'S NOTES)
NEHEMIAH 3 (FROM CAC’S NOTES)
“The gate of the old wall”, “the valley-gate”, “the dung-gate” and “the fountain-gate” are said to be “repaired”. The last three are also said to be “built”. A good deal of what is going on today is repairing work: there is something left of the original thing but it has been so damaged that it needs repairing. There is danger of slipping away from what [p. 259] we have heard (Hebrews 2). Peter stirs up pure minds by way of remembrance — 2 Peter particularly — and all the later epistles (see preface to Darby Translation). We are all very dependent on ministry in the work of the saints.
“The old wall” would refer spiritually to the principle of separation which has marked the saints from the beginning. It is said of Enoch and Noah before the flood that they walked with God. Then Abram was called out. Israel was a separate people. The Psalms show the principle of separation, even in Israel, of the godly. In remnant times those who feared Jehovah spoke often one to another.
Difference between clean and unclean — “Come out” — no spot of the world (2 Timothy).
“The valley-gate” — the Lord came in by the valley-gate in His blessed humiliation. He became poor. “Learn from me”. He came in by the manger and went out by the cross. The meekness and gentleness of the Christ! “With all lowliness and meekness” — bearing His reproach, yieldingness, suffering.
“The dung-gate” would evidently be found in Philippians 3, as “the valley-gate” is in chapter 2. It is also seen in principle in Galatians. Peter had to learn to make use of it as to his reputation as a Jew.
But all is leading up to “the fountain-gate” which speaks, I think, of the positive spiritual gain which marks the fellowship. It is the only gate which is said to be “covered”, which would suggest that what pertains to it is not a public matter. It is known only to those who enter. It has to do with what can only be known by the Spirit (spiritual persons), so that spirituality is essential when we come to this gate. The three previous gates would secure spiritual conditions and prepare for the fountain-gate. If we have not the fountain-gate repaired and built we shall become formal and orthodox.
“The pool of Shelah” (Siloam) would typify ministry sent by the Lord, a ministry of Himself. We have to wash in the ministry of the word which when applied gives clear vision of Christ. The man in John 9 illustrates this.
Then “the king’s garden”. “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse” (Song of Songs 4: 12). “Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth” (verse 16). “I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse” (Song of Songs 5: 1). “My beloved is gone down into his garden” (Song of Songs 6: 2). It is a beautiful figure of what the Lord finds in the assembly as having the features of His sister, His spouse.
It is not union but the saints as having qualities that are suitable for union. The Lord saw such qualities in John, Peter (”If it be thou ...”, Matthew 14: 28), Thomas (”Let us also go ...”, John 11: 16), Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene and others. All that has passed in the week enters into this when we come together. It is what the saints are actually in their walk and spirit and affection.
‘That one spoke of Me to one for whom I died. That one wrote a letter to comfort one in sorrow; that one found pleasure in reading My words or what My servants said of Me. That one bore reproach for Me at school, or in the workshop. That one left friends and relatives to be true to My name’. And so we might go on. ‘That one gave five shillings to one of My poor saints when she could ill afford it’. There are 59 hymns written by sisters — one-sixth of the 1932 hymn book.
Then, “The stairs that go down from the city of David”. When they came to be used in chapter 12, they went up them. The city of David represents for us what stands in the power of resurrection. Acts 13 suggests this. The stairs are the connecting link between what belongs to the fellowship here and what is to be known in the resurrection position. The latter is purely spiritual for we are not actually risen. We go up to what pertains to Christ as risen. Can Zion or “the city of David” be limited to resurrection or does it go on to the heavenly? The city of David would represent the assembly as standing in relation to Christ as not known in the flesh. Matthew 16, “I will build”. There is a spiritual position taken up by faith in Colossians and necessitating divine quickening as in Colossians and Ephesians to occupy it.