Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.

1 Chronicles 9:21-27

21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. 23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. 24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 25 Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. 26 But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

Today’s title is “Gatekeepers Matter Dearly”

The tabernacle and temple all have one main purpose. It was the place that God dwells with His people. To the Israelites, the tabernacle and temple physically showed the presence of God. Before Jesus came to us as God incarnate, tabernacle and temple were only places that people of God were allowed to meet God. Thus, they were symbol of Immanuel which means “God is with us” to the people of God before Christ came. Through the temple and tabernacle God allowed people to come to Him. Nevertheless, the temple and tabernacle were most strictly guarded place in Israel. People could come to God through them. But those who enter the tabernacle and temple should follow the strict rules set by God. One of the most important rules to enter the holy place was that they should enter it through the gate only. The gate was clearly marked so that no one would miss it. Those who attempt to enter the holy place by any other ways were to be stopped even to be killed. That was why the gatekeepers matter so much in the kingdom of Israel. We see that the great amount of efforts and cares were given to the task of gate keeping in today’s passage. David and Samuel trusted the responsibilities of gatekeeping to the chosen people of Levites. The chosen people followed the rules and arrangements of David and Samuel meticulously. With the coming of Christ, we now have much greater access to God. The bible says that through Christ, we are all now royal priesthood and holy nation. Washed in the blood of Christ, we can now freely go to the throne of grace. At the same time, the spiritual laws regarding the gatekeeping still hold true to us. We can go to God much more freely. But we still have to go through the gate only. Where is the gate? Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:7-10). The word of God and the Holy Spirt are the gatekeepers of the gospel of Christ. If we ignore the Gate and Gatekeepers, we put ourselves and those we love in jeopardy. But when we, in godly fear, heed the spiritual laws set by God, we will be safe and secure. How are you abiding by the spiritual law of gatekeeping? Are you entering into God ‘s presence through the gate? Are you firmly guarded by the gate keeper?