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 – daughters Jesus 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 here Gen. 19:1, Esther 2:21, Ruth 4:1 2 Sam. 19:8 Justice/courts Prov. 22:22, Ps. 100:4, Amos 5:12 Isaiah 5:7 – tzedakah, tzeakah Put 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