Message Notes

AM BETHANY 16 September 2017
Text: Psalm 118

THE IMAGERY OF “GATES”

1. The gates of righteousness (Psalm 118:19)

2. The gate of the Lord (Psalm 118:20)

WHAT THE IMAGERY SUGGESTS

1. Gates in the ancient days

a) Entrance into a city

b) Exit of the city

c) Safety of the city depended on how the gates were kept

2. The gates of righteousness/ the gate of the LORD

a) The gate of the Lord

i) Entrance into the kingdom of the Lord

ii) All need to enter at the Gate

b) Gates of righteousness

i) Characterised by “righteousness”

ii) Naturally so

iii) They reflect the Kingdom of God

3. The gates of the Lord

a) They have to be opened by the Lord

b) They cannot be forced open

c) Plea to the Lord to open the gates

4. Entering the gates of the Lord

a) I will go through them (Psalm 118:19)

b) And I will praise the Lord (Psalm 118:19)

c) Through which the righteous shall enter (Psalm 118:20)

d) I will praise You for You have answered me (Psalm 118:21a)

e) And have become my salvation (Psalm 118:21b)

THE GATE OF THE LORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Enter by the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13a)

2. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way
Which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:14)

THE CONTRAST: THE WIDE GATE

1. Wide is the gate

2. Broad is the way that leads to destruction
And there are many who go in by it (Matthew 7:13b)