“There were guards stationed at every watch.” (1 Chron 26:16b)
The New International Version translates this passage, “Guard was alongside of guard.” The Gatekeepers provided both physical security and spiritual security at the gates of the temple. They were appointed specific positions surrounding the city of Jerusalem. The physical security aspect is fairly obvious. Part of this security responsibility required them to ensure nothing “unclean” entered the city. The others who entered the city had to go through the ceremonial cleansing prior to entry.
There is a fine line between the symbolism and the reality in this passage. The reality is that God dwelt in the presence of His chosen people even though they were unclean. The ceremonial cleansing was a precursor to the cleansing that came when Jesus gave His life to atone for our sins. It was not the righteousness of the people that gained them entry into God’s presence but God’s atonement. Likewise, it is not our righteousness that grants us access to our righteous and holy God but the righteousness of Jesus Christ credited to us that gains us access to the Creator of the universe.
Revelation 21 speaks of the new heaven and the new earth, the new Jerusalem and the Bride of the Lamb. The gates to the new Jerusalem are guarded by angels.
The principle of holiness applies today. Although we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, we still struggle. We give in to our own desires and we succumb to the temptations of the demonic kingdom. We remain “unclean.” We must continually pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal in us any sin so that we might repent, be cleansed with the blood of the Lamb and be granted access to the throne of God.
Do your prayers feel unanswered? Are the gatekeepers keeping you out of God’s presence because there is something corrupt you are trying to bring into the presence of God? Then listen to our brother Paul, when he writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”