Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner
Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. (2
Chronicles 26:9 NAU)
The Valley Gate was located along the southeast section of
the wall of Jerusalem. By its name we can understand that it was at one of the
lower points of elevation of the city. This made the relative safety of that
position quite vulnerable. They were unable to clearly see the enemy approaching.
They received little warning of attacks and were not able to defend themselves
adequately when the enemy did come. This position, therefore, was one of the
most vulnerable gates of the city.
Therefore, those entering and exiting the Valley Gate were dependent on watchmen at other locations to warn them of pending danger—both in opening the gate to those approaching and in allowing citizens to exit the city through this gate.
It is because of this vulnerability that particular attention must be paid to the valleys of our life. It is at these times of emotional low we are most susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. It is also at these points we must be ready to depend on the support of others to help us defend against these unexpected intrusions. Therefore, we must guard our hearts during these times of vulnerability.
We are especially vulnerable when we experience disappointment, discouragement, and despair. We often find our energy level depleted, our focus blurred, and our defenses fallen to the dust. Things which normally would be as easily deflected as water from the feathers of a duck, we now find ourselves in intense struggle to resist.
Sometimes short-lived; sometimes long-lasting; sometimes so strong we are utterly overwhelmed by it; sometimes it is nothing more than a lingering sadness. We call it grief.
Grief is the process of dealing with change. It may be planned or unplanned, welcome or unwelcome. Change almost always includes both loss and gain. Just as surely as we grieve the loss, we must embrace the gain. And grief is more than our response to death. Grief occurs with disappointment, discouragement, even the accomplishment of a goal. Often the gain which comes from change is much less obvious until later—sometimes much later. And I must caution you, talking about grief almost always brings our own personal grief to the surface.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort
me. (Psalm 23:4 NAU)
Especially at times of grief, we must guard our heart. For
it is at times of such deep emotion we are most vulnerable. We find ourselves
entertaining thoughts we normally would have quickly dispelled. While we find
our energy focused on our grieving, we must not allow ourselves to let down our
guard, to remove the watchman from the wall, thus allowing thoughts, feelings,
or intentions to slip in unnoticed and unchecked.
This is a time of recognizing, in an especially clear way, the need for calling on others to intervene for us, to watch our gates for us, so that we do not fall prey to the enemies of our soul.
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