Door Keeper

2 April

' For a day in your courts is better than a thousand (anywhere else); I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell ( at ease) in the tents of wickedness' Ps 84:10

Doorkeeper ( or sometimes referred as gatekeeper) whose duty is to guard the door of the Tabernacle, so as to prevent anyone from coming carelessly to the 'Ark'

In David's day, the Levites surrounded the 'ark of the covenant' with continuous praise and worship. Those who were in the Tabernacle enjoyed the benefits of a continuously open heaven because there was someone who stood at the door and 'held' it open. Open heaven refers to the free access of God's presence to man and the free flow of God's glory to man. David's desire is to see God's manifested presence and experience open heaven. He chose to be a doorkeeper than to be elsewhere because of his passion to be in the presence of God. David understood the importance of this office to be a doorkeeper. Being a doorkeeper stationed at the right door is the place of real influence. If you can be a doorkeeper and open the door of the manifested presence of God to your church and your community, you need to understand that you have been placed in the most influential position in the entire world. We are called to be doorkeepers and we can be ' a walking doorway' to God's presence. People around us can sense the glory light shining under the door.

Obededom (a doorkeeper : 1Chron 15:18,24) knew what it was like to be a
doorkeeper and knew what it was like to have God dwelling in his house instead of merely visiting there. He discovered that there were side benefits that came to his job of safeguarding the 'ark of the covenant'
'And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house for 3 months.And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom and all that he had' IChron 13:14.

Lot, on the other hand 'was the gatekeeper in Sodom and Gomorrah' Gen 19:1 the bible tells us that Lot 'sat in the gate of Sodom' Despite his bad choice of city, he recognised that presence of angelic visitors. He welcomed the angelic visitors to his home. Lot also knew what wickedness and unrighteousness was like in that city but he failed to close the gate to the sin that was consuming the city. Sodom was destroyed by fire because the gatekeeper failed to do his job.

Let us remind ourselves that we are doorkeepers for His manifested presence and we are His doorway where people around us can experience God's presence and open heaven and be blessed in His presence. Let us guard God's presence in our lives and be an impact in the community. We have the responsibility to watch at the gates.