THE VALLEY OF BACA (Weeping)
Psalms 84:1-8
Wouldn’t it be great if we never went through valleys in our Christian experience? If things were always on an even keel, or better yet, high up on the mountain slopes. While Brenda and I were in Montana, we used to drive up Beartooth Pass to a height of around 12,000 feet. We have stood on the side of the mountain up above the clouds, where the sky was blue and the sun was shining, even though it was cloudy and gray below in the valley. I remember walking through alpine meadows, with patches of snow still clearly seen, even in July and August. It was great while up on the mountaintop. However, we knew that we could not stay there. The work of the church was fifty miles away in Billings, plus the winters are severe when you are up that high. Even in March, April, Oct. and November, you could easily be stranded in a sudden mountain storm. The valley was a place we knew we had to come down to eventually.
Spiritually speaking, our walk with God is often the same way. He allows us to experience, from time to time, the wonderful heights of the mountain, yet to only come down to the lowest depths of the valley. We wonder why? Why can’t we stay on the mountain top? Why must we walk through the depths of the valley? The truth is that valleys are part of life, every person has their share of problems, troubles and valleys. Regardless of how isolated some may appear to be from such troubles, rest assured that they too reach those places where they wonder why as well. Norma Jean was a person who appeared to have everything. The most famous men in the world courted her. Even presidents desired her. She made millions, her name was splashed across almost every newspaper in the country. Yet, she died from an overdose, and she choked to death on her own vomit, ruled a suicide by the doctor. Most of you don’t know her as Norma Jean, but rather as Marilyn Monroe, her stage name. She appeared to have everything going for her, but she didn’t. Job said in Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. That’s life.
Psalms 84 is a song of pilgrimage, about going on a journey. Every Jewish male was required to worship at the temple at least three times a year if at all possible (Deut. 16:16). For many families, it was the highlight of the year, to be able to go to Jerusalem and see the sights and sounds of the big city, to be able to enter into the temple and see the splendor of it. Many traveled great distances and endured hardship to be able to make it to Jerusalem. The way was sometimes discouraging, so they would sing and worship as they traveled. This psalm is believed to be one of the ones that they sung, to remind them, especially during the discouraging parts of the journey, of the glory of God’s house. This psalm is expressed with deep longing for the presence of God, to be in His house, to be in His courts, and to dwell in His presence is the object of this psalm. For many of them that traveled, it was like a homecoming, they would see family that that had not seen for a while, but still the highlight was to be in the temple of God, worshipping and praising Him.
As they traveled, outside of Jerusalem, was a valley called the Valley of Baca. Most of pilgrims had to pass through this valley to make it to Jerusalem. I have heard several ideas about the Valley of Baca, some scholars believe it was a garbage heap, a dump, that the pilgrims passed by, other scholars believe it takes its name from the Balsam tree. Balsam trees grew in dry places, so it is believed that the Valley of Baca was a harsh, dry, place that would test the patience of the pilgrims as they journeyed to meet with God. Such a valley exists between the Jordan and Jerusalem. The Balsam tree, at a certain time, weeps its sap, and no doubt, this reminded the travelers of the tears that they themselves shed while on the journey. Baca also means weeping in the Hebrew language, so many see it as a place of great sorrow. We too have our valleys of Baca that we pass through on our way to the new Jerusalem. There are several truths that will help us that this passage gives us.
I. THE PILGRIM ONLY PASSES THROUGH THE VALLEY.
1. When I read this, I am reminded of the story about the old country preacher, that was asked what his favorite part of the Bible was. He replied, “My favorite part is that one that says, “and it came to pass”. Someone told him that didn’t make any sense, why not choose a passage like the 23rd Psalm, or the Golden rule. He replied, “Those verse are mighty good too, but I like “and it came to pass”. He was then asked what is so special about that verse. He said, “I know that whatever I go through, no manner how bad it is, that it too will come to pass, and I will make it through.”
2. While we must, from time to time, journey through dry, harsh places on our spiritual journey, it’s good to remember that those places are not our home.
3. We know that Satan is the thief, he comes to steal. One of the things that he loves to steal from Christians is their hope. One of his biggest lies is this, “Its not going to get any better”, or “He/she is not going to get saved”, or “It’s always going to be like this”. He comes to steal hope.
4. Naomi, after the death of her husband and her sons, must have felt that way. Listen to what she says.
Ruth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
5. Her name, Naomi, means delight, or delightful, but she has now lost her hope and asks to be called Mara, which means bitter.
6. Listen to what Job had to say,
Job 6:8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
7. May I tell you that Satan desires to steal your hope and joy, so that you too will turn bitter, that you too will loose hope and stop your journey.
8. Some people are chronic complainers, they set down roots in the valley of Baca, with no intention of moving. They camp to wallow in their sorrows, satisfied with their self pity. It’s no wonder that Jesus asked the impotent man in John chapter 5, “Do you want to be made well?" Some people get comfortable in the Valley of Baca.
9. Remember that you are on a pilgrimage, Baca is not your home, God has designed you for something better, you are only passing through. If you continue on your journey, all that you are going through will soon pass away.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
10. Paul is saying that here, our troubles, our valleys are only for a moment, especially when it is compared with the eternal weight of God’s glory. That is what the pilgrims needed to remember while traveling through the Valley of Baca, the glories of God’s temple, and the joy of being in His courts. Keep your eye on the prize.
11. When you are traveling through the Valley of Baca, remember those mountain top experiences, remember the joy of being in God’s presence. Remember what it is like to be above the storm clouds and bask in the sunshine of His presence. Remember the promises of God, the providence of God, remember the presence of God, and remember the power of God.
II. THE PILGRIM FINDS REFRESHMENT IN THE VALLEY OF BACA.
1. David said that they make a well, or dig a well, while in the Valley of Baca, to refresh themselves so they can continue on their way.
2. When the American West was opened up, many a traveler passed over the rich earth that lay on top of the territory of Nebraska. The dirt is rich, black dirt, but they could see no water anywhere. They thought this land would be good for nothing. One writer even called it, “The Great America Desert”. Some even died while on their journey, for lack of refreshment. Our family lived in Nebraska for about 5 ½ years. I told my father once on the phone that these people in Nebraska were serious about farming, Nebraska has been called the bread basket of our nation, more wheat, and more corn are grown there than almost any other state in the union. What happened? What made the different that those early travelers couldn’t see. They failed to realize, that under the state of Nebraska, is an underground lake, an aquifer that lay under 2/3’s the state of Nebraska. Some one got the bright idea to dig down and found all the water they needed to turn the “Great American Desert” into the bread basket of America.
3. Sometimes what we have to do, as we travel through the Valley of Baca, is to make the extra effort and dig down to find the refreshment that we need to make it through the Valley.
4. 1st, we need to dig into the promises of God’s word. There is a well of comfort, a well of victory in the Word of God, but we usually don’t take the time to really dig down. Someone once said the Bible is like scratching the earth with a hoe, you can dig potatoes just out from the surface, but to dig diamonds, you have to dig deep. You will find promises that will offer you encouragement, promises that provide for your healing, promises that will bring you comfort, while traveling through the Valley of Weeping.
5. 2nd, we need to dig into the presence of God by prayer. It’s great to be in the temple, worshipping and praising God, it’s great to rejoice in the courts of the Almighty, but God walks with His own, even in the Valley of Baca. He desires that we seek Him, seek Him with all of our heart.
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
6. 3rd, we need to dig deep into the grace of God. I have seen it again and again, when people go through great trouble and affliction, that they dig deep, they get close to God, I’ve seen mothers who husbands have left them alone, grow stronger in God, instead of allowing Satan to defeat them, I’ve seen those who have lost a loved one to death, grow stronger and find more grace to continue for God. God’s grace is more than enough, and is still so even today for those who travel through the Valley of Baca.
7. If you are suffering, dig deep, if you are in trouble, dig deep, if you are facing great affliction, dig deep. God will provide what you need.
8. We are told in 2 Kings 3, the story of the alliance that Jehoshaphat, the righteous king of Judah, and Jehoram, the wicked king of Israel made to attack the king of Moab. They traveled through the wilderness of Edom, and picked up the king of Edom, who traveled with them for 7 days until they reached a valley of no water. Jehoram said that God was going to deliver them into the hand of Moab because they would die of thirst, but Jehoshaphat called for Elisha to ask what to do. Elisha told them to fill the valley with ditches, dig ditches and fill the valley with them. That would seem like a strange request, but they obeyed and the next morning the entire valley was full of water.
9. The valley you may be in may be due to your own fault, Jehoshaphat knew better to make an alliance with the wicked but he did, but God did not forget about him, in his time of need, God provide grace for him. Dig deep.
III. THE PILGRIM INCREASES IN STRENGTH IN THE VALLEY OF BACA.
1. Notice what David says in verse 7, they go from strength to strength. While we don’t like valleys, it is in the valley that our faith is exercised, and we grow in strength. They go from victory to victory, from might to might.
2. Every difficulty overcome means a higher strength to overcome difficulties. Until finally every obstacle is overcome and they enter in before the presence of the King. Every one that dug deep, makes it to Zion, the holy city, to appear before the Lord. If we dig deep, God will give us the strength we need to make it through.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
We are going to make it.
