THE VOICE OF THE VALLEYS
Pt 2
“Baca–The Valley of Tears”
Ps 84:1-7 “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”
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The Valley of Baca is mentioned in the Bible only once here in Psalm 84.
The word Baca is translated “weeping” in most translations–so it is the valley of tears.
In the Bible, the word Baca is also used to describe a type of “weeping” tree that drips resin or gum-like tears.
The Valley of Baca mentioned in the Psalm was a literal place located near Jerusalem.
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Now, in the OT, people would travel to Jerusalem to worship.
And on the way they would pass through this valley called Baca (tears).
It was a necessary part of the journey.
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Now we see that the psalm begins with a:
I. Resolve to seek the Lord
“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.” (Vs 5)
Jerusalem was the city of God.
It represented His favor and His presence.
These travelers have ‘set their minds’ on journeying there in order to worship God and draw near to Him in the temple.
For them the journey to Jerusalem was well worth the trip!
It describes them as yearning, even fainting with desire to enter the courts of the Lord…their whole being is crying out for the living God!
These travelers were hungry for more of God!
And so they put feet to their faith by “setting their minds” on making the journey to the Temple in Jerusalem.
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Now, we have a picture here of New Testament Christians–you and me!
Like them, the moment we are saved we begin a journey.
Not to an earthly Jerusalem, but to seek Jesus, His will, His purpose for us.
Our resolve is to follow after Jesus all the days of our lives, to SEEK him first, to live for Him no matter the cost.
Our heart and our flesh cry out to know the Lord, be in His presence, to walk with Him and learn of Him.
Like these OT travelers, deep down within, our heart and flesh cry out for the living God!–to know Him, learn of Him, walk with Him, grow in Him.
And so, as born again Christians we have also, like them, ‘set our minds’ on seeking and living for Jesus Christ, with the blessed hope of one day entering heaven.
Every born again believer today began a journey, the moment you were saved, on the narrow road that leads to life.
The Bible calls it a race, a walk of faith, the way, a pursuit, and a journey.
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And just like these OT pilgrims, this journey we’re on has its mountaintop experiences of joy, celebration, rich fellowship with God, and happy memories.
But its also got its valleys:
Times of sorrow.
Trials.
Heartaches.
Disappointments.
Spiritual warfare.
Persecutions.
Earthly Losses.
Setbacks.
Times of weeping.
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Likewise, these OT travelers had to pass through the valley of Baca (weeping) in order to get to Jerusalem.
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca…”
And it’s the same with us!
Sometimes the going is tough….!
As Peter wrote, “My friends, don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, which are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you.”–1 Pet 4:12
So in our walk with Jesus, valleys happen.
Times of disappointment, hurt, difficulties…
Paul wrote of seasons of trouble, perplexity, persecution, being taken to the mat in spiritual warfare.
–Yet the message of this psalm is good news!
It says that those who experience the valley of weeping:
II. Will find strength in God!
It says, “they make it a place of springs…7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion (Jerusalem).”
As they passed through the valley of weeping, God stepped in with His supernatural strength to help them along the way.
He didn’t leave them to die in that valley, or to end their journey without reaching their destination.
No, it says, “As they pass through…”
The valley of weeping did not become their tombstone, it became a stepping stone!
In the middle of the valley of weeping they began to experience God’s strength–not just once, but over and over again–‘from strength to strength.’
Folks, I’m here to tell you that the Christian life has its mountaintop high points, and it has its valley low points.
But when you’re seeking Him, and the Holy Spirit lives in you, and you’re on that narrow road of obedience that leads to life…
It is THEN and THERE that God sends supernatural strength so that you won’t be crushed by the valley, thrown into despair, or destroyed!
No, because of who lives in us we go “from strength to strength!”
The Apostle wrote, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?’
And it gets better:
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When you’re in the valley of tears, It’s WHO you know that makes the difference!
When you’re God’s child, the power of His Spirit is at work within you, injecting strength into your inner being–the strength that empowers you to keep on walking!
Jesus told the Apostle Paul, “In your weakness I am made strong. My strength is made perfect in your weakness!–2 Cor. 12:9
ILLUS: two bottles
This is why Paul could write, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed!”–2 Cor. 4:8-9
–The journey of a faithful Christian through valley seasons is a step-by-step journey “from strength to strength.”
As these travelers found renewed strength in God, they were able to persevere through the valley of tears!
And in the end,
III. They find not only strength, but grace
“When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.”–vs 6
Their Valley of tears became springs of blessing and pools to drink from!
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For us, this illustrates the rain of the Holy Spirit of refreshing God pours out on our hearts in the place of weeping.
The Valley of Weeping will becomes a refreshing spring!
–It’s not that the valley ceases to be a valley, it’s that God pours the water of His love and Presence into your heart in the midst of the valley.
It’s like the Psalm says, “He (the righteous) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”–1:3
It says of Jesus, “He grew up…like a root out of dry ground!”–Is 53:2
No matter what’s happening around you–when you’re His child and you’re seeking Him, you blossom and grow in the middle of a drought!
God’s grace sustains you in the valley,
His Spirit waters you in the valley,
His Word strengthens you in the valley,
and His mercy gets you through the valley!
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So I want to encourage those of you in a valley of tears today that “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world!”–1 John 4:4