THE VALLEY OF BACA

PSALMS 84:6

A. "WHO PASSING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF BACA MADE IT A WELL"
  1. The Psalmist was a keen observer of life and he read in it the power of God:
    1. He gloried in the handy work of God
    2. Says he, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His hand work - Ps. 19:1-6
  2. He saw in nature:
    1. An expression of God's loving care for his creatures
    2. These mercies to God's creatures created in the Psalmist deep appreciation and joy B. THE LAND OF BACA
  3. The Vale of Baca or the Balsam tree was some vale which, like the Vale of Elah, and the Vale of Shettim or Acacia:
    1. Took the name from the trees which grew there
    2. Balsam trees, so we are told, love a dry situation - growing plentifully in that area
    3. The pilgrims going to Jerusalem to worship passed through that Vale
  4. The thought of the Psalmist is beautiful:
    1. The Valley Baca is actually a desert place, but the spiritual man, the man of faith is able to draw from such experience their hidden meaning, and to make the desert "rejoice and blossom as a rose" - Is. 35:1
    2. The lesson then is that the pilgrims passing by through the Vale of Baca on their way to Jerusalem made it a well of salvation
  5. Note, how different it is from the human concept:
    1. Because of the desert-like environment, it symbolized sorrow and loneliness
    2. But the faith and devotion of the pilgrims made it a well of salvation
    3. They did not notice the dreariness of the surroundings, they thought of Jerusalem
  6. What a beautiful lesson for us:
    1. Simple faith in God's promises can change a dreary and seemingly hopeless situation completely
    2. This writer has seen on several occasions where the faith and devotion of a saint made his environment pleasant and attractive C. THE VALLEY OF BACA
  7. The Valley of Baca symbolizes a sin-sick and godless world:
    1. Spiritual decay is visible everywhere; in the home, in society, and even in government circles
    2. "Behold, darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people" - Is. 60:1
    3. When Jesus came into this world, it was written, "The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" - Matt. 4:16
  8. But the pilgrims of God bring a great change:
    1. They dig wells; Examples: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were well diggers - Gen. 26:15-16, 18; we think of Jacob's well - John 4:1-28
    2. In Fact, their own lives become wells of living water - John 7:37-38
    3. We think of dark and forbidding South Africa; study the map of that country and you will find that country is dotted with spiritual wells out of which the natives of that country drink the water of life
    4. "And the Sprit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come, and let his that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely" - Rev. 22:17
  9. These comforting truths are:
    1. A constant challenge to every professed Christian in this world; how many wells have we made for thirsty souls to satisfy their thirst from these wells
    2. Can it be said of us, "Blessed is the man, whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools" - Ps. 84:5-6
    3. "They go from strength to strength, everyone of them in Zion appeareth before God" - Ps. 84:7
    4. Our blessed Lord must have certain environments where sickness, hunger, thirst, sorrow linger and where the children of God dig a well to bring life and hope to these unfortunate souls who suffer


Design © John Bryant 2011