Psalm 84
"Valley of Baca"
Today at church, after receiving the revelation about my word for 2024 (please see previous post entitled “PAUSE”), I was given PSALM 84 in my spirit. When I got home, I opened it on my Bible app.
Psalms 84:1-12 NIV
[1] 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 Baka, 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. [8] Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. [9] Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. [10] Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. [11] For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. [12] Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
I decided to look up “Valley of Baka” and ran across this (content in brackets):
[“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of springwater; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings” (Ps. 84:6).
The location of the Valley of Baca is unknown and mentioned only here in Scripture. The word baca means “balsam” but is also the Hebrew verb for “weep.” (The balsam tree “weeps” its resin.) So we can translate “the Valley of Baca” as “the valley of weeping.” It’s possible this wasn’t an actual geographical location but figurative. Warren Wiersbe describes the Valley of Baca as “any difficult and painful place in life, where everything seems hopeless and you feel helpless, like ‘the pit of despair.’”
Those who trust and worship God may expect to pass through the valley of weeping. The operative words in that statement are “pass through.” The valley of weeping is a place through which we pass; it is not where God’s people permanently dwell.
The focus of Psalm 84 is the delight of worship. It is a psalm of worshipers longing to be at the temple in Jerusalem. On the journey there, however, they pass through the valley of weeping. Pay attention to who the “they” are in verse 6:
They are “people whose strength is in [God], whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (v. 5).
They “long and yearn” to be in God’s presence (v. 2).
They “cry out for the living God” (v. 2).
They “would rather stand at the threshold of the house of … God than live in the tents of wicked people” (v. 10).
They know God as their “sun and shield” and “live with integrity” (v. 11).
They put their trust in “the Lord of Armies” (v. 12).
Because their eyes are focused on God, they see the valley of weeping not as a place of despair but as a place to experience the Lord’s faithfulness even more deeply (v. 6; compare 2 Cor. 12:9-10).
There are other valleys mentioned in Scripture through which we may pass
The valley of darkness — “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4). God is with us when we walk through dark valleys of uncertainty. Therefore, we are not afraid.
The valley of trouble — The Lord spoke through Hosea concerning His wayward people: “I will … make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope” (Hos. 2:15). The word “Achor” means “trouble” and here is a reference to the place where Achan sinned by taking plunder from Jericho (Josh. 7:25). God meets us in the valley of rebellion and brokenness to call us back to Himself. Therefore, we have hope.
Aren’t you glad God is Lord not only of the mountains but also of our valleys?
Don’t make the mistake the Arameans made in 1 Kings 20. They considered Israel’s God to be “a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys” (v. 28). Believing God’s power was limited to the mountains, the Arameans attacked the Israelites on the plains near the city of Aphek. Though the Israelites were vastly outnumbered there, God gave His people victory over their enemies—revealing Himself to be Lord not only of the mountains, but of the plains and valleys too.
If we don’t see God as Lord of the valleys as well as the mountaintops, then our view of God is too small.
What’s your view from the valley?
Mike Livingstone is a content editor at Lifeway for Explore the Bible resources.]
https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/blog/adults/the-view-from-the-valley-session-5-psalm-841-12/
Once again, I was overwhelmed with what the Lord was speaking to me. When I read that it also translates as “Valley of Weeping”, I knew that this is the very Valley that I find myself in right now. But the Lord also reminded me that weeping may last for the night, but JOY comes in the morning!!!
To make things even better, I received a message from a friend this afternoon containing a song that they sang at her church today. Her message read: “We sang this in church today and I thought of you. Rest in His presence.” The name of the song is “Yahweh: Psalm 84” (I’ve included the link below if you care to hear it).
https://youtu.be/xiy23YegLaM?si=L43yctSO2UjreRo9
You will never convince me that the Lord does not hear our cries and demonstrates His love to us. What a good, good, FAITHFUL Father!!!
I will meditate on Psalm 84 through this season in the Valley of Baca, but I know that JOY is on the horizon!!!
I love you. Jesus loves you more.