In Psalm 84:55Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (Psalm 84:5), we read these words: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee: in whose heart are the ways of them.” The great secret of strength in the ways of God is the full assurance of His love. This is the strength of God in the soul, for what else could make the weary pilgrim sing on his lonely way? True, it is the way in which the cross is found, but it is God’s way, and the heart is in it.
In the next verse, we read of those “who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well” (Psa. 84:66Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6)). The word “Baca” means “weeping,” and our natural hearts would scarcely think of such a situation as being a well of refreshment. But God alone is the strength of His people’s heart from first to last. This is the Christian’s shield—unwavering confidence, in spite of everything, in the unchangeable love of God his Father. To question God’s love in the trial is to drop that shield and expose his heart to the fiery darts of the devil. Nevertheless, faith will always vindicate God and His truth, however heavy or sweeping the stroke. It will calmly rest in the truth that the Father’s love is the same—the same as when He gave His well-beloved Son to die on Calvary. Before such faith all enemies and temptations are powerless.
The enemy’s great object always is to weaken the believer’s confidence in the kindness of God. The way to the Father’s house leads out of the world, and so it must always be a path of trial and difficulty. When dwelling in the house, as the psalmist says, we can only praise, but when on the way to it, we may have great conflict. Hence it is that when we now realize, in the power of the Spirit, our oneness with Christ in the presence of God, we can only worship and adore, but when meeting the practical difficulties of life, we may have much to confess and pray for.
Tears That Make a Pool
Now, we may say, the believer enters the valley of Baca; it is the place, not only of trial, but of tears. He is brought into deep exercise of soul before God. Self is judged; this is the young Christian’s valley of Baca. It is the exercise of soul, rather than the trial, that makes it a well — that digs the pools. He has now found out that a desire to live to God’s glory may turn this earth into a vale of tears—a place of humiliation and sorrow. But if there is simple faith in God, the dreariest part of the desert may become a fruitful field. But on the other hand, if he gets under the power of his circumstances, his tears will be yet more bitter and more abundant. But our God will have us to confide in His love alone and to learn what He is to us, however painful the process.
“Who passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” This is God’s way out of the world, and thus a trial to nature. The great moral system of Satan in the world must be faced, and this is no easy matter. Scarcely has the joy of conversion been tasted, in many cases, when the pain of separation from the world in some of its tenderest associations must be experienced. And how often unfaithfulness in this respect hinders the good work of God in the soul and mars its sweetest joys! But the idol of the heart must be given up, and the heart unreservedly given to Christ. Thus all have a valley of Baca to pass through; it is the way to Zion. Even the most spiritual and devoted of the Lord’s people must have the exercises of the valley.
A Thorn in the Flesh
Paul’s thorn in the flesh was truly humbling to the great Apostle. This is evident from what he says to the Galatians: “My temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not” (Gal. 4:1414And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (Galatians 4:14)). It was something that made him despicable as a preacher. Thrice he prayed that the thorn might be removed. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me” (2 Cor. 12:88For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)).
Paul might have boasted that he had been in the third heaven and that no one had ever been there but himself. But the Lord, in great mercy to His dear servant, met the danger in humbling him.
The valley of humiliation and sorrow became the place of blessing to the Apostle: “He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)). Now he glories in that which had been so painful and humbling to him. “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)). Now he rests in the love that had ordered everything for him; he found the valley to be a well of rich blessing; rain from heaven filled the pools. Our blessing comes from that which has humbled us and taught us that difficulties and impossibilities are nothing to the Lord.
The House in Bethany
It was much the same with the sisters in Bethany. In their deep affliction they counted on the Lord’s love and sympathy; they send for Him, and say, “He whom Thou lovest is sick” (John 11:33Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. (John 11:3)). But in place of answering their prayer with all speed, He seems rather to turn away from them. Such delays are a great trial to faith and patience. But He was teaching them to wait His time, and on Him alone. We cannot hurry Him. “When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was. Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judea again” (John 11:6-76When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. (John 11:6‑7)). The sisters were passing through deep waters; it was indeed a vale of tears, but the Lord cannot change. Blessed truth for the sorrowing heart! But their feelings rose above their faith, and their hearts fell below their circumstances. Hence, they were disposed to blame the Lord for not coming when they sent for Him. Both Martha and Mary said, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (vss. 21,32).
But greater things than healing the sick were now filling His mind and the scene before Him. He could have said the word, as on other occasions, and Lazarus would have been healed, but, no, He acts “for the glory of God, that the Son of Man might be glorified thereby” (vs. 4). And when the right time was come, He takes His place in the scene of death, in resurrection power and glory. Lazarus is dead; Israel is dead; man is dead; the sisters are bereaved and desolate. But the Lord is equal to all the need. The whole scene is filled with His glory. The bursting tomb, the rising Lazarus, radiate His glory as the Son of God. By that voice, “Lazarus, come forth,” the deep caverns of the grave are pierced, and the sleeping dust awakes. What a testimony to the unbelieving Jews! What a rebuke to the unbelief of Martha and Mary — to the unbelief of us all in the time of affliction! He bestows life, raises the dead, glorifies God, and mingles His tears with the sorrowing ones. The mighty power of God and the tenderest human affections are perfectly displayed in this wondrous scene. Oh! what a meeting of the whole need of the heart; what a filling up of the pools; what showers of blessing from above are provided for all pilgrims, in all ages, when traveling through all parts of this vale of tears.
C. H. Mackintosh (adapted)