Monday, December 31, 2012

Male and female: Divine Comedy or Brilliance?


Talk to the most happily married couples or to the best of friends and they will tell you that sometimes they do not “understand each other,” “he does not listen to me,” or “I just do not understand her.”

If this sounds familiar do not fret as it is to be expected and even normal. The female and male brain is different and the two brains process information differently. The good news is that with some conscious effort communication can be enhanced between the brains and frustrations lowered.1

Many of the problems we face are not problems between individual couples, but between men and women in general. They are problems that arise because we are either too lazy or too selfish to get to know our spouse well enough to understand how different from us they really are!

 

Let us look at this article from a Biblical perspective.  Gender somehow reflects something about God and His glory. A man reflects something about God’s character that is different from a woman and vice versa. Let me start with a question; “why do we struggle with being men and women?”

 

God’s enemy is Satan, and he wishes to destroy glory and since he can not destroy God, he wishes to destroy the reflection of God, man and woman. Satan’s prime way of attempting to destroy God’s glory and image in ‘man’ is to make it too frightening to be truly man or woman and to offer ‘counterfeit’ routes to live out our gender. What does it mean to be a male and female? What does it mean that God made Adam and Eve to work together? How do we work together as husbands and wives to fulfill the creation mandate to fulfill, subdue and rule creation?

God created Adam for relationship, and He mad a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and brought it to the man; Gen: 2:18; 21-22. The force of the point here is God, made another person who was neither his master nor his inferior, but his equal. “Eve was not made out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him” –Matthew Henry. God knew that without intimacy with an equal, Adam was lonely, even with the creation and the Creator. God could have exclusively filled Adam’s heart, but in His Divine brilliance, He did not do that! This was staggering humility on God’s part to make ‘something’ that was not to be fully satisfied with the Creator and the creation and definitely this is incomprehensible for us!  

To understand the uniqueness of males and females we have to ask 3 exegetical questions.

  1. Why did God make Adam first and give him the prohibition about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil before He created Eve?
  2. Why did God have Adam name the animals without Eve and realize in the process that Adam needs a helper suitable for him?
  3. Why did God bring different curses on man and woman?

Adam has more of a direct role in subduing and bearing responsibility for the direction of the Kingdom and this does not mean that Eve was not responsible for her sins, and that she has no role in subduing and directing their activities in the Garden. Adam was built with the physical and internal makeup to ‘enter, create, and shape form out of chaos’. The curse given to Adam involved his work and all his shaping of chaos would be fraught with futility. He would succeed but not without sweat, blood and sorrow and even his success would be a trial.  The curse was meant to punish and to provide the humbling context for ‘Redemption’.

A woman’s role as a helper does not mean that she is weaker or stronger. She is a ‘helper’ who is jointly to engage creation and enter into relationship to bring glory to God. Her primary calling is one of ‘warrior of relationship’ guardian of truth in relationship, and one who is made to uniquely reflect God’s heart for relationship. The curse given to Eve involved relationships; and all her birthing of life would be laced with pain and loneliness. This means that Eve would bring forth life with sweat, blood and sorrow and she would be in conflict with her husband; Gen 3:16.

To extrapolate it further, in her loneliness, the woman will desire to absorb, to swallow the man to fill her emptiness, and he will fail her with base withdrawal or violent assault….SAD! This readily seems to imply that Eve was created with the physical and internal makeup to receive, gestate, and shape relationships out of the beauty of form.  Here again the curse was meant to punish for disobedience and to provide the humbling context for ‘Redemption’.

Sexually, a man plants his seed, and a woman slowly incubates the mysterious union of egg and sperm; and together they create a human being. A man is a planter, pursuer who is to enter the world with a strength and courage that form a new being. This tells us that human strength is an analogue of God’s love of order, righteousness and wrath.

 A woman is a nurturer, who brings creation to life through the tender interconnectedness of her body and soul with the unborn child. This tells us that human tenderness is an analogue of God’s love of mystery, tenderness and mercy. A man courageously creates, and a woman creatively shapes his creation into a lovely, relationally enhancing beauty! One without the other is a grave-distortion- male moving to violence and female gravitating to absorption. Order without mercy is authoritarian; mystery without form is hedonism. In other words male and female operate in a precious balance between life and death.
[What does love mean?

Many people are surprised to learn there is not a single word for love in the Bible, there are TWO words! And only two words.

 
The Hebrew word for maleness love means: The "strong person in the home"

The Hebrew word for femaleness love means:The "strong person in the home, (with his) Person behold!"

Really folks, does this surprise you? A family home with two sources of love. Both different. Yet complimentary. This the true picture of LOVE in the Bible. We hear people speak of "agape" as some kind of supreme godly love.

Yes, it is important, but not complete. Agape is a Greek word translated from ahab, the Hebrew word for maleness love. In the Bible, GOD is a FAMILY of members, each with distinct and complimentary personalities of love expressed. May God bless our relearning of His love.]2

Scientific studies indicate that men are more perverse and violent than women. Sexual abusers are mostly men, and mostly perpetrated by men. Women are most likely to be depressed and struggle with bulimia and codependency. What does all these symptoms, point to? Nothing but the emptiness and absorptive tendencies and even with the symptoms of sin men and women differ greatly. 

A strong husband will generally draw forth the strong tenderness of his wife, and a tender wife will birth the tender strength of her husband. This is suppose to be so, when husbands and wives labor to grow into the likeness of God. They will equally grow and shape the other, and as a result will fill the earth and subdue the earth to God’s character. Together they bear a splendour that can not be found in either person alone. Their relationship dispels loneliness and offers the one and only truly equal relationship found on earth.

The splendour of maleness and the beauty of femaleness are provided in Psalm 45. Gender is the revelation of God, who is also protected by mystery, and they are created in the image of God. The image of God is particularized into gender, and His character can not be captured by His human image bearers. In other words, each gender typically accentuates certain aspects of God’s character. God is King which highlights strength, but also mother which emphasizes His compassion; Ps: 131; Isa: 66:13.

As males and females we are significantly and intriguingly different….The differences invite fascinating, unending exploration.”3
“We have a choice: We can either delight in diversity or destroy distinctions.”4

Marriage is the first Divine institution and God in His brilliance made it between a male and a female in order to reveal and accentuate His character.  Husband’s strength helps him resonate God’s strong qualities, and he can help his wife understand that aspect of God more clearly, even though he does it imperfectly. In a similar fashion, a woman’s tenderness and compassion can increase her husband’s awareness of God’s mercy; 1 Pet: 3:1-2. We have an awesome God, great designer of the universe and gender, made us male and female to have communion with Him, so we can try to understand this unfathomable mystery of gender!

God is the author of relationship and He in His brilliance made the gender, male and female, wired so different, yet in His image to revel in His love. Nothing, absolutely nothing is more important in this world than to have a beautiful relationship with the Living God, and to find our identity in Him and through Him. I could never even imagine for a minute that the creation of male and female were Divine comedy, but indeed it was Divine brilliance. It is our lack of understanding in our fallenness we make gender as a Divine comedy!

Notes:

www.fitbrains.com/blog/2008/10/.../the-malefemale-brai... - United StatesCached - Similar

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21 Oct 2008 – He and his colleagues sampled speech from male and female college students, who ...... translator of Dante's Divine Comedy from Italian into English verse. ... background with Lewis in terms of class and intellectual brilliance, ...


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Strong's Number or Single Word Search. Spiritual Springs: File z = 16. Hebrew, letters, love, maleness, femaleness, ahab, ahabah, agape ... This is the Hebrew word for femaleness love. The "strong... May God bless our relearning of His love.

3, 4. Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House publishers, 1995.pg: 144, 158, 159

Book References:

1. Thomas Garry. Sacred Marriage: What if God designed Marriage More to Make us Holy than to make us Happy. Toronto: Harper Collins Canada, 2002.

2. Claire Smith. God’s Good Design, What The Bible Really Says About Men and    Women. Kingsford, Australia: Matthiasmedia, 2012, pgs: 105-155.

3.  Allender, Dan and Tremper Longman III. Intimate Allies. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House publishers, 1995.

Website Reference:


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21 Oct 2008 – He and his colleagues sampled speech from male and female college students, who ...... translator of Dante's Divine Comedy from Italian into English verse. ... background with Lewis in terms of class and intellectual brilliance, ...



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Strong's Number or Single Word Search. Spiritual Springs: File z = 16. Hebrew, letters, love, maleness, femaleness, ahab, ahabah, agape ... This is the Hebrew word for femaleness love. The "strong... May God bless our relearning of His love.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Role of Holy Spirit in the believer’s life and in counseling ...


Term “Spirit” translates the Hebrew word ‘ruah’.

The term "Spirit" translates the Hebrew word ruah, which, in its primary sense, means breath, air, and wind. Jesus indeed uses the sensory image of the wind to suggest to Nicodemus the transcendent newness of him who is personally God's breath, the divine Spirit."

“In our members there is a slumbering inclination towards desire which is both sudden and fierce. With irresistible power, desire seizes mastery over the flesh. All at once a secret, smoldering fire is kindled. The flesh burns and is in flames… Joy in God is in course of being extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, He loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real… Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God… The lust thus aroused envelopes the mind and will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us… It is here that everything within me rises up against the Word of God” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Creation and Fall and Temptation, pp. 116-117).

In a broken, sinful world our only hope for real intimacy and love starts with God. Only God can know us and love us completely. In John 14: 19-23, Jesus said, “… because I live, you will live also. At that day you know that I am in my Father and you in Me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him… and we will come to him and make Our home with him.” There’s real intimacy. There’s what the God-shaped vacuum in our hearts is really longing for.

The Spirit of God,  convicts, strengthens and guides. He helps us identify and fix a problem.  He is our Helper. Jesus said He will send us the Holy Spirit the comforter and the helper who will guide and lead us in all truth.

The beginning of the Christian life:  In Jesus’ teaching there is strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in initiating a person into the Christian life. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life, Holy Spirit comes and dwells within the person and leads and guide in the path of righteousness and truth. This is the first step and we call it conversion. Without the work of the Holy Spirit Jn: 16:5-15, there can not be any conversion. Jesus spoke about the conviction of sin and repentance. “And when the Counselor comes, He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.” Jn: 16:8.

“However when He the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His own authority. But whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Jn: 16:13. Holy Spirit helps in the miraculous transformation of the individual and in the impartation of Spiritual energy. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that unless he is born new in the Spirit he will not enter the Kingdoms of God; Jn: 3:3. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”; Jn: 3:5-6. The Holy Spirit is the agent who produces this supernatural occurrence of regeneration and flesh is not capable of effecting this transformation.

The continuation of the Christian Life: This is a tremendous role of Holy Spirit and He is a perfect Counselor in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit empowers, Holy Spirit will indwell and illuminate, Holy Spirit will teach us, intercedes for the believer, and works for the sanctification in the life of a believer. Holy Spirit empowers (the disciples) to do greater work in the believers today; Jn: 14:12. The key to a disciple’s success was not in their abilities and strength but by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; Jn: 16:7; Acts: 1:4-5. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”; Acts: 1:8.

Holy Spirit would indwell and illuminate the Believer: He will guide the believer in all truth and indwell in the believer and this is a gift of God for human beings and God knows we can not do it on our own; Jn: 14:16-17; 16:13-14. He takes permanent residence in a believer.

Holy Spirit has a teaching role: “He will teach you all things…”  Jn: 14:26. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is mainly illuminating Scriptures to the believers so they understand the truth as it is written; Jn: 15:26. He inspired the prophets and the apostles, and teaches and sanctifies the church, and selects the officers, qualifying them by the communication of special gifts at His will, and He is an advocate and every Christian is His client1. He brings all the graces of the ‘Risen Christ’ to a believer in every moment of our lives; Lk 12:12; Rom 15:16; Heb 2:4.

The intercessory work of the Holy Spirit is a major help in the life of a believer. He knows because He searches the deep things of God; “Like wise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Rom: 8:26-27. Thus the believers are assured that when they do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will intercede for them that the Lord’s will be done in their lives. The intercession is done both by the Son, Rom: 8:31; Heb: 7:25, and the Holy Spirit, Rom: 8:26-27.

Holy Spirit works in the sanctification process in the life of a believer: Sanctification is a continued transformation of moral and spiritual character in the life of a believer so that the believer becomes more like Jesus and the person becomes holy and good. Rom: 8; talks about the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in this sanctification process. The Spirit is now at work giving life and witnesses that believers are sons of God.  In Gal: 5, Paul speaks of the life in the Spirit; “Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh;” Gal 5: 16. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit;” Gal 5: 25. Paul also lists a group of qualities which he collectively designated as “the fruit of the Spirit”- “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” Gal 5: 22-23. It is the Spirit of God, bearing witness we are children of God; Rom: 8:14; Phil: 2:12-13; Rom: 12:1-2; and works in a believer bringing about likeness to Christ.

Convicting work of the Holy Spirit: Convicts the conscience of a believer concerning personal sins, and reproofs, 2Tim 3:16. Regeneration is the supernatural work of God, whereby He imparts eternal life to all that trust in Christ.

Clarification is attributed to the Holy Spirit; Jn: 16:13; The Spirit of truth guide us into all truth. The purpose of the Son, Acts2; the teaching of the Son, Jn: 14:26; 1 Cori: 2:10; assurance of salvation, Rom: 5:5; and the Holy Spirit give intimacy with the Father, Rom: 8:15. Spirit of God honors the Son Jn 15:26; 16: 8-10, 14. Holy Spirit helps in the public ministry Of Jesus Christ Luk 4:18 enabling to fulfill His mission on this earth. 
The relationship of the persons of the Trinity regarding the salvation of the sinners can be summarized as, Father thought it, Eph: 1:9; the Son bought it, 1 Cori: 6:20; the Spirit wrought it, Jn: 6:63. The Three Persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal. Holy Spirit was send by the Father and the Son, and He takes of the things of Christ and shows it to a believer, and indwells in a believer.
 

End Notes:
1. A.A. Hodges. Outlines of Theology for Students and Laymen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1860, p. 175.
Website Reference:


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Bibliography:
1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 865-880.
2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century. 1996, p. 172-177.
3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-266.
4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-431.
5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.111-114.
6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.409-416.
7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 326-349.
8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p.634-653.
9.   A.A. Hodges. Outlines of Theology for Students and Laymen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1860, p.173-176. 
10. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.235-243.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Sanctification is said to be past, present, and future....?


Sanctification: ‘Sanctification is that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which the Holy disposition imparted in regeneration, is maintained and strengthened.’1 An individual once a decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was made, a newness of life was conferred upon him and has a legal status before God, as His adopted child. This is past sanctification which is called justification. The present Sanctification is a process in which one’s moral condition is brought in conformity with a believer’s new status. So, Sanctification is a continuing work of God in the life of a believer, bringing the individual to holiness, “bearing an actual likeness to God.”

Greek verb, to sanctify, ‘hagazio and noun ‘hagios’ means holy or saint.

Justification is an instantaneous occurrence completed once an individual accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but sanctification is a process requiring an entire life time for completion. There are degrees of sanctification, but not of justification.  Justification is an objective work affecting our standing before God, and our relationship with God. Whereas sanctification is a subjective work affecting our inner person and our spiritual growth. Future hope and final process of sanctification is termed glorification. This is the point we look beyond this life to the world to come, which takes place when the Christian passes into the presence of the Lord.

1.         Holiness refers to the state of being separate, set apart from the ordinary, and dedicated to a particular purpose; 1 Pet 2:9. In the Old Testament, Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; Aaron’s garments and the Sabbath day; Priest and Levites are set apart for the Lord;  Exo: 13:2. In the New Testament “A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” 1 Pet: 2:9; 1 Cori: 1:2. This is a past tense of Sanctification and all believers have already been sanctified.

2.         To live lives of holiness, purity, and goodness. Sanctification is a moral goodness or spiritual worth; Eph: 4:1. Matt: 5:43-45a. A life of lowliness, meekness, patience, and forbearance are moral attributes reflecting such a status.2 This is a present tense aspect of Sanctification, where believers are progressively sanctified in the present practice.

As stated in 1 Thess 5:23, Sanctification is a supernatural work done by God, not something we do ourselves. This is a future tense aspect of Sanctification and it is a special, volitional work done by the Holy Spirit (Eph: 5:26; Tit: 2:14; Heb: 13:20-21). In Gal: 5, Paul speaks of the life in the Spirit; “Walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.”(V: 16); “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(V: 25). Paul also lists a group of qualities which he collectively designated as “the fruit of the Spirit”- “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control ;”(V: 22-23). It is the Spirit of God, bearing witness we are children of God; Rom: 8:14; Phil: 2:12-13; Rom: 12:1-2; and works in a believer bringing about likeness to Christ. This divine work in a believer is a progressive work; Phil: 1:6; 1 Cori: 1:18. Here Paul uses a present participle which clearly conveys the idea of an ongoing activity. This activity is the continuation and completion of the new life began in regeneration is evident in Phil: 1:6; and also in Col: 3:9-10. The aim of this work is likeness to the image of Christ Himself; Rom: 8:29.

Whether one is Armenian (the perfectionists: they believe it is possible for a believer to come to a state of not sinning and some arrive at that point) or Calvinists (non-perfectionists: believe in progressive sanctification) our aim should be to love God and please Him and become more like Him. It is clear that in our continued walk in the Christian life, our sanctification is dependent on our union with Him. Jesus asked us to abide in Him so that we bear much fruit; John 15. This is a key verse for a believer’s whole Christian life, fruit bearing (Jn: 15: 5), prayer (Jn: 15:7), and full joy (Jn: 15: 11) depends on this. “ Gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Phil: 3:8-11b. Becoming like Christ is closely connected with willingness in His sufferings; Rom: 8:17; and Union with Christ is a two way commitment.

The principal means of the believer’s sanctification is union with Christ. We are united to Christ in his death and resurrection in which He, as its first fruit, inaugurated the new creation. The Age to come presses in to this Age in such a way as to bring kingdom benefits to those united to Him. We do not grow in our sanctification when we are overly focused on our own spirituality. It comes as we gaze on the beauty and excellency of Christ. We are united to Him in such a way that His death is viewed as our death and His resurrection ours; Rom 6:1-11. The identification is complete in Christ, who is our life! We must, therefore, never separate the Benefactor (Jesus Christ) from benefits of redemption, including our sanctification.3
There is trust and confidence in Jesus rather than fear and secretiveness; and there is a relationship of friendship; Jn: 15. Just like Jesus had a perfect relationship with His Father, every believer can enjoy this relationship with Jesus Christ; Matt: 6:25-34; 10:28-31; Luk: 11:1-13. We see Christian life is based on our union and friendship with Christ. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” Jn: 14:15, and “You are My friends if you do what I command you” Jn: 15:14.  Legalism is the slavish following of the law thinking one can earn by merit, and it is completely ineffectual because it ignores the fact that we never out grow the need for divine grace and the essence of that law is love.   
 
End notes:
1. A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869.
3. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, Baker Book House, 1998 - 1312 page.
 5. 3. Ibid. 4. Horst Seebass, "Holy, Consecrate, Sanctify, Saints, Devout," in The New International Dictionary of     New Testament Theology, ed. Colin Brown (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), vol. 2, p. 230.
Bibliography:
1. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983-85, p. 947-1002.
2. R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.
3. Jay E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979, p.249-275.
4. Louis Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996, p. 423-450.
5.  Robert P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.
6. Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1986, 1999, p.374-377.
7.  A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1907, p. 869-881.
 8.  Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994, p. 736-761; 840-850. 
9. Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191. 
10. John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen.  St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.  



Saturday, August 18, 2012

Valley Experiences…..



When I think about a ‘valley’ the first thing that comes to my remembrance is Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”. This Psalm does indeed talks about the valley of the shadow of death, as deep, dark and dirty and frightening!
What is a Valley: ‘Tracts of land between mountains are called Vales’.
 “And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them”. 1 Samuel 17:3

Valley - a depression in the earth's surface between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands. In the NKJV the word valley is the translation of several different Hebrew and Greek words.

Different Hebrew words refer to different meanings for valleys.

One Hebrew word refers to a split or cleft place, more like a plain than a valley. This word is used of the valleys of Aven (Amos 1:5), Jericho (Deut. 34:3), Lebanon (Josh. 11:17), Megiddo (II Chron. 35:22), and Mizpah (Josh. 11:8).

Another Hebrew word, meaning "a deep place", refers to a long, broad sweep of land between parallel hill or mountain ranges. In the NKJV this particular Hebrew word is used of several valleys, including Achor (Josh. 7:24, 26), Hebron (Gen. 37:14), and Succoth (Ps. 60:6; 108:7).

Another Hebrew word, meaning "gorge", refers to a deep, narrow ravine, usually with a stream at the bottom. Some of the valleys to which this word applies are Hamon Gog (Ezek. 39:11, 15) and Hinnom (Josh. 15:8; Neh. 11:30).

A fourth Hebrew word, which means "a ravine", refers to the bed or channel of a stream that is usually dry except during the rainy season, when it may become a rushing torrent. Some of the "valleys" to which this word applies are the Arabah (Amos 6:14), Gerar (Gen. 26:17), and Sorek (Judg. 16:4; see photo above).

A Greek word translated as valley means "a precipice". This word occurs only once in the New Testament of the NKJV: "Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low" (Luke 3:5).

The valleys of Palestine vary considerably in shape and size. Some are deep canyons or narrow gorges, while others are broad, fertile plains.

Dales.

“And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.” Genesis 14:17

Fat valleys, when fruitful.

“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!” Isaiah 28:1

Rough valleys, when uncultivated and barren.

 “And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:” Deuteronomy 21:4.

The Bible, in Psalm 84:5, 6, mentions the valley of Baca: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs: the autumn rains also cover it with pools”. (NIV)

What then is the Valley of Baca?

Baca has been translated either as ‘weeping’ or ‘balsam trees’ (which grow in dry places). It could be a real place, in which case it was a valley through which the pilgrims passed during their journey. Alternatively, it could be figurative.

* Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! And thou sayest, "How doth God know?" Job 22:12,13a

* Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 3:5

* Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Job 22:21

E.W. Bullinger describes the valley "of Baca" as "of weeping". It can be the valley of tears as well as a desert experience. The two go together very well. When one is deluged with tears, they have no more hope than if they were lying in the hot dust of a desert, with no water in sight.

Valleys as Scenes of Battle

Broad valleys or plains often became scenes where battles were carried out in Old Testament times, for their breadth made them more suitable for warfare. Already in the Scriptural record (Gen 14:1-16) a formidable battle consisting of a league of four kings from the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent, which attacked a group of five kings from the western part that had rebelled against the Elamite king Chedolaomer is recorded.

Sweeping from north to south, the invading four kings won a series of battles that led them ever southward into the Valley of Siddim where they defeated their rivals and, took    all the possessions of Sodom and Gommorah and left” (v.11). Many other battles in broad valleys are detailed in the Scriptures. Many of Joshua’s campaigns were fought in such places (e.g., Josh. 7:1-3; 8:1-29 [cf. 7:24-26]; 11:8, 17). Such was the famous battle against the Amorites, whose climax featured the day when the sun and the moon “stood still . . . over the valley of Aijalon.11

Valley then is that place in our life where there is so much of trouble and disturbance, and we do not like it and we wanted our life to be peaceful. As explained above, valleys are different and each one of us may face a different valley, at varied times where the intensity of the depth and width are different. Very often I explain a valley using a mathematical expression called a sine curve. There are mountain peaks and valleys in this sine curve, and we do not like the experience of sitting at the bottom of the valley, especially when the depth is greater. This is the place very often even a believer can be confused, conflicted, confounded and faces what is hopelessness and despair. This is the place where one’s experience is dark and gloomy and our soul longs for freedom and we desperately wanted to come out of this deep valley. In that bleak confused, confounded moment of being trapped, coming out of that valley seems to be humanly impossible. Our souls and all that is within us long and cry out to the Living God for that freedom and we want that mountain top experience soon where there is light and peace.

Every human being experiences suffering at one time of life or another. Even though Christians know that God cares about our suffering, many wonder why God allows it. The Bible speaks of this is in many places and also provides the answers to our questions. Of course God knows and He cares for our situation. He is omnipotent, and sovereign; He has a plan for everything He allows under Heaven. In Psalm 18, the following verses are very helpful for some one who goes through a valley experience.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; Ps: 23:4- The true friend of God has nothing to fear in that dark valley. His great Shepherd will accompany him there, and can lead him safely through, however dark it may appear. The true believer has nothing to fear in the gloomiest scenes of life; he has nothing to fear in the valley of death; in the grave; and in the world beyond.
Yet, in these valleys, God teaches us and make us strong, builds our character, moulds us, shapes us and designs us to His heart’s desire. This is not an easy journey, but very profitable spiritually and God is very near to those who are broken. Even the valleys become fruitful in a believer’s life and even death itself is fruitful of comfort to God’s people. They will not be lost in this valley but will reach the other side, and God will help them in this valley.
Lord Jesus Christ, who bridged the huge unexplainable chasm between God and man, is able to lift us out of any valley, no matter how deep and wide it may be!
Website References:


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As they pass through a valley where balsam trees grow, they make it a place of ... The word "Baca" (בכא bâkâ') means properly weeping, lamentation; and then it is .... be translated differently, and has been differently understood by all the Versions. ... they make it a well; either the valley a well with their tears, an hyperbolical ...


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What Then is the Valley of Baca? Baca has been translated either as 'weeping' or 'balsam trees' (which grow in dry places). It could be a real place, in which ...


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Others also identify it with the Biblical "valley of Baca" from Psalms 84 (Hebrew: בך‎). ... Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went ... It can also be translated as "Valley of the Balsam Tree" or "Valley of the Weeper". This otherwise unidentified valley has been connected to Bakkah by Islamic writers.


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What Then is the Valley of Baca? Baca has been translated either as 'weeping' or 'balsam trees' (which grow in dry places). It could be a real place, in which ...


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There are seven great valleys in the Bible: Siddim, Eschol, Kidron, Elah, Achor, ... men would want her, they would come to her apartment, one after the other, ...


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1 Several different terms are used to depict the character of these valleys, “From deep ..... One of the most familiar stories in the Bible is that of David and Goliath.


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The Bible often uses the topographical imagery of “valleys” to transmit an ... In another analogy, the Psalmist paints a picture of death as being a deep dark ...

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We are going to study some of the valleys of the Bible today because we pass ... Do you ever say to another, “You poor thing, of course, you are discouraged ...



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King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) ... Even if I shall walk in the valleys of the shadows of death, I will not be afraid of evil, because you are .... Thy rod and thy staff - It may not be easy to mark the difference between these two words; but they ...


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Bible verses indexed by subject, from The New Topical Textbook by R. A. Torrey. ... stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.


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But first, let's look at your questions--you indeed you have asked three different questions: 1)What is the lily of the valley in the Bible? 2)What is the Easter lily?


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That a valley is the lower things of the church, is evident from other passages in the Word, as in Isaiah;. The prophecy of the valley of vision. What hast thou here, ...


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Category:Hebrew Bible valleys. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to: navigation, search. Many scholars advocate use of the term Hebrew Bible as a ...


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Bible Valley. ... Welcome to Bible-valley! The Bible valley is an International Interfaith project dedicated to create, in the vicinity of the footheels of Jerusalem ...


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An elongated lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands, ... (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a long depression in the land surface, ...


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Basin vs Valley A basin is a depression or hollow on the earth's surface, which is surrounded by higher land. A valley is also a ... A valley is also a depression or hollow between hills, mountains and uplands. A basin ... On the other hand, Valleys are usually V'“shaped. ... The valleys range from one to ten kilometres in width.


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You +1'd this publiclValley - a depression in the earth's surface between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands. In the NKJV the word valley is the translation of several different ...

Book References:

1.Payer To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2000)

2. Timothy Keller, Counterfeit GODS, “The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters” New York Times Bestselling Author of The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, Published by Penguin Group (U.S.A) Inc; 2009.

3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)

4. Timothy Keller, ‘The Prodigal God’ Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith; Author of the New York Times bestseller The Reason for God, Published by Penguin Group (U.S.A) Inc:copyright @2008 Timothy Keller.

5.David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)

6.Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104)

7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.

8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.

9.Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)

10.Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)

11.John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)

12.Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)

13.The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.

14. Deuteronomy becoming Holy People, Stephen D. Eyre, p:32-26; IVP connect, An imprint of Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1998, 2004.

15. Metzeger, Bruce M. (ed); Michael D. Coogan (ed) (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504645-5.

16. Mitchell, Stephen, 1987. The Book of Job. San Francisco: North Point Press. Cited in R. T. Pennock, 1999, Tower of Babel, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

17. Stormie Omartin, “The power of a praying wife”, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene 97402; copyright @1997; pgs81-85.

18. Timothy keller, ‘The Reason for God” Belief in an age of Skepticism, Published by Penguin Group, USA, New York 10014, Copyright,@ 2008; pgs:170-200.


19. William R. Miller, Kathleen A. Jackson, ‘Practical Psychology for Pastors’ The University of Mexico, Prentice Hall, Upper S le River, New Jersey 07458; @ 1995, 1985 pgs:248-292.