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
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
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 Valley
of Baca
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 valley of Aijalon
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:
answering-islam.org/BibleCom/baca.htmlCached
www.ask.com/questions-about/Valley-of-BacaCached
bible.org/article/view-valleyCached
[PDF]
bibleclassoftheair.org/booklets/season01_files/BCA-510912.pdfSimilar
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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 ...
