“Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” (Psalms 84:6)
Some suppose that David wrote this psalm because it contains David’s fervor for the Lord. But the psalm begins, “To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.” The word “for” actually means of. Korah was the Israelite who rebelled against God and Moses and the earth swallowed him and his family. It’s thought that his descendants that survived either were too young to suffer the consequence of his sin or that they which were beyond the age of reason had separated themselves from their father’s folly. These descendants of his lineage were devoted to the Lord and served as worshippers and musicians in the temple of the Lord.
The valley of Baca may have been an actual location. Some think it could have been on a route to Jerusalem, either the valley of Achor, valley of Rephaim or valley of Renan. It’s thought that it was the Valley of Rephaim because it was barren, but it could also be figurative. Baca are a kind of weeping tree that weep their sap such as the balsam, mulberry, or aspen tree. The valley of Baca could figuratively mean the valley of weeping. And because it was barren, travelers dug pools which collected the rain to refresh themselves and those who came after also.
The verse has many implications for us. Figuratively, we all undeniably have gone through or will go through a valley of weeping. It’s a low time in our lives much like a valley is low. It’s a time of desolation much like this valley, barren, sterile and a time seemingly without God’s help. Much like the traveler who dared to take this route for some expedient reason, placed himself in the harsh journey through this valley, we suffer the daunting hardships of our trials. A note here is that like the traveler who passes through this valley, we too, will go through it and this time of difficulty will pass.
What kept the traveler going through this harsh land? It’s the expectation that he will soon leave it behind. He looks forward to a coming time beyond this difficulty. But he is not without hope. He digs holes to collect the rain and is refreshed with the water they hold. Likewise, our faith helps us persevere during this time. Our hope is in our Lord. And our help comes from above like the rain came to the traveler. And we are refreshed in the trial enough to finish the journey through the valley. And we look beyond, to a time when the trial is over, and peace will come again to our lives.
The traveler didn’t plug up the holes he dug. But left them for those coming after him. They too would be refreshed with the water collected. And so, our faith and perseverance is hope also to those who have to journey through the trials we have traveled. Jesus journeyed through this world. He suffered our sufferings first and gives us hope. He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) He suffered, and He conquered so that we could have victory as we go through the valley of weeping. And in our journey through this valley of weeping, we can say with Paul, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
The valley of weeping is not a time we enjoy, but we have hope and peace because of our faith in our Lord. Some just want out of the valley at all costs. They may say something like, “Why must I suffer?” But Jesus said it was a sure thing in this world. (John 16:33) Paul told the Corinthians that our suffering is working in us something that is very valuable. It cannot be obtained but in this time of suffering in the chiseling away of the things that are displeasing to the Lord. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Corinthians 4:17-18) God uses the tribulations in this world for His purposes to work in us eternal things which we cannot see.
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