Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appears before God. (Ps. 84:5-7)
“The valley of Baca,” literally means, “valley of weeping.” It is a low place wherein there is sorrow. But you will note that this valley of Baca is not a permanent home for God’s people. No. It is merely a place — or, a temporary season, if you will — that is PASSED THROUGH. In fact, the very weeping that takes place in this valley is figuratively the water that can be made into a well.
But don’t misunderstand. God is not saying that He is going to use our sufferings and sorrows to make us strong. No. He will use them to make us weak. But He will do that so that we might turn to the Lord — so that Christ might BE our strength.
If we would grasp this one Truth it would clear up much confusion. It is so easy to assume God wants to make US strong, or to give us a, “thing,” called power or strength. Then when He doesn’t, we may wonder why. But no. God wants to give us His Son — Christ, the power of God — that HE might be our strength. Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong (in Him.)”
God will never make US strong — He is not going to build up our natural man so that we can be satisfied in it. No. Rather, He will dismantle our natural man — in His love and mercy — so that we will finally LOSE our lives to Him, taking our place in the Cross — ALL unto realizing Christ as our life and strength.
The valley of Baca is a place where we are shown our weakness. It is a temporary season. But there is another side — not only can the very tears we shed in that valley be used to form wells of water — but we will come out of that valley to, “Zion.” “Zion” is representative for the fullness of Christ in His people. This is the purpose of God.
David DePra