The Valley of Baca
There was only one path on the road ahead. From where I stood, the path looked rough and long. It was a path of disappointment, and there was no end in sight. It was not my choice to walk on that path. I selfishly wanted to veer off the road and create my own path of reality in which disappointment did not exist. But, the loving hand of God would not allow it. So, there I went…down into the Valley of Baca, clinging to my Father, begging Him to not let go.
What is the Valley of Baca?
It is referenced only once in Psalm 84, but you might be more familiar with this valley than you realize…
Literal meaning:
While its exact location is debatable, the Valley of Baca referred to in Psalm 84 is believed to have been a real place. It was a path near Jerusalem known for its dryness and roughness, and it was not a desirable path for most travelers. This valley was also characterized by certain trees whose bark was coated in dripping sap… almost resembling tears… as if the trees were weeping. Hence, the name “Baca,” which literally means “tears” or “weeping.”
Metaphorical meaning:
The Valley of Baca was also used symbolically. Its roughness represented the roughness of life, and the “weeping trees” symbolized real tears that the roughness often caused. The psalmist here must have had some sort of understanding of this valley, and his audience would have related with both the reality and the symbolism. I can only imagine the pain of someone reflecting on their time in this valley. Maybe a single tear was shed or a sigh of relief was given. Maybe someone was preparing to journey through this specific path and was reminded of how hard it would be. Either way, this valley had a depth of disappointment to it that no one would willingly have chosen to face unless there was something so worth it on the other side.
This is my reality. I have experienced Baca. And, perhaps, you are walking through the valley of Baca in your own life as well—a circumstance so painful and so disappointing that even the thought of it causes your eyes to betray you with tears. All will face Baca at some point in life, though it may not look exactly the same in each case. So, why not confront this reality now? The prerequisite to accepting God’s help is recognizing the need for it. Suppression is the key that unlocks the door to self-dependence, and denial only leads to deeper doubt. In other words, the way we react to trials reveals the condition of our hearts. Suppressing our pain reveals that we think we are capable of handling it on our own. We deny that the grace of God is vast enough to reach our pain. Sure, God has helped other people and provided in the past, but how could He take care of me in this specific circumstance? Those lies must be addressed and filtered through Scripture, which we will do as we go through Psalm 84.
That is the significance of a study on this valley. It causes us to surface those feelings and doubts that have been suppressed, acknowledge them, and present them to God so that He can help us through the roughness. He is already willing and able to do so! God does not just leave us in Baca to fend for ourselves. Thankfully, Psalm 84 gives the road map for the journey through this valley...
Can’t wait to continue this study with you !!
~mckayla :)
p.s. My plan is to start consistently posting weekly (possibly biweekly), but if you want a spoiler for this first series, go read the entirety of Psalm 84!
Resources Consulted:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/
let’s talk! leave a comment down below!!
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