TWO VALLEY EXPERIENCES
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.” (Psalms 84:6
“On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.” (2 Chronicles 20:26, BSB)
Preface
Nearing the season of Pentecost 2019 I was led to write a book entitled ‘A Bloody Scene’. After many mornings being downloaded with information, I asked, ‘Is this another book, Lord? ’ My spirit was fed that this was indeed so. It was my breakthrough book. What I have come to appreciate is the way in which the Spirit urges me to write and publish a book. I am always informed by the Spirit when to commence writing after many weeks of being aroused from sleep inundated with what I am required to pour forth. Once the book is written and published it remains actively stirring the spiritual atmosphere to accomplish what God has given me. After a period of time actively shifting the spiritual atmosphere, in the case of ”A Bloody Scene” it has now been two years, I am then given the next key to align to the victory.
I am now been Spirit-led to release updated excerpts of the book. This level of timely obedience leads me into the next phase of my spiritual journey. It is the mode operandi of the Spirit, and the only way in which God has dealt with me to bring about this strategic end time call. There is no doubt or wavering in me as full alignment to my divine purpose comes into the realm of reality through obedience when I write. It is truly remarkable. My prophetic experiential journey of faith with God has left me secured to write as I trust Him. He is consistent with me and therefore inspires the confidence needed, as the spiritual backlash that comes on the release of a book is real. His divine protection and assurances have produced in me a resilient approach to life and I just get on with it. The season of alignment to restoration and breakthrough into the fullness of my long awaited purpose is here. I am now being Spirit-urged to briefly throw a little revelatory light on the contents of that book for full breakthrough.
The book entails how two polarised valley experiences, when drawn together elicits spiritual qualities that are relative.. Traversing the Baca Valley of weeping into the Beracah Valley of blessings would be the routes destined for me to recovery the spoils from a protracted and ferocious spiritual battle. It was a very public and uncomfortable lived-experience but my spirit informs me that what is to come will be worth the unimaginable discomforts levelled at me.
Baca – ‘Weeping’
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.” (Psalms 84:6, BSB)
From the writer’s imaginary account of Psalms 84, one can extrapolate meaning to their own spiritual journey of faith. The illustrations of the experiences of the Baca Valley travellers brings context to the lonely walks of life that we may encounter in deep terrains of faith. Although they are very distinct valley experiences, from weeping to blessings, there is progression. You cannot elicit spiritual blessings without the testing of your faith. One can derive parallels of spiritual growth and development from these seasonal journeys of faith. If they endure the fight.
Strong’s (H1056), ‘Baka’ is translated as ‘weeping’. The original Hebrew word is ‘Baka’, and is formed of four letters. The letter ’Kaph’, means ‘Palm of hand’. Its bowed over letter-design speaks of humility, a posture to offer worship to God.. What I have derived in my thoughts is that it is undeniably a representation of Jesus our Great High Priest who leans-in to hear the faintest cry as He lovingly watches over His people . The only fitting response for humankind is to fall penitently at His feet. ’Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me. (Isaiah 49:16, BSB). Isaiah is here prophesying of Jerusalem’s restoration. Although the city would periodically lay in ruin because of sinfulness, yet God would keep watch over its desolate state to rebuild, restore and fortify it against its enemies. How much more precious are the seekers of His glory to experience His divine restoration and healing?.
‘Resh’, speaks of Jesus as ‘Head, Teacher, Redeemer and Deliverer.’ “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, BSB). He refreshes and renews our strength in the heat of life’s walk. As the Great Deliverer, He goes before His people to fight our battles. His discerning eye searches out all things. The piercing revelatory beam of insight moves into the spiritually empty depths of the human soul. He uncovers the true condition of the troubled heart to bring understanding and the wisdom to discern the will of God for healing. The eternal revelatory light floods the naked inner being that is void of spiritual worth. Jesus as Protector of His people lovingly covers us in His righteous affirmation.
‘Mem’ means ‘King of Water’ and in old Hebraic writings it refers to ‘Yahweh Makom, the Place’. In my basic understanding, as I write I see ‘Baca’ as giving meaning to all that represents the Eternal Godhead. I am here moved to give spontaneous unfettered worship as I write. My spirit is being reminded that everything in life comes back to the Eternal One. The essence of Jewish ancestry and this nation’s footprint on humanity is essentially about ‘Yahweh Makom’. Yahweh Makom is the ‘Place’, the eternal source of the springs of knowledge, the water of life and the eternal path to the after life. “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts! (2) My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” *Psalms 84:1-2, BSB)
Finally, ‘Ayin’, gives us revelation, discernment and prophetic understanding. It is a word of spiritual insight that gives revelatory wisdom through the Spirit of Truth. Interestingly ‘Ayin’ can also mean ‘nothingness’. I perceive this understanding as essential to hearing from the Spirit. An acknowledgement that the starting point of divine wisdom is that we have nothing to offer our Lord in exchange for His wisdom. “We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, BSB)
The two valley experiences, though they appear diametrically opposed as a place of ‘weeping’ and a place of ‘blessings’, yet they are inextricably linked. The emotive experiences of sorrow and joy would cause one’s tears to flow. Tears would be shed passing through these two valleys because the experiences would be drawn out of one’s deep reservoir of emotions. The tears of a weary seeker for God’s deliverance would soaked into the dry and dusty valley tracks to sodden and create pools of water. The writer draws the reader into the imaginary scene being set. The copious tears of ardent worshippers, weeping as they make their way to Zion. Is the reality. The Baca Valley being likened to one’s lived experiences of endurance and grit to overcome personal struggles. The test to endure the challenges on a spiritual journey is as real as travellers making their way through the rough geographical tracks in the Baca Valley. Waiting on God may at times seem as hope being deferred. Just keep pressing in as you draw down on the Lord’s strength. Borne up by the Spirit, your inner reservoir of faith will keep flowing with expectancy. Keep trusting and believing that God will come through for you, regardless of the low ebbs along the way. He is not a man that He should lie so keep moving.
The Veil of Sorrow
In the Baca Valley the tears of your pain, mingled with the joy of making it into the presence of God is a satisfying expectation. The sojourners looked to the joy that was set before them. What our spiritual eyes behold far outweigh the discomforts experienced. An abiding trust in the Deliverer makes one unashamedly resilient on exhausting journeys of faith. Such levels of stoicism and singleminded approaches, elicits the reward that awaits one after the long trek. The longing for the joy makes the weary travellers keep the promise of God’s deliverance foremost in their hearts. They would continue to push forward to reach the temple in Jerusalem for worship. Pressing through the veil of the flesh, the bodily discomforts of sorrow and pain to obtain the desired effects for breakthrough and victory is above all else. Passing through the dry dusty paths of your Baca Valley, the intensity of the spiritual fight is an experience that releases ceaseless tears from the burdened and troubled spirit. If the waters should be measured it would be seen as deep pools watering the parched grounds of your life.
In the Baca Valley the balsam trees are a distinctive feature. The overspreading leaves provide shaded areas in the heat of the valley. It is also thought that the teardrops of the sojourners resembles the sap that trickles down the bark of the balsam tree congealing into teardrop shaped droplets. The steady flow of tears can be likened to the sticky resin trickling down the bark. The imaginary pools of water is as a life flow that brings transformation. Water transforms dry regions as its streams refreshes, equally when we release tears and pour out from within, spiritual strengthening takes place. Tears are a language that God understands because to cry is a healing release. The outpouring from a heavy heart brings relief and revives one in those lonely places of personal challenges.
(3) “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God. (4) How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.” (Psalms 84: 3-4, BSB). Making it to Jerusalem for worship was a customary requirement for worshippers under the Mosaic Law. On reaching the temple the sojourners would take hold of the horns at the altar signifying drawing on the strength of our Lord. The ram’s horn is a depiction of strength. Under the New Covenant of grace, weary sojourners of the faith earnestly fall at the feet of our Lord and unburden unashamedly. it would appear that the writer of the Psalm focuses on the environmental and geographical challenges encountered by the Baca Valley sojourners. Today, the many obstacles and distractions of modern living poses challenges for christians to make it into the presence of our Lord.
Be assured that your tears are measured by God. He is faithful and just to bring a fitting end to your life experiences. To earnestly supplicate and linger in His presence speaks of expectancy and faith. There is expressed thankfulness as the victory over the enemy is experienced. There can be no joyous victory over the enemies of God until one has warred over and fought in isolation. It is at the place of deep supplication that victory is procured, crushed as our Lord as He poured out in the Garden of Gethsemane. We bear fruits of righteousness through the seasons of waiting in uncomfortable and isolated places.
Beracah – ‘Blessings’
‘Barak’ is a root word and it means to ‘bless’. From that root word we get translations including ‘Berachah’, meaning ‘springs, pools of water’. Strong’s (H 1293 Berakah) gives ‘a blessing’. Clearly, there are similar threads running through this word ‘Beracha’ that correlates with Baca.
The theme of 2 Chronicles 20, is that of King Jehoshaphat of Judah being confronted with the unsettling news that three vast hostile armies were making their way against his country. King Jehoshaphat would be listed in the Chronicles of the Kings as one of Judah’s good kings that instilled worship in the people. Although he did not tear down fully the idols of pagan worship. However, from a state level he led his people into worship unto God. On learning of the escalating situation against his borders he sought guidance from the Lord. It warranted a national approach for God’s intervention. “Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.(4) So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.” (2 Chronicles 20:3, BSB)
King Jehoshaphat recounted the historical relationship that the forefathers of Israel had with God in a covenant promise. “Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? (8 They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, (9 ’If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us* (2 Chronicles 20:7-9, BSB). Jehoshaphat expected that God would deliver them as He did their forefathers. A national proclamation for fast was decreed.
Bond of evil
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV)
Three national spirits of bonded evil, encamped against Judea could be likened to a 3-way knot. They were undoubtedly a bond of wickedness.. King Jehoshaphat knew the God of his ancestors. The people of God could recall past territorial warfares with hostile neighbours. The same God who was able to deliver in previous generation was well able to fight and win this battle. A word from the prophet Jahaziel would give them success. “And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God “ (v15). The battle strategy was given from heaven to go against the enemies as they come up the Ascent of Ziz and to let the worshippers go before the army singing praises.
The Valley of Ziz is a pass between the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. Strong’s (H6732. ‘Tsits’ gives us ‘Ascent of Ziz’ and the Hebrew letters ‘Tsadhe’ and ‘Yodh’ gives an insight into the word origins. I have derived a basic understanding of ‘Tsadhe’ signifying the righteousness of God. An omniscient God is the silent witness in any given situation. He knows the hearts of humankind and is therefore righteous in His summation of judgement. ‘Yodh’ speaks of the might and strength of God over what may appear small and insignificant.
It was in this mountainous region that there would be a showdown between God and His enemies. Indeed Judah would have no need to fight because the spirits of chaos and betrayal would be unleashed amongst the invaders, devoting them to self destruction. Their audacious move against God’s people would be the undoing of their bond of evil. Obeying God’s instructions, given to the prophet Jahaziel was all that was required of them to obtain the victory. “You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you..” (v17,BSB). Worship unto the Eternal One secured a nation’s peace.and ensured border security. “Then Jehoshaphat bowed facedown, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him. (19) And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.” (v18-19, BSB).
He is the same God, yesterday, today and tomorrow. God uses the weak and insignificant things to confound the mighty. Judah was a small nation compared to many of its neighbours but they had recourse to the mighty resources of heaven at their disposal. As long as they sought God’s help and await a strategy from heaven to go into battle they were guaranteed victory. On this momentous occasion, King Jehoshaphat led worship bowing his face to the ground and the people in turn fell to the ground. The Levites as worshippers led the praises-offering as they set off for the battle front, lifting up Yahweh’s Name,
An epic slaughter ensued before Judah arrived. Judah beheld the great vanquishing of three mighty armies as they walked amongst the bloody scenes of utter devastation, picking up the spoils of war over three days. After blessing the Lord for His mighty deliverance they made their way to Jerusalem triumphantly. “Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. (28) So they entered Jerusalem and went into the house of the LORD with harps, lyres, and trumpets.” (2 Chronicles 20:27-28, BSB)
Worship
I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts. (Haggai 2:7, BSB)
Central to our valley experiences is the call to worship. The inextricable link to obtain our blessings from the two valley experiences requires deep levels of supplication and worship. Deep calls unto deep as the appeal of the Spirit to the human spirit is to worship. The thirsty seekers in the Psalms were worshippers resolute in making their way to the tabernacle. The call to worship is from within . The bidding of the Spirit within New Covenant worshippers is to give priority to the things of God lifting up His worthy Name. The Spirit-call to worship is at the heart of our being. It is a compelling and moving experience as the Spirit-bidding to worship takes place. Our spirit longing to be in the presence of our Lord is urgent in the thirsty hearts seeking to be refreshed and vivified in the eternal flow. The Spirit evokes a spiritual-drive within us to thirst after our Lord. The giving of one’s self to the gentle wooing of the Spirit Is the prelude to deep meaningful worship. The incessant bidding of the Spirit brings receptivity in the heart Ito yield willingly to the worship-call. Freely one enters into the tender loving embrace of our Lord Jesus. The deep longing for intimacy takes place with expressive reciprocating desires.
“Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30::5, BSB). The silent world of our most inner being elicits a grateful response as we willingly move in agreement with the Spirit to pour out all. The burdened heart gushes forth its overflow from the heavy spirit. The deep emotional lows quickly peaks as the sunshine of God’s love and tender-heartedness, like the rays of the blazing sun floods through. The heavy burdened spirit dissipates under such a glorious glow. The brilliance of the presence of Jesus is the Spirit of Light that dispels the darkness. To fall at the feet of our Lord is the position of great victories where our most personal intrinsic needs are divinely met.
GWENDOLYN SMITH. #NEWPENTECOST. 4 OCTOBER 2021