Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2020
Psalms 84
Introduction:
A. The word Baca means weeping. Life is full of heartaches and disappointments. Life is full of tears. The Valley of Baca is a Valley of Desolation, Despair, Disappointment, Discouragement!
B. A common text for funerals is Job 14:1-2 which says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”
C. Life begins with weeping (a baby is born crying). Life ends with weeping (We mourn for those who die).
D. Psalm 84, where we find the Valley of Baca or Weeping, begins by detailing the importance of the house of the Lord to the Christian. In a day of the de-emphasizing of God’s house (it has become non-essential to the world), the Bible clearly emphasizes God’s house.
1. Vs. 1 – It is a place of great beauty and is well beloved. The devil hates it and the Christian loves it.
2. Vs. 2 – It is a place of desire and worship. Oh, what vehement desire is portrayed here!
3. Vs. 3 – It is a place of nesting and sacrifice. I wonderful place to raise your children and to give to the Lord His due!
4. Vs. 4 – It is a place of continuance and glory. Those who are faithful to God’s house continue to praise His wonderful name!
5. Vs. 5 – It is a place of blessing and strength. It is in the house of the Lord that we find strength to endure in the hard times!
E. It is of no small wonder that God introduces the Valley of Weeping with the importance of steadfastness in the house of the Lord.
F. I want to look at two things about this valley:
1. The Valley of Weeping Is Temporary – vs. 6 - “passing through” (With all of life’s tears, there is still much joy!)
a. Tears Are Temporal - John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
b. Joy Is Eternal - Isaiah 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
2. The Valley of Weeping Can Become A Blessing – vs. 6 – “make it a well” (Not make a well in the Valley of Weeping, but make the Valley of Weeping a well!)
a. You Can Pass Through The Valley Of Weeping And Come Out Empty (Most people never see what the Lord is doing for them in this valley.)
b. You Can Pass Through The Valley Of Weeping And “Make It A Well.” (A well in the middle east was a precious commodity, a place of refreshment and strength.)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1) You can make it a well by being faithful to God’s house – vs 4, 10
2) You can make it a well by exercising faith in God – vs 12
3) You can make it a well by continuing in God’s service – vs 5
c. You Can Pass Through The Valley Of Weeping And Come Out An Example. (Others will one day pass where you have passed, and your testimony can be a comfort and encouragement to them.)
An old man travelled a lone highway
Who came to the evening at the end of day,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim
For that sullen stream had no fear for him,
But he paused as he reached the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Good Friend!" said a fellow traveller near,
"You are wasting your time in building here,
Your journey will end with the passing of day,
And you must never again come pass this way.
Why cause you build a bridge vast and wide?"
"Good Friend" said the old man lifting his head,
There cometh after me, he said,
"A youth who also must pass this way
He too must pass in the ending of day
He too must cross in the twilight dim
Good Friend, I'm building this bridge for him."
Who came to the evening at the end of day,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim
For that sullen stream had no fear for him,
But he paused as he reached the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Good Friend!" said a fellow traveller near,
"You are wasting your time in building here,
Your journey will end with the passing of day,
And you must never again come pass this way.
Why cause you build a bridge vast and wide?"
"Good Friend" said the old man lifting his head,
There cometh after me, he said,
"A youth who also must pass this way
He too must pass in the ending of day
He too must cross in the twilight dim
Good Friend, I'm building this bridge for him."
WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN THE VALLEY OF WEEPING
1. You Can Find The Presence Of The Lord – vs 9 “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.” (Without loneliness there would be no realization of God’s Presence.)
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
2. You Can Find The Strength Of The Lord – vs 5, 7 – “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them…They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” (Without weakness there would be no need of God’s strength.)
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
3. You Can Find The Guidance Of The Lord – vs 11 “For the LORD God is a sun” (Without loss of direction there would be no need of God’s guidance.)
Psalms 23:2-3 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.
4. You Can Find The Protection Of The Lord – vs 11 “For the LORD God is a…shield” (Without danger there would be no need of God’s protection.)
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
5. You Can Find The Grace Of The Lord – vs 11 “the LORD will give grace” (Without trials thee would be no need of God’s grace.)
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
6. You Can Find The Glory Of The Lord – vs 11 “the LORD will give…glory” (Without accomplishment there would be no need of God’s glory.)
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
7. You Can Find The Comfort Of The Lord – vs 11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield” (Without heartbreak there would be no need of God’s comfort.)
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
8. You Can Find The Answer To Your Prayers – vs 8 “O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob” (Without prayer there would be no need of God’s answers.)
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
9. You Can Find The Reward Of The Lord – vs 11 “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Without suffering, there would be no reigning with God.)
Psalms 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
10. You Can Always Rejoice In The Lord! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Rejoicing in the Lord who never changes! Rejoicing “always” is a personal choice to be made in both good and bad times.)
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