Today’s Reading: Psalm 84-86, Romans 12
Today’s Reflection: Psalm 84:5-6 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 filleth the pools.
The psalmist seems to be saying that when the strength upon which we rely comes from our Lord, it is only then that we are blessed. Furthermore, when “the ways” (that is, the HIGH ways of life which are elevated above the trenches and ditches of sin) are in our hearts, they too are a source of blessing. So take heed, traveler, how you travel, and with whom you travel! Your blessing relies upon both!
Now, let us look at verse six. Remember that it is a continuation of the state of blessedness in which we find ourselves after having traveled the high ways with our Lord in verse five. Watch it now, “Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well…” In other words, those who are blessed make the valley of Baca (that is, the valley of weeping) a well! Even the valley becomes “higher ground” for those who are blessed by God. But it is not enough here to simply say that we ARE blessed, but the text implies that we BLESS the valleys we walk through.
Do you understand the significance of this passage? You who ARE blessed are also a BLESSING, because God’s blessings are too big for you to absorb all for yourself. You are not meant to simply absorb; you are meant to overflow, so that even your tears make well springs of blessings. Nothing that God blesses shall ever be cursed! So as you walk through your valley of weeping, one day you will see that what looked like pain in the rain shall soon be seen as showers in the sunshine.
What is my assurance? Why, just look at the remaining portion of verse six. “The rain also filleth the pools.” This implies Heaven’s aid in the filling of the wells you dug while in your valley, so that the valley which was meant for harm becomes a harbor of God’s richest blessings. Glory!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill