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Sermon #5244

Valley of Baca

A Sermon on the Valley of Bacca from Psalm 84:5-7

Originally preached July 7, 1957

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Scripture

Psalms 84:5-7 ESV KJV
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God …

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Sermon Description

Repentance prepares the highway for people to come into the presence of the Lord. They need substance and direction for life; not only repentance, but regeneration. From where does such a thing come? In this sermon on Psalm 84:5–7 titled “The Valley of Bacca,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at Christ as the source of encouragement for the believer, despite the circumstances he or she might find themselves in. The result of such a faith is a clear view of life as a whole, and of self in relation to God. Are the pains of life the result of others’ faults or one’s own sin? Find purpose and direction for life, rather than living in a state of selfish chaos. God withholds nothing good from those who walk uprightly. Does one have a road to follow when calamity and trials come? It is in this valley of Bacca, one of tears and sorrow, that this psalmist’s joy springs to life. Learn to rejoice, even in the valley of Bacca. Let troubles make the Christian consider the goodness of God and cause rejoicing; praise Him, He has overcome the world!

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The psalmist is celebrating the glories and wonders of the truly religious life.
  2. The essence of true religion is to know God, not just know about Him. It is to address Him as "my king and my God."
  3. God can only be known at His altars, specifically through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
  4. The first benefit of true religion is that it gives us a place of rest, safety, peace and protection. We can "lay our young" there.
  5. The second benefit is that it brings order into our lives. The heart of the irreligious man is like a "pathless wilderness."
  6. Christianity gives us a clear view of life and a new way of thinking. "We have the mind of Christ."
  7. Christianity gives us a sense of purpose and direction. Life becomes a pilgrimage.
  8. Christianity gives us a system of living and discipline. There are "ways" or moral rules to follow.
  9. Christianity enables us to rejoice even in tribulation. We can turn the "valley of Baca" into a well.
  10. The secret is that troubles drive us to God, and closeness to God brings joy.
  11. We can rejoice in affliction because we know it is temporary, and eternal glory awaits.
  12. God never changes, even when circumstances do. We can trust in His fullness.
  13. The offer of Christianity is an amazing one - understanding, discipline and a blessed hope.

Sermon Q&A

What Does Psalm 84:5-7 Teach About The Strength of the Christian Life?

What is the central message of Psalm 84:5-7 according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the central message of Psalm 84:5-7 is that true religion brings order into our lives. He explains that the psalmist is celebrating "the glories and the wonders and the benefits of the truly religious life." The verses describe how a person whose strength is in God has "ways" in their heart - which Lloyd-Jones interprets as made roads or highways that bring order to what was previously a "pathless wilderness." This order is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the heart of a non-Christian person?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the heart of a non-Christian person as "like a pathless wilderness." He elaborates that it is "unchartered, it's never been cleared, there are no paths there, there are no roads, there are no highways, it hasn't been mapped out. Everything is tangled up and mixed up." The non-Christian rarely has a clear view or philosophy of life; their life is aimless, without plan or purpose. They have no sense of direction or goal, and when facing a crisis, they have nowhere to go for help because there are no established pathways to a source of strength.

What does the "valley of Baca" represent and how do Christians respond to it?

The "valley of Baca" represents what Lloyd-Jones calls "the valley of tears" or "the valley of sighing, the valley of sorrow." It symbolizes times of trial, trouble, and tribulation when a person is "down in the depths" and everything seems designed to make them miserable and dejected.

What distinguishes Christians, according to Lloyd-Jones, is that they "make it a well" - they transform places of sorrow into springs of joy. Unlike non-Christians who are victims of their circumstances, Christians have an inner strength that allows them to rejoice even in tribulation. As he explains, "The more things go against us, the more they drive us to Christ. And the more we are with Christ, the happier we are. So we turn our valleys of Baca into wells and into places of rejoicing."

How are these "ways" or roads created in a person's heart according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, these ways or roads are created through the work of the Holy Spirit. He compares it to Genesis 1:2-3, where God brought order out of chaos: "Into the chaos and disorder and this trackless waste of a man's life, there comes the operation and the activity of the blessed Holy Spirit of God."

The Spirit works through:

  1. Repentance - which "prepares the way for the Lord" by leveling the high places and raising the low (quoting Isaiah 40). Lloyd-Jones calls the Holy Spirit "a divine bulldozer" that flattens our pride and raises us from despair.

  2. Regeneration - putting a new principle of life into us, giving us "a new faculty" and direction.

This is not something humans can do for themselves - it is entirely the work of God, which is why human philosophies and planning ultimately fail to bring true order.

What are the benefits of having these "ways" in one's heart?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several benefits:

  1. A clear view of life - "For the first time in his life, he has a whole view of life." The Christian understands himself, others, and the world.

  2. A sense of purpose and direction - The Christian sees life as a pilgrimage with a goal.

  3. A system of living and moral order - "When a man becomes a Christian, there is a way made in his life, not only an intellectual way, but a moral way."

  4. The ability to triumph in tribulation - When facing trouble, the Christian knows where the road is and can go straight to God.

  5. Independence from circumstances - Unlike non-Christians who are controlled by external events, the Christian "is no longer a victim of his circumstances."

Lloyd-Jones summarizes it as "understanding, awe, discipline and a blessed hope that will never fade away."

Old Testament

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.