Psalm 84: Springs of Water in Desert Places
Reflective Reading: Psalm 84
This morning I was studying in Psalm 84. The life-changing truths within it refreshed me, and I am excited to share what I found. Let’s start with Psalm 84:5-7.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; whose heart follows the raised path. As they pass through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also fills it with pools. They go from strength to strength, every one appears before God in Zion.
The phrase “the Valley of Baca” could also be translated “the Valley of Tears” or “the Valley of Weeping.” This is the valley that represents a time of mourning, a time of weeping, and a time of dry, barren, desert places. It is during these times that God is particularly close. We read:
…and as we are passing through the Valley of Tears, he makes a well, or a spring in the desert.
To fully understand this portion of Scripture and what it means for us today, I would like to invite you on a journey to Israel.
Recently, my staff and I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Holy Land. One morning we all traveled through the desert and up a mountain range. We journeyed for over an hour seeing nothing but desert. Then, as we continued hiking, we saw palm trees springing up out of nowhere. And there, in the middle of the desert, an oasis appeared called Ein Gedi. It was this exact oasis where David fled for refuge as Saul pursued him with javelin in hand and three thousand choice warriors. Ein Gedi is one of the most beautiful places in Israel, for in the midst of a hot, sweltering desert there is a spring of water that flows into several gushing waterfalls. Surrounding the stream are luscious fruits and vegetation.
Notice that in Psalm 84 the text says,
…the rain also fills it with pools. They go from strength to strength.
Those pools are significant. In the desert after a rare rainfall, water collects in the impressions of rocks and shallow pools. They are divinely placed in desert places to refresh weary travelers. These pools of water are God’s blessings! In fact, the Hebrew word for “pool” is the word “blessing.” David and his men have been fleeing from Saul, traveling for miles in the desert without any water in sight, except for the Dead Sea. In the midst of this desert, this “Valley of Tears,” God provides a blessing for those who are weary and don’t think they can go any farther.
The phrase, they go from strength to strength, refers to the necessary strength that the pools of water give to those in the Valley of Tears. When there appears to be no glimmer of hope in the midst of a dry, desert experience, God in his faithfulness continues to meet the needs of His people from strength to strength, or from one unexpected pool to another.
These pools of water in desert places can appear in a conversation with a close friend, a snippet from a book, a strain of music, an answered prayer, a timely Scripture, a phone call, or an unexpected letter. God always provides springs of water in desert places—we just have to learn to recognize them. For when we do, we discover that the desert is not a place of fear or dryness of soul, but a place where divine favor is waiting to be found.
Thank you for joining me this week as we uncover hidden insights within the book of Psalms. Looking forward to more “blessings” in the near future.
Grace to you,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
President
Books to encourage your heart and strengthen your soul:
The Runaway Darling (Ages 6+)
Jessica’s First Prayer book and audio (Ages 6+)
A Peep Behind the Scenes book and audio (Ages 9+)
Wonderful Door (Ages 9+)
Chateau by the Lake (Ages 12+)
