THE following is “A copy of a post card” found in the drawer of a sister in the Lord, who lately departed to be with Christ. It runs thus: ―
“Very sorry to hear of your suffering, though all the ills are wells in the valley of Baca (i.e., for faith) heavenly showers filling earth’s hollows. So strike up your song, and let the other prisoners hear it. ‘Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee.’ ‘Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house.’
“Prisoners who have secret communications with the King, whose cells are lighted with Palace light, who enjoy Palace fare, sing Palace songs in Royal company, are not to be pitied though prisoners they be.
“Such honor have all His saints. Alleluia.”
It will be seen that two passages of Scripture are referred to in the above post card―written many years ago. One is in Psa. 84:4-6,4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 5Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:4‑6) and the other in Acts 16:2525And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25). The valley of Baca signifies the valley of tears. Let us first notice the text quoted, “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house”. It speaks of a home ―a dwelling-place―known to faith by the speaker in the Psalm, the tabernacles of Jehovah of Hosts―his soul fainteth for the courts of Jehovah, but he was not yet there. Further, he speaks of the blessing of finding strength in Jehovah, in order to traverse the ways that led to His house, for they led through the valley of tears.
Let us pause for a moment. Can my reader say: I also know of a home above, and I know the way to it. Here let me say that there is a great difference between a pilgrim and a mere wanderer in this world who has no home. Such an one is like Cain, a vagabond in spite of his trying to hide his character by building a city to dwell in―a city which the Deluge swept away. A pilgrim has a home in view, though he is but a stranger in this world. Jesus said to His disciples, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.... I go to prepare a place for you”. Can it ever cease to be the home for those who, believing in Him, go on pilgrimage with His Father’s house in view? Is the heart sometimes faint and ready to say, How shall I, a poor fainting pilgrim get there? Listen, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee”. Listen again, “I will come again and receive you to Myself”. Again, “I am the way”. It may lead us through the valley of tears. Yes, believer, but you can say to yourself, I have a home, and I am on the way to it. The sorrow that makes one weep I will regard as a well―a pool in the valley of tears for heavenly showers to fill. Be patient in waiting upon Him, and He will put a new song into your mouth.
Turn we now to the other Scripture. Paul and Silas had been thrust into an inner prison with their feet made fast in the stocks, many stripes having been laid upon them. Were they not in the valley of tears? Was not their cell lighted up at midnight with Palace light? Were they not in secret communication with the King, as they prayed and sang praises? And the prisoners heard them. Truly heavenly showers were filling that well of a prison! Paul is he who can write to those very Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always”. And again, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ. Jesus”. Here is a heavenly shower for any in need. It does not say that there will not be tears; there will; there must be in the valley of tears; but let the believer account it a pool, and rain from heaven will fill it.
In sending out this “Copy of a post card”, her husband would say that she being dead yet speaketh. May reader and writer strike up our song and say “Alleluia”! to Him “who giveth songs in the night.”
T. H. R.