No. 3.
MY mind has been directed to the passages in the Word which relate to the valley of Achor, and I have drawn, through the Lord’s mercy, some comfort from them. The valley of “trouble” would scarcely be the place to expect comfort, but He that turns the shadow of death into the morning (Amos 5:88Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name: (Amos 5:8)) for His weeping people, knows how to make the darkest passages of their history yield profit to their souls, and His abounding grace is nowhere seen more brightly than in connecting words of promise with a scene where sin had called out judgment―judgment even of death. For it was a dark day in Israel when that valley came upon their view. (Joshua 7:24, 2624And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:24)
26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day. (Joshua 7:26).) The holiness of God had been insulted, the anger of the Lord provoked and what could Israel do in such a case? Humble themselves they must, and judge themselves they must, and put the accursed thing away from them. “If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31, 3231For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31‑32).) Holiness, then, is the first lesson which the valley teaches—holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Judgment beginning with the house is surely told out there. But this is not all. The valley of Achor must become a door of hope. (Hosea 2:1515And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15).) Israel is not cast off forever. Unworthy as she is, and wanderer as she has been, there is mercy for her even yet―mercy secured in the blood-shedding of her Lord, who has borne her judgment on the accursed tree. Thus only could the place of judgment be a door of hope. But thus it is. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love eternal and immovable that fills His heart, has found a way for itself into the place of judgment―the hell which our iniquity deserved. His sufferings and death are the full answer to eternal justice which called for vengeance on our sins: and more than this. The atoning work completed on the Cross brings in a tide of blessing upon the ages to come which never can be measured or exhausted. “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her vineyards, from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Then there is a promise of restoration―light arising in the darkness. Here is the second lesson of the valley; hope through the faithfulness of God, when Israel has lost all by bet iniquity. Thus does this marvelous love shine out, thus does this unvarying grace display itself.
Sinners, ruined and undone by their own folly called again to look and live; called to sing it the day of the Lord of everlasting betrothal it righteousness and in judgment, in lovingkindness, in mercies, and in faithfulness. A covenant of grace and love, of life, and joy, and peace. A covenant, not of works upon man’s part, but of grace on Jehovah’s part, ordered in all thing and sure, all the salvation and all the desire of those who put their trust in Him.
But if holiness, and truth, and grace; if hope and life, and peace, are fruits gathered in the valley of Achor; if the soul-trouble of Jesus have secured us these; surely there is a third lesson connected with the place which may well call out our adoration and our praise. For then is rest to be enjoyed there, abiding, everlasting rest. “Thus saith the Lord, as the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, am out of Judah―an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that hast sought me.” The new wine shall be found it the kingdom. (Matt. 26:2929But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29).) The Lord Himself will drink it with us, with the cluster that is found around Him. And surely that gathering shall never be destroyed; for He, the Blesser and the blessing, shall be in it, its center to eternal days. Inheritor of all things, He will establish His elect in their inheritance joint heirs with Him forever. The flocks shall fine their fold, and He, the Lamb once slain, shall feed them. Every little one shall have its place its gladness and its joy, there. None shall be missing, none shall be ever lost. The herds too shall lie down and take their rest. Those stronger ones, that knew the toil and travail of the desert road, shall find the place that once was market by trouble, ―then again, by hope, the seat of rest and peace, and undisturbed enjoyment. The that have sought the Lord shall thus be blest. Sweet and most sure promise. May it cheer out hearts until the day break, and the shadows dis appear forever!