by David spent his fair share of time in the valley. In 1 Samual 17 he fought Goliath in the Valley of Elah. In 2 Samuel 5 he fought giant Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim. In 2 Samuel 8 he fought the Syrians in the Valley of Salt. Psalm 23 was his Valley of Shadows and Psalm 143 was his Valley of Darkness and Depression.
In Psalm 143:1 and 143:7 David prays from the valley for God to “hear.” Interestingly, a different Hebrew word is used for the 2 words “hear.” In 143:1, hear means to listen, while in 143:7 it means to answer. It is between these 2 words, in 143:1-6, that David pleads for God to listen amidst his pain in the valley. After these words, in 143:7-12, David pleads for God’s answer for deliverance out of his valley.
Psalm 143 is one of David’s penitential Psalms, where he concludes his valley was God’s chastening hand. God uses valleys for the purpose of drawing us to repentance, but not every valley is for this design. Sometimes valleys are to mature us and not punish us. Regardless, prayer in the valley is a necessity to make it to the next mountain top. We need mountain top experiences to increase our joy, while dark valley experiences increase our faith.
- Our valley may be Job’s valley, God’s instrument to demonstrate to Satan that we are blameless
- Our valley may be Jonah’s valley, God’s instrument to bring us back into relationship with Him
- Our valley may be the disciple’s valley, God’s instrument to teach us to trust Him amid a storm
Whatever our valley is this week, take it to the Lord in prayer, because “What a Friend we have in Jesus…”
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
