Aliyah!

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, 

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 

A Valley of Dry Bones. Can these bones live? They are so dry, all hope is gone. Without the Lord, there is no hope. But with the Lord, nothing is impossible. He is the God of the hills and the valleys. He comes down to the valley. He breathes – and His breath enters into the dry bones. Life! Hope!

His chosen is a Lily of the Valleys, a lily among thorns. Life may begin in the valleys, but as He comes, leaping across the mountains, and bounding over the hills, the call is to go up. Aliyah!

“Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!”

But there are many valleys to be crossed on the way up – for the promised land is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.  Be encouraged as you cross the valleys, dear pilgrim – the valleys drink the rain from heaven.

As you begin your journey, take note of the signs of the goodness of the LORD. As you pass through the Valley of Eshcol (cluster) taste and see that the LORD is good! Do not be discouraged by the giants in the land – your God is able to deliver you from them! He will give you victory over the giants in the Valley of Elah (oak). Can you see, dear pilgrim, He will bestow on you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, He will make you an oak of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendour!

“Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!”

The Valley of Baca (Weeping) becomes a place of springs as the pilgrim passes through. Sowing may be done in tears, but there will be reaping with songs of joy. The journey may begin with weeping, carrying seed to sow, but there is a promise of a return with songs of joy, as sheaves are carried back.  Rain from heaven will cover the Valley of Weeping with blessings.

As those blessings continue to fall, dear pilgrim, now see you are in The Valley of Beracah (Blessings). It may seem as if there is no way across this valley, but do not lose heart! Sing your praises to Him! Praise Him for the splendour of His holiness! You will see Him clear the way Himself for you to cross this valley. Receive His blessing and bless Him!

“Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!”

The Valley of the Shadow of Death reminds us there is no need to fear evil, for He is with us, and His rod and His staff comfort us.

As we cross these difficult valleys, He provides encouragement all the way. He reveals His glory to us as we ascend a high mountain – we hide from His glory in the cleft of the rocks that He has provided for us. But do not hide from Him too long, dear pilgrim. Listen to the encouragement of His Voice!

My dove in the clefts of the rock

In the hiding places on the mountainside,

Show me your face, let me hear your voice;

For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Oh! Take the time, dear pilgrim, to feast on these blessed words! Dare to look up! And as you look up, He will give you all the grace you need to traverse every valley in your path. Even the Valley of Achor (trouble). In this world, we will have trouble. But take heart! He has overcome the world. The Valley of Achor. Only He can redeem this from the scene of judgment against the sin of Achan into a door of hope!

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD

For with the LORD is unfailing love

And with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

And this door of hope will lead you from strength to strength, until you appear before God in Mount Zion.

“Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!”

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion

Which cannot be shaken but endures for ever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the LORD surrounds his people

Both now and for evermore.