Valley of Humiliation

Now they began to go down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation. It was a steep hill, and the way was slippery; but they were very careful, so they got down pretty well. When they were down in the valley, Piety said to Christiana, This is the place where Christian your husband met with that foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had that fight that they had; I know you cannot but have heard thereof. But be of good courage; as long you have here Mr Great-heart to be your guide and conductor, we hope you will fare the better.

So when these two had committed the Pilgrims unto the conduct of their guide, he went forward and they went after.

Great-heart: Then said Mr Great-heart, we need not to be so afraid of this valley, for here is nothing to hurt us unless we procure it to ourselves. 'Tis true, Christian did here meet with Apollyon, with whom he also had a sore combat; but that fray was the fruit of those slips that he got in his going down the hill; for they that get slips there, must look for combats here. And hence it is that this valley has got so hard a name; for the common people when they hear that some frightful thing has befallen such a one in such a place, are of an opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; when alas it is for the fruit of their doing, that such things do befall them there.

This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded if we could hit upon it, we might find somewhere hereabouts, something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place.

Then James said to his Mother, Lo, yonder stands a Pillar, and it looks as if something was written thereon, let us go and see what it is.

So they went, and found there written,

Let Christian's slips before he came hither, and the battles that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after.

Lo, said their guide, did not I tell you that there was something hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place? Then turning himself to Christiana, he said, No disparagement to Christian more than to many others whose hap and lot his was; for 'tis easier going up than down this hill, and that can be said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man, he is at rest, he also had a brave victory over his enemy, let him grant that dwelleth above, that we fare no worse when we come to be tried than he.

But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all those parts. It is fat ground, and as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in the summer - time, as we do now, if he knew not anything before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is, also how beautified with lillies. I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation (for God resisteth the proud, but gives more grace to the humble) for indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father's house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains, to go over; but the way is the way, and there's an end.

Interpretation:

Piety of the Porter's lodge entrusted pilgrims to the care of Great-heart and took leave of them so that pilgrims could proceed bodly towards the valley of humiliation to face Apollyon with the help of Great-heart. We find perfect coordination between Piety and Great-heart. Pilgrims have to fight Apollyon in their individual lives. Pastors have to simply equip pilgrims for this warfare. Pastors cannot individually know the lives of their congregation members who face Apollyon in the valley of humiliation. Great-heart, the guide told pilgrims about the blessings in disguise when they entered this valley. It is through much afflictions we have to enter the Kingdom of God. It is through battles in the heavenlies we inherit blessings.

We find that Christian had fallen into this valley while climbing down the hill as he was not watchful enough to avoid such fall. He had to fight Appolyon due to his own fault. But in the case of Christiana and her entourage, Great Heart guided them so that they could not fall. In fact, the valley of humiliation is full of grass and has a fruitful land. If we have to avoid combats with Appolyon, then this valley would not be called valley of humiliation at all. If we do not fall, then we need not fight any combat with him because he would flee from us if we command him to flee from us in Jesus' Name. The pillar erected in this valley does serve as a constant reminder to us about this truth.

As we walk down the hill, we should seek the help of the Guide, the Holy Spirit to guide us step by step. There are indeed many areas of weakness in our spiritual life. There are little foxes which spoil our vineyard. The sin that easily besets us is follows us so as to make us falter till we reach the Celestial City. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb.12:1)

Pilgrims need to have close fellowship with other saints or ministers like Great-heart who are either in local churches or elsewhere to pray and to minister to them by words of edification for fighting the combats in the valley of humiliation. John Bunyan wonderfully describes the beauties hidden in the valley of humiliation. Great-heart said, "Behold how green this valley is, also how beautified with lillies. I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation". Many warriors who fought Apollyon in the valley of humiliation had since owned this valley as their own.

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