Trust
in him at all times;
ye
people, pour out your heart
before
him: God is a refuge
for
us. Selah
Psalm
62:8
Growing
up, I think in a friendlier day and in friendlier neighborhoods,
people often had some odd ways of greeting each other. It was a day
where houses had porches...porches that people actually sat on.
There was usually a porch swing on most porches along with varied
chairs. Of course, with no air conditioning, folks made good use of
their porches to sit on to enjoy any breeze that might blow their
way. People on their porches would often call out to a passing
acquaintance to “come on up and sit a spell.” If someone did
approach one's porch, they might be told to “sit down and rest your
bones” or “sit and take a load off your feet”. In reality, no
matter the saying, the invitation was the same.
Through
the years, as much as I have loved the book of Psalms, I must admit
that I have found the word “Selah” to be a little aggravating
because it seemed to be a distraction with no real purpose. In more
recent years, having taught this book in a ladies Bible study, I have
been drawn to that word so frequently found in the book of Psalms.
There has never been a distinguishable pattern as far as the
placement of the word itself. It just seems to pop up whenever and
wherever. The more we mature in the Word of God, however, we know
that every word has purpose and is meant to be where it is.
There
have been opinions offered through the years as to what this word
“Selah” means. It is a word that is difficult to translate.
It's often been viewed as a musical word of instruction something
like a rest would be in written music. It has thought to indicate an
interlude, or perhaps a signal of some sort regarding musical
instruments. Some have thought “Selah” may have the same impact
as someone saying “Amen” to something agreeable. In real Hebrew
meaning, it comes from the root word “salah” that means “to
hang” referring to measurement methods. Otherwise, “Selah” can
cause us to weigh in our minds what we have just read.
The
word itself must be of some importance as it is found 71 times in 39
of the Psalms and is found three times in the book of Habakkuk
chapter 3. In every instance, it would seem that the reader is
called on to reflect upon what has just been read. Through various
translations and languages of others, this word has taken on many
meanings other than in musical terms. Some languages view the word
“Selah” as meaning “to exalt” or “to lift up.” For some,
“Selah” is to just express “Amen” which means “so be it.”
No matter how people want to define the word, I like how the
Amplified Bible interprets the word...”pause, and think of that.”
“Pause” is in the end how the Greek translation of Scripture
defines this word that we have most often just chosen to skip over
and ignore. It's a word that calls us to “pull up a chair and sit
a spell”...to take in what has just been read.
About
five years ago, I was going through a very difficult time
spiritually. Without going into any detail, it was just a difficult
time for our church and found myself in a spot I never wanted to be
in. About that time, our music minister chose a song for our choir
to work on and then present in a worship service. The name of the
song is “Thou O Lord.” The words of the song are taken right out
of Psalm 3 and from the King James Version of the Scriptures. I
looked it up, read it and there in my reading I found “Selah”
three times in that chapter and this Psalm only has 8 verses, mostly
short ones at that. It was during this time, the Lord taught me more
about the word “Selah” than I ever knew in years prior to that
time. In that time and since, I have come to love that word. It
calls me to pause, and rest, take in fully what has just been said to
me in verses I am reading. Considering my circumstances at the time
(and the choir special as well) let me share three of those verses
from that chapter as an example:
2.
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.
Selah.
I knew there were people who viewed me as one having no hope. Selah caused me to
pause and consider the faithfulness and goodness of God in my life.
Again, Selah urged me to remember all of God's faithfulness to hear and answer
my prayers. All I have to do is look at God's track record in my life.
8. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
I am one of His people, one of His very blessed people. I am one of His children
who is most blessed. Despite the naysayers, I know I am His child walking around
with His blessing on my life.
Let
me suggest some Psalms that have that precious little word at the end
of certain verses. You might want to read them after you pull up a
chair and rest your bones: (4:4; 9:20; 57:6; 62:8; 89:3-4)
These verses may urge you to remember, praise, exalt, ponder, rest,
pause or a combination of those things. No matter what we decide to
do with “Selah,” overall, we are called to thoughtful reflection
on the Word of God. It takes time and determination. The hardest
part of this just might be our deciding to “pull up a chair and sit
a spell” during these busy days and take time to “Selah” as we
take in the things of God from His Word.
Amen
and amen....Selah!
Dear
Father, how grateful I am that you are a God of little things as well
as big. You chose to put a little word like “selah” in Scripture
to get my attention and I'm so grateful for the blessings that little
word has brought into my life. I pray I will be more contemplative
as I read and study Your word. May I have more of a “selah”
spirit no matter where I am reading in Scripture. Amen
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