Selah Moments
Are you feeling overwhelmed by guilt? We can pray for you.
“Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43).
In many translations of the Bible, readers discover the strange word “selah” scattered throughout the psalms. Hebrew scholars disagree on the exact meaning of the term, but many think it is at the very least a word that cautions readers—or hearers in earlier times—to pause and consider. One of its meanings may have to do with weighing or measuring what has gone before. Therefore, readers should ‘measure’ carefully the meaning of what has been said or note that there is some deeper wisdom to reflect upon to better understand its meaning.
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
Perhaps we could compare selah to a road sign. Most countries today have adopted internationally recognized shapes and colors so drivers, even without knowledge of the local language, can obey the warnings.
Selah is not a red, octagonal stop sign telling us to read no further. It might be seen as a yellow caution sign if the writer relays commands to be aware of. Perhaps for the modern reader selah should be understood as a red and white triangle that announces “yield.” Slow down, be alert to the surroundings and watch for what is coming. This may mean being ready to yield our own way in order to safely proceed.
Instead of quickly passing over the psalmic selahs, we should carefully heed their placement, examine what goes before and comes after. Perhaps we should even add a few selahs of our own as the Holy Spirit nudges us to stop in our headlong dash to read more.
Stop, ponder and yield.
Questions: How do we profit by stopping to ponder what lies ahead of us? Name some ways that one can take the time to stop and think about the future instead of just rushing forward?
Always wondered what ‘Selah’ meant. Makes sense and will remember to pause,and consider what I’ve just read. Thanks.
Thank you for the reminder about the meaning of “selah”. I had not heard the meaning of it until a few years ago. I find it precious, that we are asked to stop and think about what we just read.
In common days language perhaps “Did ya get that?” might also work for the young folks “Selah”
I was always told that ‘Selah’ means ‘Think of that’.