Selah: Pause and calmly think of that (AMPC)
In music, selah is part of the song of our short, vaporous, earthly lives (Ps 39:4-5)
The needed pause.
A deep breath for the next long phrase.
The conductor cuts the sound off into quiet.
Release.
Lift up the hand from the keys, the bow from the strings.
But keep counting.
The beat goes on. Time continues.
Only a pause.
With Jesus.
The song will move into a new phrase.
With Jesus.
After Selah.
I come to thee, I come to thee,
Thou precious Lamb who died for me;
I rest confiding in thy Word,
And cast my burden on the Lord.
(“I Come to Thee,” Crosby, F., p.d.)
What were Christ’s selah moments in His songs, in the Psalms? In a recent moment of agony and grief, reading each one became His blessing and gift, now shared with you.
In the pause, as we rest…let’s calmly think of these things. With Jesus.
Selah on a saddened day of rest, with lament cries, like Jesus taking my place on the cross
I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint (Ps. 77:3 BSB).
Many say of me, “God will not deliver him” (Ps. 3:2 BSB).
To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain (Ps. 3:4 BSB).
Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me (Ps. 88:7 BSB).
I come to thee with all my grief,
To find in thee a sweet relief;
Thy blessed name my only plea,
With this, O Lord, I come to thee.
A needed day of Selah when enemies attack, like Jesus
For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God (Ps. 54:3 BSB).
I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me (Ps. 57:2 BSB).
They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips (Ps. 140:3 BSB).
To thee my trembling spirit flies,
When faith seems weak and comfort dies;
I bow adoring at thy feet,
And hold with thee communion sweet.
A needed day of Selah, resting in truth about Jesus…with Jesus
Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts—He is the King of Glory (Ps. 24:10 BSB)!
You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips (Ps. 21:2 BSB).
I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure (Ps. 89:48 BSB).
I come to thee, whose sovereign pow’r
Can cheer me in the darkest hour;
I come to thee thru storm and shade,
Since thou hast said, Be not afraid.
Selah, my resting at the cross of Jesus, resting in gospel truth
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin (Ps. 32:5 BSB).
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself (Ps. 49:15 BSB).
I come to thee with all my tears,
My pain and sorrow, griefs and fears:
Thou precious Lamb who died for me,
I come to thee, I come to thee.
Selah, with hope in my “New Jerusalem” inheritance, eternal Selah!
Fragile: Handle with Care
‘Cuz all I can do
Is sit in creation
And remember again
That You’re still on Your throne.
All I can do
Is let the tears fall
Into Your hands,
As I yearn for home.
(Rachel Hall, Guest Contributor and Musician)
He chooses our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loves (Ps. 47:4 BSB).
As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever (Ps. 48:8 BSB).
Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings (Ps. 61:4 BSB).
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You (Ps. 84:4 BSB).
So, thank You for this Selah, a song of praise on a saddened day…of rest with Jesus
All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You; they sing praise to Your name (Ps. 66:4 BSB).
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.
Selah (Ps. 62:8 BSB)
O wondrous love! what joy is mine,
To feel that I am truly thine.
Thou precious Lamb who died for me,
I come to thee, I come to thee.
A playlist gift for our needed day of Selah
We may require extra physical rest on that needed day. Grieving loss with exhausting tears, I sure have. We may also need spiritual rest in who Jesus IS, in our sure hope in the gospel. For me, it’s often both!
This week’s playlist gift was one He gave me for the selah themes in the Psalms, to help me rest in His care for me as His beloved…soul-rest…that ironically also helped me sleep!
I’m praying it helps you too, sister in Christ. So we can both “keep counting” in the needed selah, as we prepare for the next phrase of the song He’s giving us on this life journey!
If it would be His gift to help you pause and calmly think of that…sign up here, and weekly playlist gifts will come to your email with my love and prayer for you.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days, Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
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