Tuesday 9th March 2021
SELAH
Scripture Reading: Psalm 3
Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. (Psalm 3:2–3)
Amid all his troubles, David heard reports of people mocking him. He heard reports of people celebrating his end. They were saying, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ They assumed that David’s trouble was an indication of God’s rejection.
Of course, David was responsible for some of the situations that plagued him and his family. He acted sinfully in his relationship with Bathsheba, which sadly led to adultery and murder. Though David had done the wrong thing, God had not given up on him.
This Psalm is the first Psalm that introduces the word, ‘Selah’. It is used three times in this Psalm. There is no exact meaning for ‘Selah’ in the music of the Psalms. The consensus is that it was a notation for a pause or rest in the music.
Amid all the sound or after a significant movement, ‘Selah’ brought everything to rest.
When a composer put ‘Selah’ into his music, he called for a rest, a pause or a hush.
Every musician knows the importance of this. A conductor of an orchestra or choir knows when to call for a thunderous burst or dead silence. When he calls for a pause, the whole composition takes on special meaning. ‘Selah’ tells you…pause, rest, keep quiet. Each one of us needs a selah from time to time.
After recounting the voices of anger directed at him, David introduced a ‘selah’. He pauses from what people are saying and changes the direction of his thoughts – ‘ but you, O Lord, are a shield for me’. We can take lessons from David on how to respond when it seems the whole world has risen against us.
After hearing all the negative stuff people throw at us, we must, ‘selah’ – take a breather from all the negativity and change focus. In the midst of all these many enemies, we see David’s faith and confidence.
He trusted in God’s protection – Confidence in God’s protection and promotion. He saw God as his shield. That is a reference to protection. He saw God as the one to protect him from the arrows of the enemy.
He trusted in God’s promotion. David also saw God as the one who would lift his head – the one who would take away the shame and reproach. He could see God turning his guilt into glory and lifting him again.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the midst of all my worries, I rest my soul in you. You are my glory and the one who lifts up my head. In Jesus’ name, Amen.