A String of Selah Pearls (continued)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 21:1-2 “O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.”

Meditation:

In this pearl, King David rejoices in God’s strength and power to grant victory. He credits the Lord with giving him the desires of his heart and answering his prayers.

You might be thinking, “How nice. But, of course, David was a king.” King, shming! What matters here is not “his highness” but his “lowliness of heart,” his humility. David had a heart after God, rejoicing in God’s strength and in God’s salvation—not his own. And in David’s meekness, he shows a Christlikeness that we are to emulate.

It is identification with Christ that reveals a heart after God and opens the doors of heaven to us . . . all of us, no matter our social status

SELAH

Look up: 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 11:28-29; Romans 8:32; Philippians 2:5-8

A String of Selah Pearls (continued)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 20:1-3 “May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah.”

Meditation:

The Lord hears us in the day of our trouble. He defends us, sends help and strengthens us. Even his name is a protection for us . . . “the name of the God of Jacob protect you.”

Like Jacob, many of us have wrestled with God. Like Jacob, we have come to know his power, indelibly marked in our lives. He has changed our names and we have learned to call on his.

As we cry out for help in our distresses, we remind him of the sacrifice the Godhead made on our behalf. We claim the name and blood of Christ . . . and that’s the key. The door opens, the armies of heaven are dispatched. We are saved. Alleluia! The LORD our God reigns! Blessed be the name of the LORD!

SELAH

Look up; Genesis 32:22-32; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 84:11-12; Romans 8:31-32; Hebrews 4:16; 6:10

A String of Selah Pearls (continued)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 9:20 “Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah”

Meditation:

Put them in their place, O LORD, these big-shot nations that have forgotten they are mere mortals.

God has given the nations a long leash. Like unruly dogs, they have pulled their tethers out as far as they will go—and strain against them. The Master holds tight. At any given moment, he can pull those tethers, reminding the unruly he is firmly in control.

It is only because God is patient and long-suffering that he has not yanked the nations back into line. But he will.

At the appointed time, when the heavens are full, resounding with praises for the Lamb that was slain, the nations will be brought to judgment. And they will see themselves for what they are—just a bunch of rebels who, like everyone else, put their pants on one leg at a time.

SELAH

Look up: Matthew 25:31-33, 46; Psalm 2:1-5; 110:5-6; Revelation 20:7-15

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 9:16 “The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion.” [Meditation] “Selah.”

Meditation:

The Lord is just and fair in that he has clearly published his list of crimes and punishment. If the wicked suffer loss, it is through their own foolish choices.

In his book The Tender Commandments, Ron Mehl presents the strong case that every law the Lord made for man came from the loving heart of a Father who wanted to protect his children from folly. Moreover, he published the laws far and wide along with the consequences for breaking them.

How much fairer could he have been? Yet, people break God’s laws, and then cry “foul” when they suffer the consequences of their choices. “How could a loving God allow me to suffer in this way?”

Perhaps the better question is, “How could a loving God, who knows I am heading for disaster, just sit back and let me crash?” No, it is God’s loving kindness that reins us in when we are galloping wildly toward destruction.

SELAH

Look up: Exodus 19:3-6; Deuteronomy 30:19; Psalm 107:39-43; Psalm 119: 67-71; Hebrews 12:11; Psalm 32:9.

A String of Selah Pearls (continued)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 7:3-5 “O Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe—then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. Selah.”

Meditation:

Wow! If everyone had this kind of attitude, the world would be a kinder, gentler, (and less-populous) place—after awhile. This pearl presents another way of looking at the golden rule.

Lord,

• if I have said unkind things about someone else,

• if I have coveted my friend’s diamond ring, or house, or spouse,

• if I have abused my privileges at work, home, or church,

• if I have been an ornery neighbor,

• if I have hated anyone,

then let them do so to me and more. For I will have it coming.

.

SELAH

Look up: Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40; John 13:34; Ephesians 4:32

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 4:4 “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah.”

Meditation:

As children, my sister and I were taught to examine our consciences before drifting off to sleep. “How did I live today? What sins did I commit? What do I need to confess?” (It was part of saying good night to God.) Peaceful sleep ensued. O the pure hearts of children!

Life gets complicated as we “mature.” Other things take God’s place in our hearts. Money, power, position, toys, sex, lies, even anger . . . you name it. Sleep no longer comes easily.

Lord, forgive my idolatry. By day and by night, I invite you to occupy the throne of my heart, now and forever. In quietness and in confidence, I examine my conscience . . . and sleep like a baby.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 36:1-4; 139:17-18; Ephesians 4:26; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 10:14-15; Isaiah 30:15; 1 Corinthians 11:31

A String of Selah Pearls (continued)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 4:2 “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah.”

Meditation:

It’s as if God is saying in this pearl, “Come on, people. How long are you going to turn my glory into something evil, how long are you going to replace me with gods of your choosing?”

O Lord, the heavens swell with your praises: the angels never cease to glorify you. But on earth . . . your name is blasphemed. We turn your glory into something evil. Wretched people we are!

You tell us to think on things that are good, true and worthy of praise. But instead we are lured by any old piece of forbidden fruit. What is our problem? Given the choice, we seem to favor evil over glory, delusion over truth. Are we ever going to see things your way?

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10)

Father God, may your kingdom be firmly established in my heart this very day! May your will be done on earth, and in my life.

SELAH

Look up: Romans 3:10-18; Philippians 4:8