A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 87:3

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 87:3   “Glorious things are said of you, O city of God.  Selah.”

Meditation

O city of God, I want to visit you so I can—

•           Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (and picture my Savior interceding for me),

•           Walk the cobbled streets that Jesus walked (reverently taking up the cross),

•            Ponder the crucifixion at Golgotha (and weep along with His mother),

•            Rejoice at the tomb of the resurrection (and run to tell others)!

I also want to visit Jerusalem to get the “before” picture since I expect to spend a lot of time in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City, where I plan to—

•      Praise Christ alongside the elders and angels,

•      Walk the streets of gold—with Jesus,

•      Thank him in person for dying for me, and

•     Sing heavenly alleluias to the Lamb that was slain—and rose again!

Glorious things are said of you, O city of God.  And we haven’t even seen the “after” picture yet.

SELAH

Look up: Matthew 16:24; 26:40-41; John 19:25-26;

Matthew 28:1-8; Revelation 4:3-6; 19:4-6; 21:21.

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 85:1-2

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 85:1, 2   “You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.  You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.  Selah.”

Meditation

His land and his people!  There seems to be no end to the favor God extends toward those whom he has chosen.  That gives me reason to celebrate!  As one of his chosen, I have already been a recipient of his grace—many times.

I’ve watched an amber sun dive into the Pacific Ocean at night knowing full-well that it would surface in the morning, all fresh and pink, over Mount Hood in the East. God gives me peace.

I’ve loved my children and watched them grow, loved them enough to let them go and form families of their own. God gives me wisdom.

I’ve giggled with my grandchildren, Thomas, Sam, Luke, and Vivienne, over countless silly things. God gives me joy.

I’m growing old with my husband and am recognizing Jesus in his gentle ways. God gives me love.

I’ve buried family and have grieved, yet not as those who have no hope, for I believe I will see them again.  God gives me patience.

SELAH

Look up: Romans 8:28-29; Acts 16:31; John 6:37; 

Galatians 5:22-23; I Thessalonians 4:13-17

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 84:8

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 84:8 “Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.  Selah.”

Meditation

Imagine using the imperative voice to talk to the LORD God Almighty.  “Hear my prayer.”  “Listen to me.”  It sounds insolent.  How did the psalmist get away with it? 

He was one of God’s children.

 

God gives his children free access to himself.  He tells us to come boldly to his Throne of Grace to find help when we need it.  Why?  Because his heart is warm toward his children.  Ask, and it will be given to you.

Caroline and John John Kennedy had free run of the Oval Office when JFK was President of the United States.  And the same is, doubtlessly, true of President Obama's girls. They are, after all, his children!  Children can get right up in Daddy’s face and say, “Daddy, look at me! Listen to me!”  And Daddy will respond, whether he’s president, plumber, or potter.

How much more will the God who created, saved, and sustains us be willing to put up with the artless demands of his children.  More than willing—he delights in us.

SELAH

Look up: Hebrews 4:16; Matthew 7:7; Zephaniah 3:17

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 84:4

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 84:4 “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.  Selah.”

Meditation

I want to live in God’s house.  I want to praise him forever.  I’ll take those blessings!

What could be sweeter than hearing the Word from the lips of its Author?  What could thrill more than standing beside my Savior singing praises to our Father? 

I want to learn to speak the heavenly language and form friendships with the angels.  I try to imagine meeting the patriarchs and laughing with them.

In heaven I’ll rejoice when I see aborted children alive and well—and when I recognize my loved ones and do some “catching up.”

In heaven I’ll learn to navigate the heavens,

            experience the reality of equality in Jesus

                        enjoy God’s eternal and unbroken presence.

All of these blessings and more . . . so much more!

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 23:6; Revelation 22:3; I Corinthians 13:1;

II Samuel 12:19-23; Galatians 3:28

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 83:5-8

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 83:5-8 “With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the descendants of Hagar, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.  Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.  Selah.”

Meditation

Israel was surrounded by enemies, many of whom traced their roots back to Abraham, Lot and Esau.  In this pearl they formed an alliance to overpower the Israelites, to wipe them out.  Did it work?  No.

Nothing can wipe out Israel.  Not massive armies.  Not Nazis.  Not technology.  Not sophisticated spy networks. Not Hamas.  Israel is God’s chosen nation, his chosen people.  To obliterate Israel, you’d have to obliterate God, and that just ain’t gonna happen.  Period.

Choice!  God is mighty to save those whom he chooses . . . and who choose him.

SELAH

Look up: Genesis 12:2-3; John 3:16

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 82:1-2

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 82:1-2 “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the 'gods':  How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?”  Selah.

Meditation

We read the paper, watch the news, and have to ask, “What's happening in America that, under the guise of tolerance and freedom of speech, wickedness is approved?"  Our courts uphold the right to promote child pornography, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, homosexuality, and more. 

Why does God allow evil on this earth? I can't presume to answer that. However, in speaking of his own sin, David may have given us a clue in Psalm 51 when he said, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." 

When God judges . . . .

There’s a new day coming, and a higher court with God as presiding judge.  When he calls the great assembly to order, there will be a full-scale examination of the books.  The just will be vindicated; the unjust will be prosecuted to the full extent of God’s law.

In the meantime, hang on . . . and pray for those in authority over us, that they may have the wisdom of Solomon's court in exposing fruitless deeds of darkness.

SELAH

Look up: II Timothy 3:1-7; Psalm 51:4; Acts 5:29; I Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 5:11