A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 32:5

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 32:5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.”

Meditation:

As simple as that. I gave in and admitted my guilt. I confessed my sins to you, LORD, and you forgave me.

Why do we make it so difficult? All the grinding and whining and gnashing and writhing . . . worthless activities that keep us from doing the one thing, the only thing, that will bring us the peace we seek.

Not only that, but when we confess our sins, God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We become as pure as the driven snow, clean as the day we received Christ in the first place. What is better than that? Restored to wholeness. Forgiven. Set free.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 51:1-17; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 32:1-4

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 32:1-4 “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah.”

Meditation:

This is a pearl of great truth. There’s nothing so liberating as a clear conscience. You can go anywhere, do anything, look anyone straight in the eye . . . no problem.

On the other hand, a guilty conscience, now that’s something else again. There’s that nagging fear that someone will find out—and the certain fear that God already knows.

The whole world longs for peace. But there is no peace for those who insist on covering up their guilt. The weight of oppression bears down on them, like a millstone grinding grain or crushing corn. The big squeeze.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 69:5; 51:1-19; Isaiah 48:22; Proverbs 28:13