A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 61:4

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 61:4 “I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.”

Meditation:

We took so many camping trips when I was a kid that I don’t care if I ever set foot in a tent again. Despite daily activities of fishing, swimming, and exploring, nights were something else again. I was scared most of the time and longed for the safety of home!

Though a canvas tent is durable against the rain, it doesn’t provide much protection from bears that roam campgrounds at night scouring for food. Sometimes in the morning, we kids would detect paw prints all around the tent (sometimes even on it!) and realize we might have been instant breakfast for bears.

This pearl describes another kind of tent, one offering more than shelter—one offering protection. The owner figuratively spreads his wings over the tent and its occupants. Safety reigns. No worries, no cares. No bears! This campout will be heavenly . . . and it will never end.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 91:1-2

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 46:1-3

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 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah.”

Meditation:

It often takes something much less significant than earthquakes or floods to cause me to tremble with fear. Sometimes the smallest thing can catch me off guard, causing me to panic. Can you relate to that? Large or small, fears can cripple us.

What would happen if we faced our fears (maybe stomped on them a bit!) and discovered that most are mere shadows. Think how our lives would change if, instead of cowering in fear, we would turn to God, our ever present help in trouble—even imagined trouble! We would know a freedom we hadn’t experienced before.

When fears hold you back, picture yourself in Psalm 46:1-3. Mountains! They’re shaking, swelling, and falling into the middle of a raging sea. Waves! They’re crashing and foaming—the roar must be deafening. Dust and ash blacken the skies and smudge your face. You are in the midst of it, yet you are not afraid. God is with you. You are sitting in the palm of his hand. Nothing can harm you there.

And nothing can harm you here . . . .

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 91:4-7; Romans 8:38-39