A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 68:32

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 68:32 “Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah.”

Meditation

“I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”  So goes the saying, right?  But God just plain doesn’t care about that.  This pearl says we are to sing, sing praise to the Lord.

When Moses was reluctant to go to Pharoah because he didn’t speak well, God said, “Who gave man his mouth? . . . Is it not I, the Lord?”  If Moses was incapable of eloquent speech, then he could blame God; but he was to go anyway.  “Go, and I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

We are to sing, to praise, and to trust God to listen to our hearts, not our off-key notes.  So “Sing!” and God’s Spirit will help us, even teaching us what to sing.

If folks look at us funny, well, hey, there’s a reason for that  . . . only heavenly ears can hear the heart sing!

SELAH

Look up: Exodus 4:11

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 68:19

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 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Selah.”

Meditation

He’s Lord!  He’s God!  Our Savior!  Our Burden Bearer? 

Think of it!  This is God with a capital “G” stooping to do menial tasks.  He gives us each day our daily bread and then helps us carry out the trash.

This is God with a capital “G” serving the very ones who ate forbidden fruit, killed their brothers, stole from each other, lied about it, coveted everything within sight, crucified his only Son and mocked his memory, stoned the prophets, cut others in two.  You name it; man has done it; and God has forgiven it.

Praise be to this God!  We don’t understand this kind of grace.  Perhaps in glory, when we have put aside childish things, when we know even as we are known . . . .  Until then, we look through a glass darkly, we walk in shadows, we stumble and fall.  And through the haze, a strong hand grips our frail ones and gently leads us along.

SELAH

Look up: Matthew 6:11; 11:28-30; Psalm 8:3-4; 78:52; 113:6; Hebrews 11:37; I Corinthians 13:11-12   

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 68:5-7

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 68:5-7 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.  When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah, the earth shook.”

Meditation

He’s father to the fatherless.  One of the first decisions Dick and I made as Christians was to adopt a fatherless child.  God brought us a little girl who was living in an orphanage in Seoul, S. Korea.  Kim completed our family.  Now she and her older sister Stefanie have husbands and families of their own.  And Dick and I have four precious grandchildren to love.

He defends widows.  When my father died, my mother experienced the reality of God’s promise to be a defender, even a husband, to widows.  God met Mom’s every need--giving her strength, health, protection, and wisdom for her everyday decision-making.

He sets the lonely in families.  And wouldn’t you just know that families are God’s provision for the fatherless, widows, lonely and prisoners.  God is (and I mean this reverently) a softy for the underdog, a champion for those who are downtrodden.

On the other hand, the rebellious live in a sun-scorched wasteland that quakes under God’s feet.

SELAH

Look up: James 1:27; Isaiah 54:4-5; Psalm 128:1-4

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 67:3-4

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 67:3-4 “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.  May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.  Selah.”

Meditation

Over the past century, a succession of unjust rulers have dominated the headlines, people like Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Mao Tse Tung, Adolph Hitler and others. Millions died at their hands, and those who survived had horror stories to tell.

In contrast, God has governed the peoples of the earth with equity and justice. His rules are perfectly-written and publicly-proclaimed. Fair and merciful in his judgments, it can truly be said: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)

Heaven gets even better! We will see Him face to face.  His perfect love will cast out any remaining fear, freeing us to worship him as never before.  As representatives from all nations sing for joy in perfect harmony, our pure praise will fill the far reaches of the heavens—at last!

 

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 33:12; Hebrews 13:8; I John 4:16-21; Luke 1:47; John 4:23; I John 4:18

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 67:1

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 67:1 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us.  Selah.”

Meditation

Our grandson Luke, learning to walk, would look up at daddy’s face and find great encouragement in Mike’s smiles and words of blessing.  Pretty soon, the little guy was off . . . and running, exercising his newfound independence.

However independent we eventually become, we never outgrow our need for God; for it’s in leaving the safety of home that many find the world to be a very unfriendly place—so unfriendly, at times, that we could easily lose our balance and fall.

It is then that we, like little Luke, can find encouragement in our Father’s face, experiencing his blessings and his grace.  It is then that we regain our composure, and press on.

SELAH

Look up: Numbers 6:25; Psalm 67:1; 104:15; Philippians 3:12

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 66:13-15

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 66:13-15 “I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.  I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.  Selah.”

Meditation

Many of us have made “foxhole conversions” to God when we were in trouble.  “Oh God, if you will just get me out of this, I will do such and so.” This pearl reminds us of the importance of keeping vows made to God.

The circumstances surrounding those promises do not matter.  What matters is that promises made to God must be kept.  That includes promises made to others with God as our witness, e.g., marriage vows and other pledges made in faith.

God always keeps his promises.  As his spirit-filled child, how can I do any differently?  And when I pay my pledge, let me give the best “fat animals” that I have, my utmost for his highest.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 56:12; 66:13-14; 76:11

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 66:7

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 66:7 “He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against him.  Selah.”

Meditation

An American president exerts great power—for four years, possibly eight.   

Senators for six years.   

Representatives, two.

Most of us have at least some authority within our spheres of influence during our brief lifetimes.

But God reigns forever, “re-elected” by his own power.  And he warns all of us, great and small alike, not to rebel against his authority, not to exalt ourselves. 

Yet, how easy it is for us to find reasons to pat ourselves on the back.  Perhaps a simple compliment, such as:

            “You did that job well” or

            “You always look so nice” or

            “I wish I could cook as well as you” or

            “Where did you learn to play piano like that?”

can turn our heads and cause us to exalt ourselves and our abilities above the Creator who gave them to us.

This pearl advises us to guard against self-idolatry.  God loves us too much to let us share his glory.  We would get lost in it.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 44:8; Jeremiah 9:23-24; I Corinthians 10:31; Romans 1:21-25; James 4:7-10