"Selah" is that Hebrew word you've read many times in the Psalms of David and in the book of Habakkuk. The word appears in the Bible over 70 times. One old theologian even contends that it is one of the many names of God. One thing we do know, this word appears only in poetry - the poetry of song. Most often, it was an indication to change pitch, in order to emphasize what was to come next in the song.
To do this, to change pitch, meant the harpist had to pause long enough to re-tune his harp to a new octave. Generally, it is accepted that "Selah" means to "Pause, and deeply consider".
You and I need to pause. Rest for a moment. You and I need a new song for this new season. The Lord invites us to stop and acknowledge change, so that He can tune our heart-strings to the next octave. What is on the horizon, what comes next in the song of our lives, means our pitch cannot be the same as it was in the season just past. A change is needed. When God brings new direction, it becomes necessary to sing a new song. Don't rush into the new song, still plunking your harp on the same old octave. It won't work. Instead....Selah.
Stop. Change songs. Savor the change.
As I take stock of the year nearly gone by, and the year just ahead, I compare where I am today to where I was a year ago. In many ways, this brings me to my knees because the Mighty God hath done great things for me. In other ways, this contemplation fills me with a terrible ache, because something or someone is missing from my life that was there just one short year ago.
Still. The response is the same. To my knees I go because His name is to be blessed and praised.
Regardless of whether the silence of the Selah brings us joy or pain, let's embrace the coming changes. This can only be done when we "pause, and deeply consider." The wisdom of God waits in the wings, silently. The thoughts of God are not easily gathered, they are buried treasure. He longs for us to sing a new song to Him, but first He must give us the words and the tune.
A song is not a song without the pauses. This never means that we have to stop the world and get off. It doesn't mean going off the grid. It has nothing to do with self sufficient isolation. That is the human answer to having a quiet heart. God's answer to having a quiet heart is learning how to pause, ever so briefly, and change our mind and change our tune. Peace flows when He is in charge of the times and the seasons.
The poem of your life cannot be read properly without small stops, and changes in cadence. The song of your life cannot be sung properly without pauses and changes in flow.
A life cannot be well lived without the "Selah"....without pausing long enough to change our mind.
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