“Selah”- The Place of Quiet TransitionText: Psalms 71:23
This blog is for everyone that feels their lives are on hold! You are in a Selah moment!
Psalms 71:23, (message) When I open up in song to you, I let out lungsful of praise, my rescued life is a song.
Today there is a sound coming from the throne of heaven! It is a sound of incompleteness!
God began to burn the word “Selah” on my heart over two months ago!! He said son The church is in the place of the “Selah!” What is that?- The place of transition!
I. Your life is a song to God!
Psalms 104:33-34, (message) Oh, let me sing to God all my life long, sing hymns to my God as long as I live! 34 Oh, let my song please him; I'm so pleased to be singing to God.
Psalms 98:1, (message) Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Workmanship- Greek- poiema (poy'-ay-mah); a poem, a song, a product (literally or figuratively): thing that is made in unique fashion, of the works of God as the creator and author.
Psalms 9:14, (message bible) I'll write the book on Hallelujahs; on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting; I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air with salvation songs.
II. The song isn’t over!
God is a God of completion! Half finished songs equal unfulfilled promises.
Philippians 1:6, (message) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
In Revelation Jesus says I have not found your deeds complete!
Revelation 3:2, Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
All through the Psalms and Habakkuk the writer used a phrase to force the song to stop. This was called the “SELAH.”
It is the place used to show God isn’t finished with the song! God always finishes what he starts! The problem is we sometimes stop in the middle of the song! You must take time to realize God isn’t done!
Selah, [celah], is from the primary Hebrew root word [calah] which literally means 'to hang,' and by implication to measure (weigh). The place of pausing, reflecting, ponder deeply, valued by weighing, the divide of a time-line, the moment of conjunction, the changing of a point in history. [ Amplified bible: pause, and calmly think of that]
There is a Selah waiting on you. Your song isn’t over! In the bible whether it is urging our meditation upon our sinfulness, declaring God is our refuge, or speaking in 'types' about Christ, this word is an exhortation for us to be wise and measure or weigh what has been said that we understand its true meaning. It is a pause- a changing of course!
It is used in the Psalms seventy-three times, and is also used in Habakkuk three times. Each time it is illustrating that we should measure wisely or 'weigh' solemnly what is said.
Can you imagine listening to music and the song stopping halfway through it?
Imagine if these songs never got finished! (CUE: POINT TO BOARDS)
What about this song…. Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. (pause)
…. What if this part was never in the song!
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the daylong; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
What about this song…. Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
…. What if this part was never in the song!
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.
What about this song…. Blue Suede Shoes
Well its one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, now go cat go….
…. What if this part was never in the song!
Don’t you step on my blue suede shoes. You can do anything but don’t you step on my blue suede shoes!
What about this song…. Wind Beneath My Wings
Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be?
…. What if this part was never in the song!
I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
There has to be the next part! The part that brings it all together! The part that completes the thought! The part that just makes it work!
It is time to realize there is a quiet moment in the midst of your chaos!
I am here to talk to you about the next part of the song!
The moment in the song where you feel a shift- you feel something has changed- you feel as if we are going to another level- but first there is a pause-
III. The moment when words don’t work!
I have learned that when God gets ready to shift me- everything gets loudly quiet!
It is the quiet transition of seasons! When God begins to take you to the next level!
You can’t describe where you’re at, because words haven’t been created! (frustration)
Romans 8:19-21, For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Psalms 77:11-12, (message) Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; 12 I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts.
I’m talking to everyone that has been in a quiet place!
Everyone who has no words to completely say where you have been at!
Romans 8:26-27, (message) Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
God wants you to know he built this into your song! You are a song that hasn’t ended!
Psalms 42:7-8, (message) Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. 8 Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.
IV. Seven Selah Moments!
#1. The Selah moment forces right emotions!
Psalms 4:4, In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah (think about it, weigh it, then go forward)
Psalms 4:5-8, Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
So in Psalms 4- the Selah- pause- think about your reactions and emotions- then begin the next part of the song- BOOM… The next part of the song says- I will approach God correctly- I will stand in your light! I have your joy in my heart that is more precious than riches and sustenance- and now I will rest in peace and safety!
#2. The Selah Moment establishes Gods sovereignty in your life!
Psalms 62:7-8, My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah (weigh/ scales)
Psalms 62:9-10, Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. 10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
#3. The Selah establishes who you trust in!
Psalms 57:6, They spread a net for my feet — I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path — but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
Psalms 57:7-8, My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
#4. The Selah moment restores hope!
Psalms 77:6-9, I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: 7 "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah
Psalms 77:10-15, Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
#5. The Selah is the place to realize His favor!
Psalms 67:1, May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,
Selah
Psalms 67:2-4, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
#6. The Selah takes your worship to the next level!
Psalms 47:1-4, Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! 3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
Psalms 47:5-8, God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. 8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
#7. God also has Selah moments!
Zephaniah 3:17, The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult [Dance] over you with singing.
V. Your life is a song with many conjunctions and grammar!
***Quit thinking your life ends before the comma and conjunction!
We have all had conjunctions- It is the but, and, or….. (you faced divorce… but, you were wounded but, you faced got into trouble ….and, she could have chosen a rough path …..or
What if your life was half a song? We would be in trouble! Conjunction changes everything
Selah, [celah], the moment of conjunction, the changing of a point in history.
In the Hebrew words are assigned a numeric number- the conjunction is numerically the lowest number zero- any time you see but… it is a zero moment… it literally means everything before the conjunction is cancelled out!
Psalms 49:14-15, 14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions. 15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah
Psalms 66:18-19, If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
pp. Psalms 73:26, My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Don’t confuse the comma with the period. God knows his grammar!
Pick up the pen! Wipe your eyes. You stopped at the end of a stanza- god is still speaking!
There are too many incomplete songs in this room!
VI. Make sure your song doesn’t belong to the world!
The enemy wants your song! He will even get you to use them in the wrong places!
Look at Israel. They are in bondage. They are forced to live by the river. They have masters over them. Then the masters cross a line!
Psalms 137:1-6, Alongside Babylon's rivers we sat on the banks; we cried and cried,
remembering the good old days in Zion. 2 Alongside the quaking aspens we stacked our unplayed harps; 3 That's where our captors demanded songs, sarcastic and mocking:
"Sing us a happy Zion song!" 4 Oh, how could we ever sing God's song in this wasteland?
5 If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my fingers wither and fall off like leaves. 6 Let my tongue swell and turn black if I fail to remember you, If I fail, O dear Jerusalem, to honor you as my greatest.
Oral tradition teaches- at night the harpist gagged each other to quiet the noise- then they smashed each other’s fingers- and cut off their index fingers- they understood their gifting were to only be played for the King of Kings.
The enemy wants your song!
VII. There is a choir being assembled!
Psalms 40:2-3, He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalms 118:14, The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Read- Revelation 5:5-14…….
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