Hitting the Pause Button

Now that my daughter has returned home for college, our family has reestablished one of our favorite family activities: watching Jeopardy! But we just don’t watch, we also participate as much as possible. Every night, there seems to be a different household winner. It is especially enjoyable when we stream the show so that we can hit “pause” and give our inferior brains more time to think! 

The Hebrew word selah is found in the book of Psalms 71 times. Most versions of the Bible do not even attempt to translate selah, as its meaning seems diverse. Based upon some clues, one intuitive explanation for selah is that it means “to pause,” increasing peace. In the book of Psalms, sometimes the “pause” leads to praise:

• “Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah” (Psalm 24:10)
• “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah” (Psalm 67:1)

Other times, the “pause” leads to asking for God’s help:

• “The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah” (Psalm 140:5)
• “Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!” Selah (Psalm 140:8)

Sometimes it can just be a reminder of God’s design:
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• “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah” (Psalm 4:4)
• “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8)

This month, we are focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit of self-control. According to the Psalmist’s wisdom, introducing “selah” into our daily routine and surprising situations will help release God’s peace in our lives. A lack of impulse control is often at the root of excessive or harmful behavior. Just like when watching Jeopardy, hitting pause can allow our thoughts and emotions to catch up with God’s heart and His desire in our lives. 

So the next time the clues of our lives pop up on our virtual screen, take a moment to selah and give God the room to provide peace in every situation!