The Power of the ‘Selah’
The Selah
What is the “Selah?
Doing some research, I came across the website by PastorJasonelder.com, in which he noted that this word appears 74 times in the Psalms and three times in the book of Habukuk- Habukuk 3:3, 3:9, and 3:13. He calls it “an invitation to stop, breathe, and listen.”
You can find it in Psalm 3, 4, 20, 21, 24, 32, 39, 44, 46-50, 52, 54, 55, 57, 59-61,140, & 143. (Credit www.sarata.com)
Here are some examples:
Psalms 3:1-8 NASB1995
“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” [Selah]
But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. [Selah]
I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! [Selah] .” https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.3.1-8.NASB1995
Psalm 66:1-5 NASB1995
“For the choir director. A song. A psalm. ‘Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.’ ” [Selah]
Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.’ ” https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.66.1-5.NASB1995
Habakkuk 3:1-14 NASB1995
“A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth. ‘Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. God comes from Teman, And the Holy One from Mount Paran. [Selah]
His splendor covers the heavens, And the earth is full of His praise. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power. Before Him goes pestilence, And plague comes after Him. He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan under distress, The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling. Did the Lord rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation? Your bow was made bare, The rods of chastisement were sworn.” [Selah] https://bible.com/bible/100/hab.3.1-14.NASB1995
My personal comment here is that these ‘Selah’s in Habakkuk may have been instrumental “exclamation marks” where trumpets, drums, and cymbals were common worship instruments!
