Choices, Daily Life, God's Word

Selah – Pause and Ponder

We often see the word Selah within the psalms (I counted 70). Although the exact meaning is unclear, within musical terms it is thought to indicate a break, or a time to pause. I can’t help but think that we need this word throughout the whole of Scripture. For some of us (maybe more) reading the Bible is often found low on the list of priorities for the day, but if we are not taking the time to read scripture, how much less time are we taking to ponder it?

If we go back to Tuesday’s story of the two sisters – Martha is up to her elbows in looking after her guests, while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus.

We need to pause and be still with the Lord – to sit at His feet, as Mary did – not just because it is a good thing to do, but because it is a necessary thing to do. The psalmist, David, understands Mary’s choice, for he chose it also, saying, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup” (Ps.16:5). Choosing to pause and sit with the Lord, to listen and give time to regard His words, is not only necessary – it’s essential. We will miss out on so much if we simply complete our daily reading, tick it as ‘done’ and dash straight into the day. We need to pause and ponder.

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