selah

For some time I've been hesitant to blog. Reasons vary: sloth, fear, a prolonged root of bitterness. Yet through a series of events, life changed. Some are familiar with my family's story (if you need a reference point, I invite you to http://caringbridge.org/visit/josiahcarrier). On many levels this event has ushered in a new season; one that continues to be as exciting as it is fearful, as painful as it is cathartic.

selah

Regularly over the last six months the Spirit of Christ has been drawing me into silence. Being rather slow to hear, I would often turn a deaf ear. Ever so merciful, He determined to speak through His daughter. One particular morning, to my dismay, I was told that I'd been rather difficult to live with for the last several years. It wasn't just what she said, it was the depths from which she spoke: the message was at the same time hers and His.

She's always good like that.

selah

'But God gives a greater grace', His grace delves deeper than our hurt; His yield consisted of brokenness, confession, and surrender (james 4).

I can again feel the warmth of day.

She's glad.

selah.

For centuries the psalms have embodied the hopes and longings of God’s people. From the depths of human experience the Psalters wrote and through the many seasons of life we join them. As the household of faith, we know the psalms. Their expressions of perseverance, longing, and joy give words to even the most incommunicable of feelings; their words have become our own. I'm certain you to have spent much time reading and experiencing the book, yet it wasn't until recently that my attention was drawn to the repeated occurrence of a very peculiar word. A word that has apparently eluded translation for centuries; one that still invites unparalleled worship – ‘selah’.

Even though it’s exact meaning remains obscure, selah is generally regarded as a liturgical devise used to invite reflection. In very deliberate fashion, the placement of selah called people to deeply consider the truths that were being sung or recited [1]. Perhaps the word signaled the congregation into silence, maybe it called for vocal inflection or an instrumental crescendo. Whatever the exact medium, selah inspired participants to mull over the truths recited. It focused attention upon man's highest hope, urging people to be enveloped by God's abiding presence [2].

Similarly, consider this blog an invitation; an invitation to reflect and interact around the life of faith. The posts will vary, yet there will be one abiding constant - the desire for dialogue. By design, we are wired for community. Be convinced - untold benefits are gained solely through exercising mutual submission, confession, and edification. Be open - take pains that neither fear nor the temptation to hoard keep you from commenting; silence will only slow the furtherance of His kingdom.

As of now, we are planning to no longer post on the caringbridge site once there is some closure with Josiah. At which time, this particular blog will be regularly maintained. God Bless.

In the words of one of my favorite people, "you feel me?"

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[1] There are roughly 71 occurrences of selah within the Psalms, the majority of which occur within the first three subdivisions of the book (ch. 1-41, 17 occurrences; ch. 42-72, 32 occurrences; ch. 73-89, 20 occurrences; ch. 90-106, 0 occurrences; ch. 107-150, 4 occurrences). Importantly, selah called people to consider the various points where our humanity intersects with divinity: confession, reconciliation, anger, depression, joy, etc.

4:4 - Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still. Selah

32:5 - I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; and thou did forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah

46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should shake, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

61:4 - Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

68:19 - Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah

82:2 - How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

143:6 - I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

[2] Selah cued action; action dictated the structural flow of worship; structure inspired deeper reflection and meaning. And while the exact placement of selah adds little to exegesis, its usage provides an unhindered glimpse into the worship of those who have gone before us.

Selah heighten the meaning of worship – both expressed and experienced. Selah purified the expression, or offering, of worship in that the word, by nature, created opportunity to reflect upon certain recited truths. Imagine the recitation of Psalm 32:5. Immediately after declaring openness before God, the worshipping community came to a selah. By design, the community would be invited to reflect upon the veracity of their declaration – thereby purifying their expression of worship.

Selah intensified the worship experience, or the joy received, in that it allowed participants to be fully engulfed by the realities confessed; they encountered both the truth and the God behind the statement. After reciting Psalm 46:1-3, they came to a selah. Again, no matter what action selah may have called for the outcome would be uniform – the participants would have opportunity to be deeply engaged with the truth at hand.