Psalm 3: The Meaning of Selah
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 O LORD, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
2 Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.
5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.
7 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.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
Psalm 3 is sometimes referred to as The Morning Prayer of Trust in God. And that is a good description. David is fearful, he complains to God. God answers from His holy mountain. David then trusts and is strengthened for what may come. Such a beautiful Psalm.
For a “not too long” deeper look at Psalm 3, go HERE and read Charles Spurgeon on this Psalm. You’ll be encouraged.
But I want to focus here on one thing Spurgeon said. It’s about Selah. What does the word mean? He wrote:
“Selah.” This is a musical pause; the precise meaning of which is not known. Some think it simply a rest, a pause in the music; others say it means, “Lift up the strain — sing more loudly — pitch the tune upon a higher key — there is nobler matter to come, therefore retune your harps.” Harp-strings soon get out of order and need to be screwed up again to their proper tightness, and certainly our heart-strings are evermore getting out of tune, Let “Selah” teach us to pray
“O may my heart in tune be found
Like David’s harp of solemn sound.”At least we may learn that wherever we see “Selah,” we should look upon it as a note of observation. Let us read the passage which preceeds and succeeds it with greater earnestness, for surely there is always something excellent where we are required to rest and pause and meditate, or when we are required to lift up our hearts in grateful song. “SELAH.”
This is one of the most helpful summaries of the word Selah. I especially like, “O may my heart in tune be found
Like David’s harp of solemn sound.”
What if I could consciously wake and start each day saying to the Lord, “God, may my heart be tuned to you all day, no matter what comes.” That would be both a “pause,” as Selah may mean, as well as a prayer for the Lord to tune my heart to Him.
Selah!
Ps: Big shout out to my daughter in law Selah. Yep, that’s her actual name. And let me just say that our Selah causes us to pause and thank God for such a beautiful and wonderful and godly gift to our family. Love you Selah!
