Psalm 3:2-8 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. That seems to sum up the several meanings of the word "Selah." Some say it is a direction to the musicians to play an interlude while the singers ceased; some regard it as a direction to the players to stop and tune their instruments. Others see an injunction to raise heart and voice, harp and organ, to their fullest capacity. Others see a reference to eternity, as if one interposed, "World without end, Amen!" Many regard the word as equivalent to certain well-known signs in music, bidding you turn back and repeat. In any case, it is as if a solemn rock ("sela") stood right across our path, bidding us "stop and think." On the ground of this injunction meet all meanings, however divergent they seem. "No help for him in God." Stop and think. Selah looks forward as well as back. God has been a shield for David; He can also lift up his head once more, and invest him with glory, the sunshine of the Divine countenance. For us who conduct the services of God's house, "Selah" has a message. It bids the preacher rightly divide the word of truth. It bids him compare truth with truth, bringing out things new and old, and fixing each in its most telling place. It says — tune your hearts, voices, instruments. Seek inspiration, do justice to the Divine message and the gospel song, so that with holy passion, and sacred emphasis, and heart-felt pathos you shall lead our hearts to God, and incite our minds to things eternal. (Michael Eastwood.) Parallel Verses KJV: Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.WEB: Many there are who say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah. |
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