The Selah Moment

// INTRO

WORSHIP SERIES: HOLY ROAR

Worship is not just music, but a whole lifestyle - it flows in everything we doWe don’t just worship God, we worship other people & objectsSeven Hebrew words for praise

YADAH

to revere or worship with extended hands. To hold out the hands. To throw a stone or arrow.

HALAL

to boast. to rave. to shine. to celebrate. to be clamorously foolish

ZAMAR

to make music. to celebrate in song and music. to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument.

TOWDAH

an extension of the hand. Thanksgiving. A confession. A sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving for things not yet received. A choir of worshippers.

BARAK

to kneel. to bless God (as an act of adoration). to praise. to salute. to thank.

Alt Meaning: to bend low while keeping one’s eyes fixed on the kind.

TEHILLAH

laudation. a hymn. a song of praise. a new song. a spontaneous song.

SHABACH

to address in a loud tone. to shout to commend, glory, and triumph

WHEN SHOULD WE WORSHIP?

In the painful times and joyful times.

David in

1. Defining Selah

SELAH - to lift up, exalt, silence, or pause

Mentioned 74 times in scripture - mainly in Psalms with a couple mentions in Habbakuk

A SELAH can come at the time of revelation or moment of interaction with God

Revelation - doesn’t need to be a weird thing. Think of it as you wearing sunglasses inside, someone takes them off - everything looks a lot different now.

2. Examples of Selah in the Psalms

Psalm 67:1 ESV

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

Action: God is blessing and pouring out His favor on His people.

Response: a moment of silence to reflect.

Psalm 62:8 ESV

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

ACTION: The author is going through a time where they are trying to figure out who they can trust.

RESPONSE: they realize that God can be trusted at ALL times and with their WHOLE heart.

Psalm 77:9 ESV

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

ACTION: the author is questioning God’s grace and compassion.

Sometimes in life there are moments where we question God and what He is doing - because we don’t always understand what God is doing, and that is okay. God never promised we would always understand.

RESPONSE: the author pauses to reflect on the weight of this question. He pauses to listen for God to respond.

Psalm 85:2 ESV

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah

ACTION: the author realizes how much they are forgiven, how Great and cast the love of God really is.

RESPONSE: the author is speechless and stands in awe of this revelation

Psalm 3:4 ESV

4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

ACTION: the author cried out to God for help, and God responded

RESPONSE: as the author is remembering this moment, they pause to reflect of the amazing idea that the God of the universe would respond to human.

Think about it! We pray and the God of the universe answers that prayer. That should leave us in awe.

God doesn’t have answer our prayers, but out of His great love for us, He does.

God wouldn’t have to answer any of our prayers - if you think about the gift that salvation is (he saved us for death and living in the torment that is, Hell) that’s enough for me.

Answers to prayer are an overflow of His love for us.

Psalm 46 ESV

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Three Parts:

Response to God’s Protection (vs 1-3)

Action: God is our protector and takes care of us

Response to God’s Presence (vs 4-7)

Action: God is with us and around us, no matter what or where we are

Response to God’s Preeminence [Superior] (vs 8-11)

Action: God is greater that all other things, even my greatest fears

3. Personal Examples

God as Provider

I have always tithed 10% and given offering

When God used me at Summer Camp

Opened the service with a devotion and challenge the camp to engage in worship and really press in. That was the most powerful night

Not because of me or what I said, but because I listened to what God told me to say and I obeyed. God honored my obedience to Him.

As a result, I reflect on that time and I’m left in awe that God would use me.

Leaving Pine Forest in Haiti

Praying and battling spiritual warfare, not only for myself but others and seeing the immediate results and power of prayer

Dating Merinda

Knowing that God had led me to fast with the girl I would marry