4TH SUNDAY OF LENT

March 30, 2025 (4th Sunday in Lent)

Today, our sermons will center on Psalm 32, concerning David’s relief when he voices his sins and receives forgiveness, and  2 Corinthians 5:16-21 about becoming a new creation in Christ. 

But today’s devotional rests with a word repeated in Psalm 32: “Selah.” 

Selah is a Hebrew word that is similar to the words “forever” and “amen” but, most notably is understood to signify a cue in a musical piece or poem to stop and consider what was just stated. Selah means to pause and contemplate.

In a world where many of us listen only in order to respond, or where there are computers/tvs/phone calls/texts all going at the same time, or we are busy, busy, busy – God’s word “selah” requires us to slow down and digest what we just consumed. 

Over the years, people have taken the concept of the word, and its pleasing 5 letters, to create various acronyms for Bible study or good sermon bullet points.  Most are similar in style and structure, offering pretty memorable ways to use a Selah pause. We are summarizing some of the versions here and encouraging all of our church family to read Scripture with these things in mind:

S – STOP. Take a moment to find a quiet place and pause. (Another use of “S” is Silence)

E – ENGAGE. Read, pray, write – engage with God. (Another word is “exhale”, to calm one’s self.)

L – LISTEN. Work to hear Him speak to our lives and hearts. (Or Look around you, giving thanks)

A – APPLY.  Take what God is saying and USE it. To hear and act on his Word is pleasing to God.

H – HEART/HEAR. Let your discovery affect your heart and turn towards God. Truly HEAR Him.

Prayer: Dearest  Lord, grant us a day of Selah moments where we not only hear your word, but consider, contemplate, understand, and act.  Help us to better know you and for that stronger relationship to permeate everything in our lives. Amen.