When Life Seems to Pause

Background: This is a study of Psalm 3. I did the study in the Amplified Version for want of details. The word Selah captured my attention in this chapter. Its not that I have not met that word before but this time it really stood out. It was amazing the points where God has chosen to put the Selah in this chapter and thats what I learned from this Psalm of David written when he was fleeing for life from his own son Absalom.

Its worth mentioning that Amplified Bible describes Selah as "pause, and calmly think of that"

Lessons

1. The Pause:when everything seems to be working against you-v2 Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah" There are desperate times and situations that we face and it seems like time has just decided to stop on this chapter of our life nothing could change it.Even people around you are convinced this is how it ends. David probably felt this and wrote this portion, but the pause is short lived and the verse continued
2. The Pause: when we've prayed and are waiting for an answer -v4 With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah Then this is another time when we are so sure our God has heard our prayers and then we wait, we pause expecting an answer. The hope in this verse doesn't end here too, and the verse continues.
3. The Final Pause: when God intervenes-v8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah I am so glad this Psalm ends here. Here's the final pause when God intervenes. The word meaning as defined by dictionary is amazing...Salvation stands for the act of saving/protecting from danger or harm, the state or process of being saved, the source cause or means of being saved. I didnt know that and it makes a world of difference to me. My God is the one Who acts on my behalf to deliver me. My God is my source of protection and deliverance. My God delivers me and is my deliverance.

Conclusion: Take heart my friend, whatever be the situation that you face. Our Lord God Jesus Christ is THE SALVATION. He's the One to make the final Pause for our lives' destination. He's is the final authority of our lives. If it seems like the situation you are in is unending, take courage and have faith thats just a short pause. If it seems like its taking forever for the answer, to your prayer, to come- it is on its way. Salvation belongs to our Living Lord Jesus and Jesus is God who never fails us in any situation when we call upon Him. Therefore we have hope because Salvation is in the rightful and faithful hands of our Saviour.

Where is the fear of the Lord?

Background:Psalms 2 Nations rising up against a Holy God, to this the Word of God responds saying "v10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. v11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling." The kings and rulers of this earth may be ruling a set or group of people but they should never forget they have been appointed in their place by a Higher Authority.

Lesson
We have liberally forgotten Who God is and I don't see the fear of the Lord anywhere, not even in my life many times.

1. A consuming fire-Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
2. Spans heaven and earth-Isaiah 66:1[ Judgment and Hope ] This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?"
3. Creator of heaven and earth and of me-Isaiah 29:16"You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows" nothing"?"

Conclusion:Just because our Lord has been patient with us, He has called us friends, that in no way diminishes the fact that He is a powerful God. It is amazing to me that He chose to show us the vulnerable side of Him, His immense love for us. No wonder we take Him for granted in all we do, because we know He is so much in love with us, that He was willing to die for our sins and take our guilt upon His head. This won't be for much long though, for when He comes in His full glory, we will not even have the guts to look at His glory. Lets honour God in the fullness of His being, with respectful fear and we will have wisdom to live our lives before Him.Proverbs 9:10"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding"