Through the Bible in one year - Day 46

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

I thought I would add a little bit on the meaning of this word Selah that we see upon occasion in the Psalms. This is what one scholar, Tony Warren writes:

The Selah is there to signal the believer to 'measure' carefully the meaning of what has been said. i.e., here is some deeper wisdom, reflect on it and understand its true meaning. Just as the Hebrew word Amen [amen] is an exclamation of confidence or truth and certainty of what has been said, so Selah [celah], is an exclamation that we should measure and reflect upon what has been said. (His entire piece on this can be read here.)

It is essentially what I had read elsewhere – that this is an emphatic exclamation and used to have us pay attention, and so, when keeping this in mind and reading the above portion of the Psalm, I can hear the Psalmist asking: ‘can I get an AMEN?’ Yes, so be it. Even though the waters move into the sea, God Is. As in Exodus when God is speaking to Moses and Moses asks who should I say sent me; God says: “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”(Exodus 3:14)

I am comforted after reading this, I am reminded that no matter what life throws at you, there is more to us than this life; there is our time and relationship with God – and God isn’t bound by the here and now, he is bigger than all of our experiences.

Speaking of God being bigger than our circumstances, here is Joseph, in the morning he wakes up in prison and by afternoon the Pharaoh (King of Egypt) says this:

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. (Genesis 47:38-39)

Could we have envisioned such a change in circumstance? I don’t think I could. We are told that Joseph has two sons as he prepares for the years of famine. So, I see his life is entirely changed from what it had been, no longer is he a prisoner; he is prosperous and influential.

In our short reading from 2 Chronicles today we read of reforms that bring the people back to God, and set the priests over the judges, so that in all things God is in charge:

[Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. (verse 19:6)

WOW! What a story today in Acts! I hesitate to use the word story in case someone thinks I mean tall tale since it reads like science fiction or fantasy, no wonder Peter thought it was a vision, and no wonder those who were praying were certain it was an angel (or ghost) – a fantasy. The authorities – and those who were afraid, killed James – the brother of John; I believe this is one of the two ‘sons of thunder’ the fishermen, and sons Of Zebedee. They throw Peter in prison with chains and guards both inside and outside of his cell. Now, I recall that Peter wasn’t a young man – what the heck were they afraid of? Could it be that they actually understood the potential of the kind of help that could be expected? When we were reading about Joseph, he was just in prison – there weren’t chains and guards keeping him secured, this then, is different; they were really worried by Peter. And guess what? They were right to be worried...poof, he just disappears from their midst. And then we read of Herod’s death-YUK! I don’t know about you, but I’d certainly think twice before getting God that angry at me. I don’t believe it is in our own interest to pretend to be God.

Today’s readings: Psalm 46, Genesis 41:37-57, 2 Chronicles 19:4-11, Acts 12