“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the Name of the LORD, for His Name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heaven.” (Psalm 148:7-13)
Breathe. Take in the splendor. Plant it in your heart. Praise Him. Selah.
The actual meaning of the word Selah is unknown. There is speculation by scholars that it was a musical cue in ancient liturgy to encourage a moment to breathe, to pause and reflect on what one just read or sang, and to serve as an invitation to interrupt both the hurry and the stillness with introspection and praise. When we find it in Scripture, it should prompt us to stop the mad rush to simply get through reading, and instead, to meditate on God’s character, His words, or His actions on behalf of His people. The best true response to God is worship.
Selah acts much like “Κύριε, ἐλέησον” in the Greek Orthodox liturgy: Lord, Have Mercy! Lent Devotionals will resume tomorrow after today’s Sabbath rest to reflect, refresh, and worship Him. Selah.