Psalms 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah”

DON’T RUSH

How many times have you read the Psalms and wondered what in the world that word “Selah” meant? Why throw a random word in the text?

Well the word doesn’t really mean anything. It is kind of like a pause or rest in the text. Most scholars believe it was put there when the Psalm was sung to music, thus giving a musical rest.

Now I love this verse and with the pause at the end, I even like it more. The Psalmist has just said he confessed his sin, iniquity and transgressions to the Lord and recognized that God had forgiven him. What a perfect spot for a pause or rest spiritually? We are too quick to just say a prayer of confession to get it over. We don’t stop to think about how great that is.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do you ever have to forgive your children for something they have done? My guess is yes. Why not next time after you have talked it over with them and maybe even had to discipline them, stop and reflect with them why forgiveness is so important? Then you can talk about how in comparison to your forgiveness of them the Father’s forgiveness is so much greater.

Our children, for the most part, don’t want to walk around with unforgiven stuff in their lives. Most children want to be right with their parents or siblings. Why is that? I believe God has put within us that desire to be at rest with others. Our flesh can get in the way at times, but harboring old ill feelings wears us out, doesn’t it?

Stop! Pause! Rest! Let the love of God and the beauty of His forgiveness wash over you like the cool water of a mountain stream. Let his mercy and grace invigorate your soul before you take another step. Don’t rush your post confession moments. God wants to love on you a bit.