Selah. Oops.

The new Spiderman movie talks about secrets.  So does this.

Once upon a time, I was with some people who were reading the Bible out loud.  Every time they came to the word “Selah” in the book of Psalms, they’d stop.  Heads bowed.  Silence.  Someone would say “Amen” and they’d start reading again.

I asked one of them what was up with that word “Selah.”

They had no idea, but assured me that “It must be something special.”

I was appalled at their ignorance.  I accused them of loving words more than they loved the God the words told us about.  I ranted on and on, and quit that group in disgust.

Time went by as it always does.

Somewhere along the way, it was my honor to spend time with a highly respected Hebrew scholar.  Summoning my courage, I asked about the word “Selah.”

“We have no idea what it means,” began the reply.  Inwardly, I blushed, remembering that long-ago Bible Reading Group.  Oops.

“Maybe it’s a direction for chanting.  Maybe it means to stop reading the Psalm and take a moment for an act of adoration and worship of God.” Mortified, I wondered how to apologize to those good people from my past who were way ahead of me.

“Why do you ask?”

Because I still have lots to learn.  Beginning with knowing when to pause and realize exactly how far beyond me so many things are.

Selah.