Psalm 67

Let’s begin with Sē’lah, a word that appears often in the Book of Psalms. The New Living Translations renders this word, Interlude. The NIV translation drops the word from the text and uses a footnote to indicate “Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) was inserted in the Hebrew Text.” The NRSV, and its cousin, The Common English Bible, retain the word Selah. The meaning of this important word in the Psalms, and as I use it as the closing in my correspondence, is to pause, and think about these things. I begin today’s meditation with this explanation because the psalmist uses Sē’lah twice in the seven verses of Psalm 67, the first time following verse one. The psalmist wants us to pause and consider his words.

The issue of personal, private piety is continued in Psalm 67. There are no personal pronouns in this psalm. The psalmist continually refers to us, people everywhere, all the nations, to make the prayer and praise of this psalm inclusive of all humankind, all of creation. This is the worldview God desires for all of His people. Typically, our prayers are like concentric circles. We begin with our life, and then expand to family and friends. We pray for our church. Sometimes we continue praying and our circles expand to include our community and maybe even our nation. How frequently are we praying verses two and three: “May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.”

This psalm reflects an all-inclusive worldview. This is more than a technique for praying. It is a matter of how we view the entire world, and our place within God’s creation. I believe this psalm is showing those who are seeking the life in Christ as our way of life that at the very core of our being we are Kingdom people, because as John 3:16 teaches us “God so loved the world.”

May God so transform each of us that when we pray verse one, us expands to include all the people of God’s creation.

“May God be merciful and bless us.

    May his face smile with favor on us.”

Sē’lah

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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Reading for July 8, 2012            Psalm 68