Stop and Listen

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me. Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” SELAH. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.  Psalm 3:1-3

I want you to notice the word SELAH in our text scripture above. You see this word throughout David’s psalms. It means he paused, pondered and listened. At this time, David turned his eyes from his troubles and looked to God. He remembered that he did not have to fight his battles because the Lord fought for him (1 Sam. 17:45-47). He remembered how God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and bear, the God who overcame Goliath without sword or spear.

And as he looked to the Lord, he strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), and that’s when things started to change. You notice that change came when he shifted his focus away from his painful and dire circumstances and allowed himself to be absorbed instead in the GRACE of the Lord, when he stopped and listened to what the Lord was encouraging him with on the inside.

I believe that in those few moments of meditating on God’s goodness and mercy, he heard the Lord say to him, “David, why are you worried about all these people coming against you? I am your shield. I am the glory and the lifter of your head.” That was what brought about David’s turning point in the situation. God’s comfort came to David as he chose to SELAH (Stop, ponder, and listen to the Lord and run to Him in the presence of his enemies).

Does it seem like your enemies have increased and many are rising up against you? Have you been getting one bad report after another from the doctor? Maybe they have found a lot more to be concerned about than you were previously aware of. And now your heart is heavy because it feels like maybe even God can’t help you. Then you need to do as David did and SELAH (pause, ponder, listen and choose to run to the Lord in the presence of your enemies.

Whenever the enemy would arise against David, He could rise up and declare, “But YOU, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the ONE who lifts up my head.” When you SELAH (stop, pause, listen and run to the Lord). You will find your turning point and victory. Don’t remain discouraged. Don’t run away from the Lord, rather, Run to Him in worship and praise for the victory is yours. PTL