Selah

I love theatre. I remember being a part of a summer intensive theatre camp one summer while I was in high school. Something we did was learn how to dissect and memorize scripts and monologues, and then (of course) perform them.

As you go through the lines in the script, there's scribbling, circling, highlighting, underlining and underlining some more. You are looking for the subtext, how you’ll communicate the feelings behind those words.

But you’re also looking for the beats.

What is a beat?

"Beat means a short pause while the character processes information. It's typically shorter than (pause) which is shorter than (silence)."

"A beat in drama is any individual instance of change within a scene. Any time the mood or tone of a scene shifts—or the characters react to something that prompts them to alter their trajectory—that’s a beat."

Beats are pauses, and in the pause, there are usually shifts.

There is power in a pause.

I look at this picture and I just have to pause. I’m speechless at such a sight. God knows how I could look at His creation all day long. A glimpse at His glory!

I read Psalms and see that psalmists took a beat, or a “Selah” moment.

You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, He is the King of Glory! (Selah)

Psalm 24:10

The definition of “Selah” is not fully known, but most scholars think it means to “rest,” “weigh,” “pause in His presence,” or even a musical interlude.

Though we aren’t fully sure of the Selah meaning, I believe that it is good to do a personal check-in and ask ourselves: Am I pausing? Have I taken a beat? A rest? A Sabbath? A Selah?

Perhaps not just in a weekly sabbath (day of rest) but also interwoven throughout our daily lives. Maybe it’s a praise break. Maybe it’s a chance to get away. Or a moment in your drive or walk where you just take a pause with God.

“A godly work ethic requires a godly rest ethic.”

Mary Jo Pierce, Adventures in Prayer

I think of how God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. Maybe they didn’t talk the whole time. Maybe it was quiet. Maybe Adam even had moments where he was so in awe, he didn’t quite know what to say but just delighted being in His presence. That sounds like a Selah to me.

Friend, I pray this encourages you. Life will be busy, and busyness has its beauty, too. Work is vital, but so is rest. Don’t forget to pause. Fight the temptation to fill your pause-moments with distraction. Look up. There’s something incredible God has for you!

There’s beauty, freedom, and joy in taking intentional moments to revere and revel in God’s glory and goodness.

So pause (beat), and Selah in Him.

Activation

• Read Psalm 3. How many times do you see Selah? How could they resemble "beats" in a theatrical script or monologue?

• Read Psalm 23. Is Selah in this psalm? If it isn't there, what do you see about rest in this psalm?

Resources

• Adventures in Prayer by Mary Jo Pierce

• Selah by Jenny & Tyler

• Psalm 23 by Phil Wickham ft Tiffany Hudson

• "What Are ‘Beats’ in Acting? How to Level Up Your Script Analysis" by Lauren Thoman, Backstage article