Listen

Answer me when I cry out, my righteous God! Set me free from my troubles! Have mercy on me! Listen to my prayer!

How long, you people, will my reputation be insulted? How long will you continue to love what is worthless and go after lies? Selah Know this: the Lord takes personal care of the faithful. The Lord will hear me when I cry out to him. So be afraid, and don’t sin! Think hard about it in your bed and weep over it! Selah

Psalm 4:1-4

Think

We, as Easter people, are being held accountable. What is the substance of our faith? Are we “loving what is worthless” and “going after lies?” This sounds a lot like Peter’s rebuke in Acts, right? But alongside this rebuke and call for correction comes comfort. God takes care, and God listens.

Selah is used 74 times in the Bible, 71 of those times are in the Psalms. The exact meaning of this Hebrew word is not known, but it has been interpreted as a musical instruction calling for a break in the singing of the Psalm, like “stop and listen.” Remember, the Psalms are traditionally sung, in Hebrew.

The Hebrew tradition reminds us that to ponder God’s word means to pause and reflect. Our faith offers us opportunities for comfort, challenge, and correction. Such weighty moments deserve our slow and thoughtful consideration. Selah.

Katie Cashwell

Pray

Author of Life, hear me when I call for help, in big and small ways. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Amen.

Go

We in the church have a message beyond all comparing:
Christ is alive and brings life to the lost and despairing.
He takes our sins! Easter assures us God wins!
Ours is the good news for sharing.

from “We Are His Witnesses” by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2015)