At the end of verse 2 in this Psalm, we see the first occurrence of the word “Selah.” I suggest that it is a pause. It’s not just a pause in the music but a pause for reflection on what was just said or sung. There are three “Selahs” in this Psalm. The first one finishes David’s lament about his many enemies who have risen against him and cast doubt on God’s good intentions for David. The “Selah” at the end of this verse suggests we pause and think about that. We all have enough troubles in our lives and perceived enemies to be able to relate to this Selah. The second “Selah” comes at the end of verse 4 after David expresses his confidence in God’s loving protection and care for him even amid his troubles. David asserts his abiding faith and trust in God. Ellsworth calls this the “Selah of faith.” The final “The final “Selah” comes at the end of the Psalm after verse 8.
Verses 5 and 6 contain part of the thought that should be considered when we get to the pause at the end of verse 8. Because David holds firm to his faith in God and his conviction that God will hear his plea and answer him, he can say in verses 5 and 6, “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Sleep is a gift from God to a heart at peace. Psalm 127 and verse 2 says, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Further, David can enjoy sleep amid such extreme opposition because he knows God is not sleeping but remains vigilant. Psalm 121:3-4 says, “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Selah! Think about that.
David woke from his sleep because God had sustained him. This is an interesting thing to think about because in the story of Absalom’s rebellion, his most trustworthy advisor urged Absalom to go and kill David that very day. He told Absalom not to wait. But David sent another adviser to Absalom that God used to dissuade him from pursuing David that day. God’s intervention lead Absalom to listen to the second advisor and it proved the undoing of Absalom’s rebellion. It was God’s direct intervention in moving Absalom to accept the bad advice that gave David another night’s sleep and preserved his life. But when David wrote, “I woke again, for the Lord sustained me” he was literally correct. He had been given another day of life and the opportunity for his forces to regroup. They did and ultimately destroyed Absalom’s rebellion. Selah! Think about what God might be doing behind the scenes when you sleep. He’s always on guard and working to fulfill his good intentions for our lives.