Page 111 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

Some scholars believe that Selah was a musical notation possibly meaning "silence" or "pause;" others,
"end," "a louder strain," "piano," etc. Still others think it is similar to a musical interlude, “a pause in the
voices singing, while the instruments perform alone.” lxxxiv

Practical Application: One of the results of being filled with the Spirit or the word of Christ is singing.
The psalms are the “songbook” of the early church that reflected the new truth in Christ.

God is the same Lord in all the psalms. But we respond to Him in different ways, according to the
specific circumstances of our lives. What a marvelous God we worship, the psalmist declares, high and
lifted up beyond our human experiences but also close enough to touch and who walks beside us along
life’s way.

We can bring all our feelings to God—no matter how negative or complaining they may be—and we can
rest assured that He will hear and understand. The psalmist teaches us that the most profound prayer of
all is a cry for help as we find ourselves overwhelmed by the problems of life. lxxxv

Psalm 1 – The Key to a Prosperous Life
Check this out…

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Do you want to have a prosperous life? Psalm one lays out the “secret.” You are blessed if you do not
fill you mind with the world’s counsel and are blessed if you fill your mind with God’s Word. What does
this mean? It is a caution for you to be careful what you watch and read, and who you listen to that
shapes your world view. Is the world or is God shaping who your are and what you think?

While everyone has a world view, few people understand what a world view is and few can clearly
articulate their world view. What we need to understand is that as we grow and develop, our society,
our government, our teachers, and friends, along with our parents are integrally involved in the
development of our world view. That is why the scriptures tell us to carefully guard what we put into
our minds because everything you think about and accept becomes part of your world view. Consider
Philippians 4:8-9:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—
9
practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Most people’s world view is a hodgepodge of ideas that are full of contradictions. That’s because their
sources of information have been in conflict. Some things they have learned from movies are contrary
to God’s Word. They learn other things from their parents --- perhaps right from wrong. But then they
learn an opposite view from the television or a book they read. By the time a person is grown, most

109