"Selah"

Do you take advice? Do you take it well? That kind of got a little different answer there. That kind of little hesitation. Depends on who you take advice from. Am I correct? We have people. I have to phrase that wrong. I take advice from Mary, husbands and wives, take advice from each other, but there are other people you take advice from, hopefully. There are people you do not want to take advice from. You may find them on your cell phone. All this stuff pops up, the thread, and they're just like they have all the answers to everything. I want to give you some advice today, but not from me, from famous kings and world leaders, because that's where we're going to go today. I think we all can use a little good advice. Wisdom. Napoleon Bonaparte. Anybody know where he's from? Oh, very good. That shouldn't have been too hard. He actually said, impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools. Very positive statement, I guess. President Teddy Roosevelt. Very famous for putting our parks and line in this country. Said, believe you can and you're halfway there. Former emperor Marcus Aurelius said, you have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength. Just wisdom. Former president Abraham Lincoln said in the end it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years. As I had heard that one before, did not know where it came from, but I did hear that. Finally, the king and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne, which I find to be very good advice. Right action is better than knowledge, but in order to do what is right, we must first know what is right. Bring that to you because I want you to turn to a scripture in 2 Chronicles. Anybody ever paid you for advice? No, they did. They paid you for advice. What did they pay you for? What advice can you give it? Health issues. Anybody else? Yes, what did they pay you for?

Okay, yes. Ah, that's pretty important. I never got advice from an attorney unless I did pay. Let's look at a woman, she was a queen, or thought to be a queen, who paid somewhere in today's dollars about $13 million for advice. It was a queen of Sheba, and she came to Solomon for his advice. Let's look at that now in 2 Chronicles 9, and let's do verse 5 and 6. So then she said to the king, it was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However, I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes, and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told to me. You exceed the fame of which I heard. Wouldn't it be great to be able to have that? To go somewhere and you just get the kind of advice, maybe what you need, not what you want? But go up to verse 2, the same chapter. Because this is a magnificent statement to me. So Solomon answered all of her questions. There was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he could not explain to her. Where did he get this wisdom? Did he ask for it? You know that. When's the last time you asked for it? Specifically, I need your wisdom today. Others have said back today, for those of you who did not ask for wisdom, perhaps it's time. Or maybe there comes a time in your life when you need to know an answer that you can go to God. If he gave it to Solomon, why wouldn't he give it to you? Let's go to a couple places. Asking you shall receive. Right. Imagine getting advice from a king or a world leader you could call up. And they would answer your question.

Because basically we can and we should do it. Because there are words in the Bible that give us the wisdom that we need and will answer all of our questions or point us in the direction of where we should get them. Because there are kings in here that I want to touch on a few today. And look at their words as perhaps you have not thought about before. In a way, you have not thought about before. That will enhance your life and increase your wisdom and give you a go-to place. Let's go, if you will, follow me to the book of Psalm. Psalms 46. Psalm 46. Over there. Many of you know that, but hopefully I can give you some insight here. In verse 46, if you read at the top of your verses there, it gives you a little insight. And it says, to the chief musician, a psalm of the sons of Korah. Isn't that interesting? Korah was this bad guy, but they put him and his family down, literally. But the later sons of Korah became part of Solomon's music direction. And they lasted through Solomon's sons on end to time. And they were responsible for the music and how everything was put together in a celebration at the temple when it came to worshiping God. Now, right here, this one says, a song for Alimoth. Does anybody know who Alimoth was? Was it a he or a she? I'm getting looks like, no idea, never heard about that, Alimoth. Well, you answered rightly because it's neither male nor female. As a matter of fact, it is a type of song, it is a type of music that is to be sung. It is actually known as a high register. You might call it soprano, we might today, where they're singing at a very high note. That's what Alimoth was. It was written for that purpose. And you've heard songs that we men are not very good at singing because we're too low, and women can just hit those notes. That's what this was. But I think you'll find this very interesting because this chapter 46, they said, well, the sons of Korah, it came from the sons of Korah. But your theologians go back to a time and they debate that. They're kind of tossed because they know from history when it was written. And then they find out what it's about. And many of the theologians believe this was not written by the sons of Korah, but it was written for them by King Hezekiah. And that King Hezekiah either wrote it or inspired it to be written, which I think brings this into a different picture. And you can, if you know the story of King Hezekiah, and I have done that here, and if you don't, it's an incredible story. But I'd like you to join me in reading these verses. Looking at it musically, because this was a song put to music, but the words are incredible. Was it Hezekiah? Was it one of his prophets at the time, Isaiah was living at the time of Hezekiah? Was it any of the others? No, no. Let's go and read and let you make your own decision there. Verse 1, God is a refuge in strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. What? Selah. Some pronounce it Selah, others Salah. Both are correct according to my search. Selah. So who's Selah? Male or female? Very good. Couldn't get you on that one. What does it mean? So be it. Very good. The Amplified Bible even puts it out as Selah is to pause and calmly think of that. Pause and calmly think of that. Others say it's time to ruminate. What you've just heard you need to think about. There we're talking about some of these words of wisdom from a king or from king's men.

What did it say? God is our what? Refuge and strength. Are there not times in our lives where we're going through maybe some stuff shows that we need to stop and look at that, read that one verse and go, Selah, I'm going to stop. And what's interesting is Selah is was originally created for music. It was made to pause because you've heard a song and then it stops and some songs have that pause for a while. That's what this was created for. And then it's part of stop and second part praise. So it gives us time, as it says, to stop, dwell on the words. Imagine music put to this where the music stops at the end of this so you can pause and you can dwell on it. But then the voice that comes out or what it was intended to do was to be one of praise. Strong! We have an example of that with our song leader today, don't we? Anybody doubt he knows how to praise God? This is part of it. But sometimes we can just read through something and it's like, okay. No, this is actually telling us where it says, Selah, to stop. Let's think about it and then let's use that in our life and put it in and then ruminate on and then praise God for this. Then it's time. Let's go on. There is a river whose stream shall make the city of God the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high. He is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God shall help her just at the break of dawn. All of us know the break of dawn, right? Remember anything magnificent happening at the break of dawn in the story of Hezekiah? King Sennacherib over Syria with the Rabshakah his general had surrounded the city, the city walls, and they were going to destroy. They offered a peace offering that if they would turn over the city and go with them, they would put them in a land of milk and honey. They would give them everything with their vines and fig trees. They knew it was a lie. They did not surrender, but they did not send an army out. Sennacherib had sent a letter to King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah was scared because everybody was waiting on him. This Assyrian army had not been defeated yet. They had slaughtered everyone everywhere they went, except they would make some be prisoners and use them as slaves.

This letter was poured out on the ground to God and read. Isaiah came back and told Hezekiah, God said everything is okay. He did not have to worry. He will take care of everything. And they went to bed. When they got up that morning, there in front of them, outside the walls, were 185,000 slaughtered men. It took one angel of God to do that in one night. Isn't that an incredible story? Now you see why they think that this was written about that time? It was one of the greatest moments in Jerusalem history. So let's pick it up there. God is in the midst of her and she shall not be moved. God shall help her at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved, He uttered His voice, and the earth melted. It sure did melt for the 185,000, didn't it? The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. What? Salah. Salah. Salah. Isn't that something that we can use? It tells us, okay, let's look at that when we have some trouble. Or maybe things are good and we want to know who makes them good. We want to know that He's still in charge. It's a very impactful word that I think we can use because it's a direction, not just a scripture. It's a direction. We can use it while we are reading other parts of the Bible, can't we? Because if it's impactful to us, we should know from God's Spirit working with us that well, let me pause on this one. Let me meditate on this. Let me ruminate on this and let me praise God for bringing that to me tonight, tomorrow morning. Powerful. Very powerful. Verse 8, Come, behold the works of the Lord who has made desolations in the earth. He makes war cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariots in the fire.

Makes you wonder, did Isaiah have anything to do with this? Remember Isaiah 2, verse 4, Neither shall they learn war anymore. It's the future, and God's going to cause that to happen. It's not now, but it is. Be still and know I am God. That, to me, is a salar moment. That scripture we need more often. We need to think about that one. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of Host is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. He's our refuge. He's our Father. He's our God. He is everything we need. It's time to define. Define these words we read of what's really important. And are those words in there maybe brought to your attention? Just for you? I hate this sounds kind of strange, but many times I will have so many different things in my mind. I don't want to go somewhere because I've got these other plans to give these messages. And I just go to my Bible and I open up a page. I just don't know what it is. I just open it up and I just read. And it's exactly what I need to hear at that time. And you know, oh, she said others do that too. I thought I was special. I guess I'm not. Say, ah! Isn't that amazing? Isn't that a gift? Should we use it more often? Maybe. Maybe it needs to be a part. And then lift up your praise and thank Him for bringing you to that place. So I have a new word, Selah, and I found myself putting it in various places. I know you're not supposed to add to God's Word, but this is more of a little stamp. I don't want to add to it. I just want to I wanted to enhance what I have already read. And that's the purpose of Selah is for us to know. Go with me to Proverbs. Proverbs 30. Who wrote Proverbs? That's right. Who did He write it to? It says in the first chapter, His Son. Absolutely right. He had many sons, but we're thinking Rehoboam. I don't think he read it, looking at Rehoboam's history. But it was written by the wisest man who ever lived. So let's take some of these words of advice. Proverbs 30 and verse 5. Every word of God is Selah. I mean, I could meditate on that. I know when I was up in Tennessee and I was riding a tractor for most of the day, I didn't read that much because I didn't have a sermon for the first time in a long time. And I would open up my mother's Bible. I didn't carry mine. And I would just turn to the scripture and read it. And I ran it through my mind and then left with that and just said that scripture many times. And I did that all through my day. This was one of those. Every word of God is pure because I see such an assault by this world on God's word. I see it where people go, well, that's a mistranslation. That's, oh, well, you can't believe I'm a magic man in the sky. You hear this? Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust in him. Do not add to his words. And I don't want. I know better.

But I'll say, silla, because it enhances that. I don't need to add to his word. I don't need to give Proverbs 32. Have any of you ever read Proverbs 32? No. Of course you can't. It's not there. There is no need for me to have or God to have Proverbs 32. He's got everything we need in here. And so this is the beauty of this. Lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar because there are people that want to put their slant on God's word. I remember it's been quite a few years ago. Mary was watching the show. I went to bed. I said, Well, you think she said, Well, I was kind of disgusted with the show. And I said, Well, why? Because she said this woman who was living with this guy went to her priest and said, I've been reading the Bible. I'll paraphrase this. I went to the Bible and and it says that that is sin and I shouldn't be living with him. What is your thought on it? And I remember Mary telling me the priest said, Well, I think God got a few things wrong there. You know, correct somewhere in that something like that. I don't think it means exactly that. It means exactly that. Yes, it means exactly that.

Now, I want you to think of this because it says the, if you go back to chapter 30, just ahead, the words of Agar, son of Jekiah, his utterance. So this is not Solomon writing. I mean, it's Solomon writing, but he's, they are not his words. Agar's words. Why would he put them in there? Because they're wise words. They're wise words. And Solomon was writing this book so his son would learn to be wise and that we can be wise. But isn't it amazing? And maybe Solomon thought, like many of you who've had sons, well, maybe he'll listen to someone else because he doesn't seem to be listening to me. But here are these incredible words by this man that Solomon preserved for us. And I find it interesting. In verse 7, two things I request of you, talking to God, these are the two things, if I can paraphrase, these are two things I need. Have you ever told God what you needed? Well, this man of wisdom said two things I need. Two things I request you, deprive me not before I die. Remove falsehood. And lies far from me. Salah. A'e, don't we all? I want to make sure I don't tell something. I've actually stood before a pulpit and told lies. Boy, I get a look if everybody didn't smile that well. Because I told what had already been told to me. I didn't know it was a lie. But I found out it was and had to come back up at different times. I don't want to lie. I want this very thing. Take all falsehoods from me because I can't stand before because I'm going to be held doubly guilty for lying before God's people. So that is very important. This one is to me. Remove falsehood and lies far from me. Let me stay away from them. And sometimes you got to stay away from people who lie. I have to double check. And that's why I'm on this thing because I read something. Oh, well, that must be true. And then you go and you scroll and you find that. No, that's twisted. That's twisted. And as I said last night in the Sabbath of greeting, there's a little bit of truth to most lies. And that's why we have to watch what we do. Watch what we repeat.

Because God says, you're my children. You know better. You check it out because the things that come out of your mouth need to be what? Pure. Pure. Sacred even. Holy even. And that no lies. Come there. Remove from me falsehood and lies far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches. How many people want that? How many people are standing in line down for the lottery? Do you want to bring you want to bring a scripture to them and say, which which were you? Well, yeah, I would like that too. Then why are you standing in line for 500 million dollars? Because you want riches. You want this. This is the word. Don't. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me. Can I be kind of secure in who I am? I don't need Chateaubriand every night. Feed me with the food allotted to me lest I be full and deny you. And how many times do we see that from the powers that be? From Hollywood, heaven and state here. They have a mansion here, housed by the lake over here, and they don't need God. They don't need God. Right? Lest I be full and deny you and say, who is the Lord?

Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. Phil used to manage you to run a grocery store. Did you have a lot of people that came in and stole? Were they all poor? Some? Some are not. But he's saying, don't let me be poor because I don't want to steal. I don't want to be in such a position, and God doesn't want us in that position. So we must not put ourselves in that position. So I read this section, and can I say, Selah? Because I need to think about those things. I need to think and dwell on those things and ruminate on those things. And as one scripture says, and probably about laying on your bed and ruminate at night. How many of us do that? Do we take it? And wouldn't it be great? It'd be great to wake up in the resurrection and go, I just went to sleep. And the last thing I remember, I was praying to God, thanking him for this day, and talking about tomorrow. What a beautiful thought. Kind of makes you want to have a last thought before you go to bed. Other than, I'm going to get that person tomorrow. Going to get them. That's a little ice-cum. Going to get them. Let's go to Psalm as I begin to have this up and look at my time. Let's go back to Psalm. Psalm 30, if you will. Psalm 30. Did I do that one already? No, that's Proverbs. I got to get back to Psalm. Psalm 30. Because I have a Proverbs 30 and I have a Psalm 30. Psalm 30.

This is the writings of David. You can't find it anyone that disputes this. As a matter of fact, I even tell you when this was written. You know, when it was written, it says in your book what? At the dedication of his house. Except something else had taken place that caused this, not just the dedication of his house. It was almost like a renewal. Because this was a Psalm written because of the plague that came upon Judah in Israel due to David taking a census.

Would that have everlasting consequences? Let's read it. I'll go to Psalm 30 verse 4. Let's say, sing praise to the Lord, you saints of his. Well, that's like he's writing to us right now. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name. My margin says his holiness. For his anger is but a moment. For a moment, his favor is for life. You're going to make mistakes. He's going to be upset with you. You repent. The upset goes away because he knows you're sorry. His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. I think it's kind of pointless to before we go to bed at night. He should be the last thing on our mind and the first thing in the morning. At the first thing in the morning. And I think he's going to be really good with us.

Verse 6. Now, in my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by your favor you have made my mountain stand strong. You hid your face, and I was troubled. Why? Because he did some things that were wrong. He had to come around. I cried out to you, O Lord, and to the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there if is there in my blood when I go down to the pit or into the grave? Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me. Lord, be my helper. Yes, there's going to be valleys. There's going to be hills. There's going to be good days. There's going to be bad days. But he said, I'm in for the ride. I always think about it because we used to have the same when I was a kid, when I was 18, 17, you run around a bunch of guys. I got shotgun! Anybody ever do that? I got shotgun, which means you got up in the front with whoever the right. God has shotgun! He needs to be riding shotgun with us. We should want him right there beside us. So important. So important. Lord, be my helper. And look, there's an exclamation mark there.

Honey, in verse 11, you have turned for me my morning into dancing. Selah. And you know the one thing you know about David? That dude loved to dance. And he didn't care who saw him. That's the old song, dance like no one's watching. Yes. Yes! This is what he looks to God for. You have turned for me my morning into dancing. You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing, praise to you and not be silent. Oh, Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever and ever and ever. Selah. Selah. What a beautiful last one as we go here. The last king we need to hear from. You'll go with me to Daniel. Daniel 4. You'll go with me to Daniel 4. Let's pick up the story in verse 28. He said, All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, Is not this? Oh, is not this great Babylon? I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty. This guy is something, isn't he? This king is something. While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven. King Nebuchadnezzar. God talking to him. This pagan king, God is talking. He's not talking to Daniel anymore. He's talking to him. He said, King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. The kingdom has departed from you, and they shall drive you with men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen. Seven times shall pass over you until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to ever, whomever he chooses. Selah. How many people forget that? Selah? Think on that. He's over everything, every king, every leader.

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass like an oxen. His body was wet with the dew of the heaven until his hair had grown like eagle's feathers, and his nails like bird's claw. That's a very good picture, David. He would pull that up. I couldn't think of anything better than that one. I, sorry, I had to go Selah when I saw that picture. I had to stop and look at it and think about it, because I've always wondered, how did that look? Well, maybe this isn't correct, but I think it's probably pretty close. Verse 34, At the end of the time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me. And I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever and ever. For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He does according to his will in the army of heaven. And among the inhabitants of the earth, no one can restrain his hand or say to him, What have you done? At the same time, my reason returned to me, and the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and noblemen resorted to me. I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, only king who wrote parts of the only pagan king that ever wrote anything in the Bible, only time, now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice, and those who walk in his pride, he is able to put down. Selah. Selah. A word to help you seek first the kingdom of God. Selah. Selah.