Selah: Pause and Reflect

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2021]

As previously mentioned, the thoughts that trigger these reflections can come from a variety of sources – news items, local events, something I read and, of course, from the Bible. Often, these thoughts take shape during the small hours of the night when it is difficult to sleep. The world outside is quiet, disturbed only the occasional sound of a bird on the hunt, and thoughts can be processed and prayed through without distraction.

The initial idea then requires further refinement and research. Central to this research is the text of the Bible itself, and in doing so I have come across verses that have themselves triggered a train of thought, not necessarily as the original writer intended! Here are a few, apparently unconnected, examples:

The lookout reported, ‘ … The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi – he drives like a maniac.’ [2 Kings 9:20 NIVUK]

Is your driving so bad that it can be recognised at a distance? Is that how you want to be remembered? Maybe it’s safer to walk but that still have its perils, especially if the paths are icy.

If the salt loses its flavour … it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. [Matthew 5 v13 NKJV]

Did Jesus anticipate that we would indeed be throwing salt on our footpaths and roads?

Historically, we have honoured the memory of certain citizens by naming streets after them. As generations pass these street names often become the only memory that remains. We know about Victoria and Albert but who can recall Kelsey, Ramsey or Anderson?^[1] The Bible has something to say about this too:

Memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name on the street. [Job 18 v17 AMP]

Job’s friend Bildad was talking about the fate of the wicked, those ungodly people who do not know or recognize or honour God and whose legacy disappears into the dusty archives of time, but the same applies to us all.

For a person may labour with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. [Ecclesiastes 2 v21 NIVUK]

So what is the point of mentioning these verses? Some of them are familiar, some largely forgotten, some difficult to understand but every one is a part of the collection of gems that we have in our Bibles. On that basis alone, they are worthy of our attention.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[2 Timothy 3 v16-17]

Only that which is done for Christ will last – will your good works survive the test of time?

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[1] Revisit your heritage!
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Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author