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Be Exalted, O God, Above the Heavens!

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
²I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
³He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me. Selah/Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

⁴I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords.

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.

⁶My enemies have set a trap for me.
I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path,
but they themselves have fallen into it. Selah/Interlude

⁷My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
⁸Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
⁹I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
¹⁰For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

Funny – I read this first in the NIV version and it has the familiar word Selah in it twice, I didn’t realize it until I reread it in the NLT version where they had the word Interlude that it was there. But I don’t like Interlude. I like Selah. From research, it’s unclear what the Hebrew word really means, but from sermons and Christian education classes, I remember hearing Peace, Rest, Pause, or Reflect. It’s a break in a song – such as Interlude, so the NLT has the right meaning, but S-e-l-a-h just sounds like p-e-a-c-e stretched out forever; a long breath. I find these days that I have to really work to take Selah in my life.

As I was reading this Psalm I was thinking of the times I stand enthralled at the eagles. The eagles return November through March by the river about 1/2 a mile from my home. They soar majestically, often without effort high in the heavens. Verse 1 says, “I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.”

Recently, I was blessed to see an eagle high in a Cottonwood Tree and get quite close to it. As I slowly walked closer, I enjoyed its ever watchful gaze. I took 10-15 minutes to gradually approach the eagle. I felt like I was enjoying Selah with God and His creation. I was grateful to have my camera and was able to capture several great shots, including the eagle taking off from the tree and soaring away. As he took off, the shadow cast by his wings was huge. To be able to hide in the shadow of God’s wings is beyond comprehension.

To hear the Psalmist say, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth,” fills my heart with similar feelings that I get when I watch the eagles. The magnificence of the incredible eagle is inspiring. How much more should my God be to me? Like the Psalmist continues, “I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”, so too, my heart soars with quiet praise to my God and Creator.

I think the next time I enjoy an eagle soaring, I hope I will remember to take time and exalt God’s holy name above all things.

eagle in flight - web May you find time to exalt Your God and praise Him above the heavens for all He has done for you ~ Faye