As some of you know the RasTa WifeLine group is now up on Facebook so that Sistren can reason with others who visit the blog, and share inspirations, photos, reasoning, ask questions - everything that can't be done on the blogspot. I give thanks to those who have already engaged in reasoning, and I welcome every Sistren to forward in time to come.
Today's post is about a common word RasTafari use in worship. we often call His Majesty Emperor Haile Sellassie the First "Selah." This essay is a summary of how that came to be - and the attached video contains the same word sound.
Sela/Selah is Selassie
One of the greatest
finds in the Scriptures by Rastafari is the direct relationship between the
word Selah and its reference to the
Lord of and in Israel. Our use of Selah is also another tradition that binds us
to the Israelites. The Hebrew use of the word Selah is a melodic instruction of pause (for ensample Psalm 4:4,
52:3) for reflection and Iditation on the Word. However, certain verses which
bear great particulars about the personality and the miraculous or victorious
Works of the Lord in the Book of Psalms[1]
often end with Selah. Emphasis on JAH
is placed by pausing to reflect on the Character and Nature of the God of
Isra’el.
Though not scholastically
proven, in essence Selah is taken by Rastafari to be a word for JAH. This
interpretation of Selah as Selassie was deciphered through
Rastafari’s Dread talk or Iyaric – a language
we believe creates an awareness of the Word Sound Power, by emphasizing its
hidden words, implied sounds and meanings in both negative and positive ways.
This enables us to shed bad thoughts, systems and habits by refraining from the
Words we associate with them or use to give them power over us. We learn the
pure language to talk to JAH and to show love to one another as a Church and
kingdom.
Through such
interpretation, I and I sight Sela to
be contained in the English spelling of the Ethiopian Name “Trinity” or Selassie. The Trinity, Selassie for Rastafari has a double meaning. First there is the Father,
Son and Hola Irit, and second the Prophet Priest and King Melchizedek of Zion.
As His Majesty was baptised the Power
of this Trinity, it is believed that His Ivine Right is to rule with a triple
crown, to represent JAH in flesh. Selah
in Rastafari worship means “Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I is Melchizedek, King of
Peace,” noting that the Amharic word for peace - Selam - also contains sela.
Since Sela or Selah is
linked to the Holy Name and Character of
JAH, in chanting Psalms it becomes a great exultation of JAH and the wondrous
works of the King. “SELAH! (Pause) Selassie I JAH Ras TafarI!” being a common
refrain in Rastafari shows that Selah is best rendered as a Word for calling up
the Power and Name of the Black God of Afrika and Isra’el.
And so, Emperor Haile
Selassie/Sellassie the First is renamed “King
Selah-See-I” or simply “Selah,”
promoting His power in Irit and flesh, and the connection between JAH and
Israel. Every verse referenced here from the Book of Psalms indeed is a
statement of praise, acknowledgement and truth of the Almighty, who revealed
Himself in the lineage of His own peculiar priest-kings that Israel may have
life. These Psalms are divided into groups to better show the nature of Haile
Selassie I as the King of Israel, Brethren, Servant and Lord of Isra’el. One of
the most notable is Psalm 87:6, which speaks of the City of God being in Kush,
where “this Man” was born.
[1] Psalms are
exultations, praises or Ises, a devotional set of writings detailing the core
beliefs of Isra’el.
- Sela/h is the
Name of the King and the Lord Jahovah of Jacob
The Lord shall
count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there [in
Ethiopia]. Selah. (Psalm 87:6)
This is the
generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalm
24:6)
Who is this King
of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm
24:10)
In God we boast
all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. (Psalm
44:8)
And the heavens
shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
(Psalm 50:6)
The Lord of
hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psalm
46:7, 11))
He shall send
from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.
Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. (Psalm
57:3)
Sing unto God,
ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
(Psalm 68:32)
O Lord God of
hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. (Psalm
84:8)
- Selah executed
Judgment on the Nations and Leaders of Babylon, He went to war
The Lord is
known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of
his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. (Psalm 9:16)
Put them in
fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. (Psalm
9:20)
Consume them in
wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in
Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. (Psalm
59:13)
They only
consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless
with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. (Psalm
62:4)
He ruleth by his
power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt
themselves. Selah. (Psalm 66:7)
O God, when thou
wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness;
Selah: (Psalm 68:7)
There brake he
the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
(Psalm 76:3)
When God arose
to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. (Psalm
76:9)
- Sela/h is
Earth’s Rightful Ruler, the Blessed God
I will abide in
thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm
61:4)
All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. (Psalm 66:4)
O let the
nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously,
and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. (Psalm
67:4)
Blessed are they
that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. (Psalm
84:4)
Thy seed will I
establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. (Psalm
89:4)
-Sela/h is the
Redeemer of Israel
I cried unto the
Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill [Ethiopia]. Selah. (Psalm 3:4)
Salvation
belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (Psalm
3:8)
I acknowledge my
sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
(Psalm 32:5)
Trust in him at
all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
Selah. (Psalm 62:8)
God be merciful
unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. (Psalm
67:1)
Blessed be the
Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
(Psalm 68:19)
Thou hast with
thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. (Psalm
77:15)
Thou hast
forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
(Psalm 85:2)
- Sela/h is the
One Whose Holy City and Banners are Representative of Noah and Melchizedek
Glorious
things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. (Psalm 87:3)
Thou
hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of
the truth. Selah.
(Psalm 60:4)
The ensign and banner of the Lord in the Bible is the Messianic King of Judah
as noted in Isaiah 11:10 and 12: And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand for an ensign of the people…And he shall set up an ensign for
the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the
dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The Red Yellow Green of Ethiopia and Afrika on the
whole, represent this banner and the protection of Her children by JAH.
- Sela/h is the
God of the Faithful and the Living
But
God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.
Selah.
(Psalm 49:15)
What
man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from
the hand of the grave? Selah. (Psalm 89:48)
I hope I was clear - I have rewritten this small explanation so many times I can't count. It is simple but yet complex to state.
Bless the Lord, and the Irit of HIM within you! Live unto your personal Zion and be blessed Dawtas of the Most High!
Sis Ila
