River Valley Church Podcast

Episode: Message | Selah Service – Pastor Rob Ketterling

Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Pastor Rob Ketterling

Episode Overview

This special “Selah Service” led by Pastor Rob Ketterling explores the biblical concept of Selah—a word often found in the Psalms—embracing its call to pause, rest, ponder, and reflect on the weighty truths about God amidst life’s battles. Pastor Rob uses Psalm 3 as a framework to teach the church about pausing in prayer, which provides clarity, shifts our perspective, and equips us to withstand the noise and battles of life. The tone merges encouragement and vulnerability, inviting listeners to slow down and deeply consider God’s faithfulness, even in chaos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rediscovering Selah in a Fast-Paced World

• [00:00-06:30]
• Pastor Rob notes our hurried modern culture, contrasting it with older, slower ways of life: “How many remember the days when you had to be slow?...There was a time when we slowed down. And it’s good for us right now to slow down.”
• He introduces Selah as a mystery word—likely meaning pause, rest, ponder, lift up, or exalt, and notes: “Wherever you see the word ‘Selah’ in the Bible, it’s used after a weighty statement about God… something that demands us to stop and just ponder this.”
• Notable quote:

  “The Amplified translation says “pause and calmly think of that.” I think that’s a beautiful thing.” (Pastor Rob, [03:00])

• Selah appears 74 times in the Bible (in Psalms and Habakkuk).

2. The Context of Psalm 3 and the Necessity of Prayer

• [06:30–15:00]
• Pastor Rob explains Psalm 3: David’s life is in crisis—rebellion, enemies multiplying, and voices declaring it’s “over” for him.
• Prayer as a First Response:
  “Psalm 3 is saying, Prayer is our first cause. For many of us, it’s like we’ve tried everything else. And then we get to prayer.” (Pastor Rob, [07:20])
• He encourages the congregation to pause, support each other, and be attentive: “A hug and encouragement, just letting them know you’re praying for them…so valuable.”
• Selah after Psalm 3:2:

  “When you have many problems…voices…saying, ‘There’s no hope for you’…he says, stop. Like they’re saying, ‘There’s no salvation in my God.’ That’s something I gotta stop and think about. Is that true? That’s not true.”
  (Pastor Rob, [10:15])

3. The Power of the Pause: Who Defines Your Reality?

• [15:01–21:00]
• David turns to God amid chaos, “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me… my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3)
• Pastor Rob emphasizes God as a 360-degree shield:

  “You, oh Lord, are a shield about me. I don’t have a shield just in front of me. You are a 360 shield around me…He’s a 360 shield around you!” (Pastor Rob, [16:00])

• Encouragement for the discouraged:

  “God knows what you’re going through, and he’s the lifter of your head. And he’s right now saying, ‘Look up, look up, look up. I’ve got you.’” (Pastor Rob, [17:10])

• The Critical Question:

  “Reflect on which voice will define your reality…Is it the voice of the world…or is it the voice that says, ‘I’m answering you from the holy hill. I’ve got you.’”
  (Pastor Rob, [18:15])

4. Breakthrough after the Battle: Living in Confidence

• [21:01–29:00]
• Even amid unresolved battles, David declares:

  “‘I laid down and slept. I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands…’” (Psalm 3:5)

• Pastor Rob interprets:

  “You shut the mouth of my accusers…You punched them in the face and they had to be quiet. God, you shut up my enemies. Wow.” (Pastor Rob, [22:48])

• He shares his personal crisis—praying for his brother after a car crash:

  “In the midst of the battle, I could just feel God say, ‘I’ve heard your prayer…I’ve got it under control…’ And in that moment…the prayer had changed everything.” (Pastor Rob, [25:30])

• On praying and gaining peace before the answer comes:

  “He was still in a coma…but in that moment…I was like, I’m living in this [confidence]. The prayer had changed my perspective.” (Pastor Rob, [26:30])

5. Application and Invitation: Pausing in Our Own Battles

• [29:01–End]
• Pastor Rob applies the Psalm broadly—to family, work, financial, health, addiction, and cultural battles.
• “There could be financial pressures that are on you…where are you, God? You need to pause right now and pray and reflect on God’s goodness and realize he’s gonna get you through this.” ([30:40])
• Calls for testimonies: those set free from addiction are invited to raise their hands, visibly testifying to God’s power.
• Final reflection:

  “The voice of the enemy will not win, Selah. We pause and reflect…and calmly consider that those are lies from the enemy. When we pray, God, we know you hear us…You are a shield—360.”
  (Pastor Rob, [33:00])

• Encourages prayer for all needs:

  “I just pray, right now…we just pause to say, speak to us…The voice of the enemy will not win. I am stopping. I am pausing. I am calmly reflecting. God, you are in charge of this situation…Thank you, Lord.” (Pastor Rob, [35:00])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pause and Calmly Think:
  “The Amplified translation says ‘pause and calmly think of that.’ I think that’s a beautiful thing.” – Pastor Rob, [03:00]
• Which Voice Defines Your Reality?:
  “Reflect on which voice will define your reality...Is it the voice of the world, the enemy, fear, discouragement...or is it [God’s voice] from the holy hill?” – Pastor Rob, [18:15]
• God is Your 360 Shield:
  “You, oh Lord, are a shield about me...you are a 360 shield around me!” – Pastor Rob, [16:00]
• Prayer Changes Perspective:
  “He was still in a coma...But in that moment...the prayer had changed everything.” – Pastor Rob, [26:30]
• Victory and Testimony:
  “God sets people free. That’s what he does.” – Pastor Rob, [32:45]
• Final Encouragement:
  “The voice of the enemy will not win, Selah. We pause and reflect...God, you are in charge of this situation.” – Pastor Rob, [35:00]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | 00:00 | Introduction to Selah, context of slowing down | | 06:30 | Psalm 3 context: David’s crisis, the role of prayer | | 10:15 | Exploring the first Selah in Psalm 3—pausing under pressure| | 16:00 | God as “360 shield”—shifting perspective during battle | | 18:15 | Choosing which voice will define your reality | | 22:48 | “You shut the mouth of my accusers”—God silences enemies | | 25:30 | Personal testimony: breakthrough in prayer for his brother | | 30:40 | Modern-day application: family, work, health, addiction | | 32:45 | Testimonies: visible declarations of God’s deliverance | | 35:00 | Summary, invitation to prayer, final encouragement |

Summary

Pastor Rob’s Selah Service is a heartfelt invitation to resist the rush of modern life, to intentionally pause and reflect on God’s faithfulness using the pattern of Psalm 3. He urges listeners to choose prayer as their first response, to allow God’s voice—not voices of doubt or fear—to define reality, and to claim God as their “360 shield” in every battle. The service weaves together biblical insights, personal testimony, and practical application, concluding with a communal moment of prayer and testimony—a call to experience breakthrough and victory through the holy pause of Selah.