Shalom

I've never been to Israel, but I've heard people greet one another with "Shalom" like we great one another in the U.S. with "Hi". I knew that Shalom meant peace, and I like the idea of wishing a person "peace". But this week in my Old Testament class, I found out "Shalom" means so much more.

A word study of the Hebrew word "shalom" reveals more of its deeper meaning. Peace is a part of its meaning, but it also includes: "completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord." Wow, that's quite a word!

With this in mind, consider the blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace (Shalom)."

The blessing is wonderful all by itself. It's when God told Moses to have Aaron use it to bless His people. It's been put to music and is often heard in benedictions. But think of it with the more descriptive meaning of Shalom.

...May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord.

God wants to give us so much more than we can even imagine. He wants what's best for us. He is working Shalom in us though our Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) both now and until we see Him face to face.

What better hello or goodbye could we give one another than "Shalom"...pronouncing God's best over each other.

Isn't that good news?

Shalom!