Seeking shalom - 3 September 2024

The Hebrew word “shalom” is a greeting uttered by Jews the world over. It means peace in the broadest sense, but the word encompasses so much more.

It also refers to completeness or wholeness. The idea is that it denotes well-being in every sense. Isn’t that beautiful? Vital really, because increasingly statistics reveal mankind is not well.

This past year, it seemed as though friends and family had been pummelled by illness: some even facing the possibility of impending death. At one stage, it felt as though the bad news simply would not let up. Not to mention wars, and rumours of war, that have characterised the year thus far.

War and peace seem to go together like the binomials salt and pepper, and also garlic and ginger. The usual humdrum of life: humankind always striving for peace, yet woefully falling short. Is your heart troubled? Do you feel afraid? Do you have peace in your life? If not, what is stealing it?

Jesus of Nazareth walked in this world and had this peace, which before he died according to the above text, he gave to his disciples. For followers of Jesus, this is heartening because, while there is no peace in this world, he gives it in a way the world cannot.

Shalom itself means so much more than just the absence of war. It refers to harmony among people and, in another sense, freedom from violence encapsulating the idea of serenity. But far from an ideal, I believe shalom can only truly be experienced when individuals walk closely with the One who has this peace. It is also the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) of a life lived in step with the Spirit.

There was some good news, though, for some of the gravely ill loved ones I shared about. God had heard the supplicatory prayers of many uttered in faith and he graciously healed and delivered. Joyfully, I rediscovered that the same Jesus, who walked in this world millennia ago and healed the sick, still does today.

The same Jesus who said he would give us peace, still does today. God still longs to bless and give us shalom!

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that your Son is the same today, tomorrow and for ever. We praise you for the peace he gives so freely. Amen