Peace / Shalom

The Hebrew word, shalom, is often translated into English as "peace."  And, if you are at all like me, you probably tend to think of "peace" as referring to "the absence of war or conflict."  While the concept of "shalom" includes that, it is a far richer, more encompassing concept than that.  You see, the Hebrew concept of "shalom" implies wholeness, fullness, health, rest, completeness, harmony, and even perfection.

Shalom can be used both to say "hello" and "goodbye."  I've read that saying "shalom" to someone (whether as a greeting or a goodbye) is actually like saying, "May it be for you as God intended it to be."  Or, "May the fullness of the Kingdom of God be upon you."  You see, when we wish someone "peace" we aren't just wishing them any "peace."  We are wishing them God's peace.  Heavenly peace.

Last night my father told me about a painting he heard described as a child.  It was a painting of a dove nestled safely in the cleft of a rock in the midst of a storm.  He told me that though he never saw this painting, the description of it left a lasting image of "peace" in his mind.

Here are just a couple images I found on google that reminded me of the image that my dad has carried with him for so many years.  While none of them depict the storm raging around the dove (the symbol of peace and also the symbol of the Holy Spirit), it is easy to imagine.

How is it that we can find and experience peace in the midst of the storms of life?  In the midst of the pain and heartache and chaos (and the list goes on, see my previous post), how can we experience peace?

A state of shalom is what the world was in prior to Adam and Eve's disobedience.  Through their disobedience, shalom was shattered.  And ever since, God has been seeking to put the world to rights -- to bring it back to a state of shalom, of wholeness.  Shalom was shattered because Adam and Eve chose to distrust and disobey God.

The words of the prophet Isaiah found in Isaiah 9:6 points to the birth of Jesus, the one who would be called the "Prince of Peace."

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And yet the Prince of Peace would later say, 

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."  (Matthew 10:34)

What gives?

If wishing someone "the fullness of the Kingdom of God" or "that it may be for you as God intended it to be" sheds any light on this, it probably has something to do with fully trusting and being obedient to God's will!  In my earlier study and sermon on worry, I noted that the Greek word for worry implies having a divided mind.  I know from personal experience that when one worries, it is difficult, if not impossible to experience peace.   When you think about it, it is pretty obvious.  If your heart and mind are divided you will not feel whole!  Likewise, when one is not doing all that one can to experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God (ie., not doing the will of God), it is difficult -- no impossible -- to experience true peace.  Just as shalom was shattered through distrust and disobedience, it can only be restored through trusting in God and being obedient to God.

And this brings me back to Philippians 4:4-7 which I considered last week:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

In the midst of the storms of life, we may just want relief and shelter, but God promises us so much more.  God promises us "God's peace" -- a peace which transcends understanding, a peace that is beyond our capacity to comprehend or imagine.  And it is a peace, a wholeness, which will guard our hearts and minds.  It is a peace which will bind up our divided hearts and minds.

Is it possible that our greatest pain can become our greatest peace?  If in our times of greatest pain, we place ourselves in the cleft of the rock that is our God, and trust in God's provision and protection, then I want to believe that any pain, no matter how great or deep, can be transformed by God into a sense of peace that transcends our capacity to comprehend and surpasses whatever we can even begin to imagine or hope for.

Shalom