Shalom

SHALOM

In Nigeria I grew to appreciate the use of “Shalom!” as a common greeting between Christians. At its best our Alabama “Bless your heart!” might express just a bit of this heartfelt prayer.  I grew to treasure the depth of this beloved greeting shared between one believer and another, or between a Christian leader and God’s People gathered for worship services or weddings. Earlier this year I was reminded of this beautiful practice as I watched a new animated film telling the story of Kind David’s early years. One of the songs Is entitled “Shalom.”

When I feel lost
And so afraid
And shadows have hid the sun away
When my heart is heavy
And it’s hard to pray
I remember what my mother used to say
Shalom
Shalom
Peace be with you wherever you go
Shalom
Shalom
Let this melody begin to bring you home
In desperation
When you’re losing sight
You’ve cried out with everything inside
There is still a shepherd
Even when you hide
Who will pick you up and hold you ’til you find
Shalom
Shalom
Peace be with you wherevеr you go
Shalom
Shalom
Let this melody begin to bring you homе

I believe we all feel like David at times, feeling lost and alone—and how blessed it is to know we have those who welcome us home and offer us Shalom. How much more blessed are we in finding Holy Shalom in our great God and in our Savior Jesus Christ. When we feel most alone, God comes to offer us wholeness, spiritual well-being—a sense of His absolute goodness so that we might live in the midst of Shalom. In fact in establishing His nation, Israel, He gave Moses and Aaron this blessing to pray over His people:

The children of Israel had encountered the power and the righteousness of God at the foot of Mt. Sinai.  He had provided them the Law through Moses. He had prepared them for moving toward the land promised to Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Now, He expresses the sure promise of His care through these words of blessing given to Moses, to be declared over God’s chosen people throughout their journey and beyond. Here is the Loving God who chooses, loves, redeems, transforms, protects, and upholds His people. Here is the God of Shalom—well-being, contentment, fellowship, and deeply abiding faith. 

This blessing establishes God’s Name and His Rule over His people. The name for God here is Yahweh. His name emphasizes His uniqueness as the one true God, both as holy and as personal. So, God is exalted far beyond our comprehension, but He is also personal. He reaches out to His people to draw them to Himself, so He can bless them and make them a blessing among the nations of the earth. They are His people, a people to point the nations throughout the world to His glory. The blessing promises God’s power, the same power they have experienced in the plagues in Egypt. Then they experienced His power in the first Passover, when their first-born sons were saved from the Angel of Death. Next, they experienced this miraculous power as crossed through the parted waters of the sea. In their travels they experienced the provision of His leading through the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. This mighty God’s power had accompanied and kept them. This same God shows His favor upon them providing His Grace all along the way. He looks upon them with the glory of His own Face as He leads them. And so, He gives them Shalom. He gives them peace which transforms the challenges of everyday life into one great adventure. They learn through trust and obedience in Him and Him alone, the absolute goodness of being His Children. 

God’s Purpose is that they will never be alone. He will be with them. He will provide for them. He will lead them. He will uphold them in battle. He will be their source for all they need in every part of their lives individually, and collectively as a nation chosen and blessed by God. 

This incredible blessing applies to us also—those of us who answer God’s Call into His family through our faith in Jesus. Even as He faithfully blessed the Children of Israel throughout their journey to the Promised Land, we are blessed as He accompanies and leads us as we walk with Him in faith toward the Promised Land in New Heaven and New Earth. He is, indeed, our Shalom. We have peace much deeper than we can fully comprehend, whether our days be calm or stormy. We have nothing to fear, even as we follow Him through Jesus, and are led by the Holy Spirit every day.

Coming next week:
We will examine how God’s Shalom
was embodied in the life of Jesus
and how His teachings
offer us this life-changing reality
which transforms our turbulent lives
with His Shalom.