Shalom

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Shalom.

As we continue our series on The Fruit Of The Spirit  today I want to talk about a word that I was not familiar with until a few years ago.  I had heard it before and knew it was a Hebrew greeting but I had no idea of the richness in the full meaning of this Hebrew word. I had no idea that behind the real meaning of this word is His peace. When Jewish people say Shalom to you they are extending peace to you. They are blessing you.

I have a special Bible given to me by one of my closest friends. It is a Jewish Bible called, One New Man. It’s purpose is to help bring Jewish believers and non-Jewish believers together. In the glossary section of this Bible is the definition of Shalom. It is beautiful and I want to share it with you today.

“Shalom cannot be translated into English with a single word. Shalom comes from Shalem meaning to be complete. When there is Shalom, there is tranquility, justice, sufficient food, clothing, housing. There is a Divine health, with no sickness. Shalom means an absence of: disorder, injustice, bribery, corruption, conflict, lack, hatred, abuse, violence, pain, suffering, immorality, and all other negative forces. A rabbi wrote that Shalom means ”No good thing is withheld.”  Therefore, when we pray for the Shalom of Jerusalem, we are praying that there will not be any injustice, disorder, strife, violence, poverty, sickness, abuse, accidents, homelessness, pain, hunger, and more.”   

In Numbers 6:24-26 we find The Aaronic Blessing. The website hebrew4christians.com  tells us a little about this blessing.  The priests would bless the people each morning. It is important to note that the Lord didn’t command “the priests” to bless the people using their own words, but The Lord Himself gave them the words they were to use to bless the people with. The Lord prefaced His instructions with, “Thus shall you bless”.

I am explaining all this so that we can see how good and gracious is our Lord! Remember according to Galatians 3:14, believers today receive the same blessings that were given to Abraham;

“Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”

So, as we read this priestly blessing we can rejoice because it is for us today as well. The Ancient Hebrew Research Center explains what this blessing really means for us with the Hebraic interpretation of the Aaronic Blessing.  I want to leave you with this blessing today from Yahweh, the Lord God Himself.

YHWH will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection.

YHWH will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will give you comfort and sustenance.

YHWH will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

***YHWH is YAHWEH

Be mindful of Shalom today.  This peace is yours. But like anything that is ours, if we don’t use it we miss the benefits of having it. Let His peace wash over you, let it soothe your hurts and heal your past. Let Shalom make you aware of His  presence today. Believe that Jesus died to give you peace. Don’t take for granted what you have, treat it like the priceless gift that it is.  Look for people today that need Jesus, our Shalom, and share it with them. This gift is too good to keep to yourself. 

Living free and in peace,

Rene’

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Rene' Collins

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