Shalom | From the Inside Out

Posts Tagged ‘Shalom’

The Sum of All God’s Blessings

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, Peace, Uncategorized, tagged John 10:10, John 14:27, Peace, Shalom on March 9, 2023| 27 Comments »

Years ago Steve and I reveled in an eight-day tour of Israel where we visited many biblical sites: the ruins of ancient Jericho, Hezekiah’s tunnel, the church honoring Jesus’ birthplace, a hillside where he likely preached the Sermon on the Mount, the pool of Bethesda where he healed a cripple, and many more.

The excavation at the Pool of Bethesda

Along the way, guides, hosts, staff, and others greeted us with, “Shalom aleichem” (“Peace be unto you”)!

For thousands of years, this phrase has been a beloved greeting and farewell among the Jewish people. It first appears in the Bible, when Joseph’s steward used the phrase to reassure the brothers that all would be well (Genesis 43:23 NKJV).

In the New Testament Jesus greeted the disciples with “Shalom aleichem” when he first appeared to them after his resurrection (John 20:26).

Perhaps you’ve heard that shalom conveys more than the absence of conflict. It includes an overall sense of contentment and well-being.

The word appears over 200 times in scripture. In the New International Version, the word shalom is translated 70 different ways. Talk about a multi-faceted word!

The nuances of meaning create delight at every turn. In fact, one writer asserts that shalom is the sum of all God’s blessings [1].

Its meaning includes:

a state of calm without anxiety or stress, yet characterized by vigor and vitality

fullness and quality of life, prosperity of soul, and right relationship with God

completeness, harmony, and tranquility

When shalom resides in our hearts we experience joyful wonder, oneness with our Creator, and rest for our souls. Shalom includes wholeness, God’s goodness, and total satisfaction.

This is the abundant life Jesus talked about [2]–the way life ought to be.

But where do I find this shalom? someone may ask.

It’s not found; it finds us when we come to Jesus[3], the one who said:

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be afraid.

[Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]
John 14:27 AMP

Read the verse again and replace peace with shalom [4], keeping in mind all its shades of meaning. Did your heart fill with even more gratitude for this precious gift?

God even makes it possible for us to multiply shalom so that it permeates every nook of our minds, hearts, and souls:

Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being]

be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God

and of Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 1:2 AMP

And what knowledge of God and great thoughts of Christ might foster overflowing shalom?

Jesus is our light of confidence and strength, even in the darkness of distress [5]

Living by God’s wise ways makes it possible to participate in Christ’s fullness of joy [6]

Jesus gives rest to those who come to him with their cares [7]

Through the power of prayer, God provides peace of mind [8]

Out of God’s glorious riches he supplies prosperity of soul—far more valuable than anything this world offers [9]

He satisfies the hungry, longing soul with good things [10]

Of course, this is just the short list. But as we multiply the affirmations of such absolutes, we’ll develop a strong core of shalom at the center of our beings.

* * * * * * * * * *

Prince of Peace, how foolish I am to ignore the sum of all your blessings, SHALOM. You alone enable me to live securely in perfect and constant tranquility as I focus on you and live by your wisdom. You alone provide SHALOM at all times, in every way. Help me to enter into your rest.

(Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 4:8 GWT, Isaiah 26:3 AMP,

Proverbs 3:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:16)