Shalom
Life in the Kingdom: Shalom
Life in the Kingdom: Shalom
Pastor Richard Hovey
Pastor Richard Hovey
“Division in relationships is inevitable in a divided world, as divided people who are at odds with our own deepest desires. This is the reality that we wish to escape through our pain-lessening diversions. Sabbath is not a diversion; it is a radical entry into shalom.”
“Division in relationships is inevitable in a divided world, as divided people who are at odds with our own deepest desires. This is the reality that we wish to escape through our pain-lessening diversions. Sabbath is not a diversion; it is a radical entry into shalom.”
Dan Allender
The Hebrew word Shalom is often thought of to mean peace, which is not a wrong understanding of the word – but it has much more depth than perhaps this one word can hold. Woodley, in Shalom and the Community of Creation, suggests that defining Shalom as peace is correct “only if you consider it correct to call the Grand Canyon ‘a large crack in the ground’ or the Pacific Ocean ‘a large pool of water.’” Woodley goes on to explain: “Not only does shalom express much more than ‘peace,’ but the kind of peace shalom represents is active and engaged, going far beyond the mere absence of conflict.”
The Hebrew word Shalom is often thought of to mean peace, which is not a wrong understanding of the word – but it has much more depth than perhaps this one word can hold. Woodley, in Shalom and the Community of Creation, suggests that defining Shalom as peace is correct “only if you consider it correct to call the Grand Canyon ‘a large crack in the ground’ or the Pacific Ocean ‘a large pool of water.’” Woodley goes on to explain: “Not only does shalom express much more than ‘peace,’ but the kind of peace shalom represents is active and engaged, going far beyond the mere absence of conflict.”
Randy Woodley
“Scripture is a story of the restoration of shalom. Scripture texts declaring God as creator reveal God’s immense love for human beings made in the divine image. God is revealed as caregiver (shepherd) for human beings throughout the Bible. God makes covenant with Israel and in compassion rescues this particular people from slavery and genocide in Egypt. God establishes laws for Israel that in numerous ways codify respect for the sanctity of human life and are designed to ensure justice and human well-being. God is treated as Israel’s only true king and the sovereign before whom every Israelite, even the king, must bow. Social justice and peace depend on acknowledgement of God and obedience to God’s will.”
“Scripture is a story of the restoration of shalom. Scripture texts declaring God as creator reveal God’s immense love for human beings made in the divine image. God is revealed as caregiver (shepherd) for human beings throughout the Bible. God makes covenant with Israel and in compassion rescues this particular people from slavery and genocide in Egypt. God establishes laws for Israel that in numerous ways codify respect for the sanctity of human life and are designed to ensure justice and human well-being. God is treated as Israel’s only true king and the sovereign before whom every Israelite, even the king, must bow. Social justice and peace depend on acknowledgement of God and obedience to God’s will.”
David Gushee
Practicing Peace
Practicing Peace
“Sometimes when we are really tired, we long desperately just for some ‘peace and quiet’ – by which we mean the absence of hassle and conflict. Unfortunately, however, because we use the word peace in such a connotation, we have let the word degenerate into simply another designation for relief. God wants much more for us. The peace he wants to give us goes far beyond merely an absence of conflict. . . The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, begins in reconciliation with God and continues in reconciliation with our sisters and brothers – even our enemies. Moreover, shalom designates being at peace with ourselves, health, wealth, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment, tranquility, and – to sum it all up – wholeness.”
“Sometimes when we are really tired, we long desperately just for some ‘peace and quiet’ – by which we mean the absence of hassle and conflict. Unfortunately, however, because we use the word peace in such a connotation, we have let the word degenerate into simply another designation for relief. God wants much more for us. The peace he wants to give us goes far beyond merely an absence of conflict. . . The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, begins in reconciliation with God and continues in reconciliation with our sisters and brothers – even our enemies. Moreover, shalom designates being at peace with ourselves, health, wealth, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment, tranquility, and – to sum it all up – wholeness.”
Marva Dawn