Yahweh Shalom - He is my Peace!

______________________________________________________________

.

This week we will look at the name Yahweh Shalom - the Lord is Peace. In her book, "Praying the Name of God," Ann Spangler writes: "Shalom is a Hebrew word, so much richer in its range of meanings than the English word "peace," which usually refers to the absence of outward conflict or a state of inner calm. The concept of shalom includes these ideas but goes beyond them, meaning "wholeness," "completeness," "finished word," "perfection," "safety," or "wellness." Shalom comes from living in harmony with God. The fruit of that harmony is harmony with others, prosperity, health, satisfaction, soundness, wholeness, and well-being. When you pray to Yahweh Shalom, you are praying to the source of all peace. No wonder his Son is called the Prince of Peace."

_______________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 3073
Translated in the KJV - Jehovahshalom

Hebrew Word: ‏יהוה שָׁלוֹם‎

Transliteration: yhwh shālôm

Phonetic Pronunciation:yeh-ho-vaw' shaw-lome'
Root: from and

Cross Reference:

Part of Speech: n pr loc

Vine's Words: None

.

Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: Jehovahshalom 1 [Total Count: 1] from (Yehovah) and (shalowm); Jehovah (is) peace; Jehovah-Shalom, a symbolical name of an altar in Palestine :- Jehovah-shalom.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Lexical Aids, Complete Word Study Old Testament, AMG Publishers, Zodhaites,

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3068. Yehōwāh; the covenant name of God most prominently known in connection with His relationship with the nation of Israel; also known as the Tetragrammaton. It was never pronounced by Jews, who generally substituted syn. such as ‘adhōnāy (136). The name is found with reference to God's dealings with men before the flood (Gen. 2:4, 5; 6:3), during the patriarchal period (Gen. 15:1; 27:7; 49:18), as well as during the period of the Law (Ex. 20:2; Deut. 6:4).

-------------------------------------------------------------------

7965. Shālōm; this masc. noun originates from shālām (7999). It means health, security, tranquility (Job 21:9), welfare (e.r., asking about the welfare of someone in a greeting, Gen. 37:14; 1 Sam. 17:18; 2 Sam. 11:7, 2 Kgs. 10:13; Esth. 2:11), good condition, success, comfort; peace (the opposite of war, Lev. 26;6; Judg. 4:17; 1 Kgs. 2:5), offering terms of peace (Deut. 20:11), making peace with someone (Josh. 9:15; Is. 27:5), a peaceful man (Ps. 37:37), words of peace (Deut. 2:26), salvation; salutation (of departure, 1 Sam. 1:17, 20:42; 2 Sam. 15:9 [cf. Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50]); (as an adj.) well, peaceful, whole secure, safe, happy, friendly (cf. Ps. 55:20), healthy, sound (used of the body, Gen. 43:27; 1 Sam. 25;6; 2 Sam. 17:3; 20:9; Job 5:24; Ps. 38:3; Is. 26:3); (as a part.) wholeness (Ps. 69:22), safety, soundness, helath (1 Kgs. 5:21; 9:11, 17, 22), concord, friendship (Ps. 41:9; Jer. 20:10; 38:22; Obad. 1:7), those who speak in a friendly way (Ps. 28:3 [cf. Esth. 9:30]), those who seek peace in full number (when used mathematically, Jer. 13:19); to encourage one who is fearful, to reassure him that everything is all right (Gen. 43:23; Judg 6:23; 19:20; Dan. 10:19). Shālōm is clearly depicted as a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness, on the part of Abraham's ancestors (Gen. 15:15). It is a sense of well being. In Gen. 26:29 it means to be unharmed or unhurt. the "friend of my peace" (KJV) of Ps. 41:9 denoted a very close, trusted, familiar friend. Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus chose to be an apostle, treacherously fulfilled prophecy. As so, shālōm is a harmonious state of sould and mind, both externally and internally (Ps. 4:8). Deut. 20:11; Judg. 4:17; and Jer. 9:8 demonstrate that it is a prosperous relationship between two parties or more. The "Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6) is the Messiah. He was destined to usher ina government of peace (Is. 9:7). The new covenant would be one of shālōm (Ezek. 37:26). The Sept. used eirénē (1515, NT), eirēnikos (1516, NT), sōtēría (4991, NT), and hugiaínō (5198, NT). Though shālōm can mean the absence of strife, it usually is much more. It expresses completeness, harmony, and fulfillment. to wish one shālōm implies a blessing (2 Sam. 15:27), but to withhold it implies a curse (1 Kgs. 2;6). In modern Israel the greeting is "Māh shlomkha?" ("What is your peace?" or "How are your doing?"). Jesus said, "My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you" (John 14:27). Here Jesus was defining to radically different conceptions of peace. The only true source of peace is God. (Ps. 85:8 [cf. 1Chr. 22:9, 10]). To the believer, Christ is his peace (Eph. 2:14).
.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, Victor Books, Walvoord and Zuck, 1985. p. 223.
.

5. THE LAW OF THE PRIESTLY BLESSING

(6:22-27)
.

____6:22-27. In pronouncing God's favor on the people, the priest was to use a formula for blessing. This beautiful blessing may be only a model, as the so-called "Lord's Prayer" is a model for prayer, but its purpose is clear: it communicates the desire of the LORD to invest His people with His name. The name of the Lord is tantamount to the Lord Himself so that this blessing becomes a petition that God might live among His people and meet all their needs. He alone can bless His people, keep them, look on them with favor (make His face shine and turn His face toward them), be gracious to them, and give them peace.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.

From these definitions we find some very interesting truths presented:
.

First of all, the covenant we exist under is a covenant of Peace. Not one of physical peace necessarily, but one of Spiritual peace. The kind of peace that brings wholeness, fulfillment and calm to any circumstance - no peace by the world's standards, but peace in an absolute sense.

.

In August, 2005, my cousin gave me my birthday gift. She said she had been looking for the right gift for me since my birthday in June and had not found it, but then at church the previous week she had hear the song about "sippin' from the saucer." Later that same week she saw the tea cup in a store and knew that it was for me. Sherry explained that I should always remember to sip from the saucer of my cup rather than drink directly from the cup because I could run the risk of drinking it dry. She was talking about the Holy Spirit, about not quenching the Spirit with my insatiable desire to do more and more for the Lord. She said by sipping from the saucer, I would always drink from the overflow of the Spirit in my life and never run the risk of drinking the cup dry.
.

This gift and translation drove me headlong into the Bible searching out every Scripture and every word that could be used to explain "overflow." I looked up much: abundance, overflow, and much more. The one thread of common truth that resonated in all the Old and New Testament passages, as well as the Greek and Hebrew words I studied was "super abundance."
.

Now I don't know about you, but when I had previously thought about abundance as a concept... The picture was a life full of prosperity looking things. Good family, lots of "stuff," and money... Things that make us look good to others but not necessarily to God. As I asked God to show me what this term "super abundance" meant to Him one single phrase began to resonate - it started in the definitions I studied, in the commentaries I perused and became a resounding voice in my head. "Super Abundance is living in a place where whatever God provides is enough to sustain me, no matter what that looks like."
.

This is how I see this peace. A peace in spite of rather than connected to the circumstances of my life. A few weeks after this gift and study of "super abundance" came into my life, I faced the single most difficult challenge I have ever encountered. My son would be involved in an auto accident that would leave him a coma clinging to his life by a thread. And, after 8 days we would have to surrender him to God in Heaven as his body succumbed to the injuries he suffered.
.

On the way to the hospital that hot August afternoon all I could think was: "Lord, You promised to be my strength and my peace, and You are going to have to be because I can't do this without you." The prevailing comment I received back from others was: "We can't believe you are holding together as well as you are." I was a living, breathing testimony of the power of Jehovahshalom to deliver me in spite of my circumstances.
.
Having peace with God is not about peaceful circumstances, it is about peace in spite of our circumstances - God is our peace, and a truly peaceful existence born of our faith and relationship in God alone.

.

Now to the Scriptures:
.

God's peace brings peace to our homes and our land. We do not ever have to be afraid. He removes the threats and keeps the destroyer from our families, our homes and our lands. He reveals to us that numbers do not matter, that might does not bring victory, but instead it is God who brings both victory and peace to us. The Battle belongs to Him and so does our peace.
.
We have peace and confidence because our God is completely trustworthy, we dwell safely in the shelter of His presence and our relationship with Him is a refuge for our lives. We will lie down and sleep in peace with the Lord at the helm of our lives. He alone brings peace.
.

Those who belong to the Lord have the promise of unyeilding and impenetrable strength and peace. It is a blessing of God that we live in a peace brought about by the strength and power of God. It is a benefit that belongs to the children of God, His people. In the book of James, we find that often times we don't have what we need, what even God has promised because we have not asked to receive it. Think of that, God makes promises throughout the Bible for His children and His people. But, how often in life do we take Him at His Word, believe Him and His promises for us as His people. Do we honestly believe the Lord will provide us with a peace, a true peace that passes all understanding? Or, do we just believe that we will have relative peace dependent on our feelings and circumstances in the moment? Miraculous peace is what God calls us to, not just the peace of the moment - but a spiritual rest that brings a physical rest and peace to our bodies, our spirits and our souls. PEACE, Be Still.
.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a state of unrest or without peace because we are living in disobedience. God is working something out in our lives that He needs for us to deal with, creating in us a desire for not only peace, but also for obedience. It spurs us to ask for peace, to crave it, pursue it and go after it with everything we have. Seek peace and pursue it through obedience.
.

When we love God's Word, and it becomes a part of who we are, how we think and how we live - nothing can shake us or pull us away from the God of our peace. He becomes the source of everything, the steadfast calm in the midst of great storms and the stabilizing force that keeps our lives righted and on the right path. It brings us a great and abiding peace.
.
Not only does God take the pain and anguish in the lives of His people seriously, but He also takes the overlooking of those wounds seriously. He is not pleased when those who are called to minister overlook the wounds of His people and instead tell them they should be at peace when there is indeed no peace to be had. We should be the kind of ministers who not only care for and treat the wounds of others spiritually, physically and emotionally as well as be ministers of peace - peacemakers not just peace-sayers.
.

For the believer in Christ we do not find peace apart from the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sends in Christ's name who brings to us everything that Christ promised in His ministry here on earth. Peace indeed is an attribute of the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus said that He leaves us a peace not of this world, but a peace that transcends this world and its troubles. We are not to fear or to fret away our lives without peace. We have the assurance of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit to bring us Peace in this life and to prepare us for the life to come. Our God is greater than anything we face. We just have to be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:11)
.

As you weight the word in Philippians 4 this week, note everything in this passage that is a key to living in PEACE. Hope your week is blesssed and you experience the peace of God that transcends our understanding and comprehension. His Peace be with YOU! Blessings.

Philippians (NIV) .
Chapter 4

.
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren,

my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

.

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be

of the same mind in the Lord.

.

3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these

women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also,

and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in

the Book of Life.

.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

.

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand.

.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer

and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests

be made known to God;

.

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue

and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

.

9 The things which you learned and received and

heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at

last your care for me has flourished again; though you

surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned

in whatever state I am, to be content:

.

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.

Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be

full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

.

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.

.

15 Now you Philippians know also that in the

beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia,

no church shared with me concerning giving and

receiving but you only.

.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid

once and again for my necessities.

.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit

that abounds to your account.

.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having

received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you,

a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,

well pleasing to God.

.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according

to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

.

20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

The brethren who are with me greet you.

.

22 All the saints greet you, but especially

those who are of Caesar's household.

.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.