Shalom, Shalom

[Eph 2:14; Rom 5:1; Phil 4:6–7; Col 3:15]

My wife, Deb, participates in a world-wide prayer call every Wednesday morning. As thousands of believers sign in to the prayer call, I hear the greetings, “Shalom, Shalom” from many states and countries. The host of the call, Billye Brim, says that shalom is “nothing missing, nothing broken.”

This Hebrew word shalom,^[H7965] is a common Hebrew greeting. It is equivalent to the Greek word for peace,^[G1515] which appears over ninety times in the New Testament. Peace is, “a state of tranquility; the opposite of rage and war.” Shalom, however, means not so much the opposite of war, but the opposite of any disturbance in the tranquility of God’s people. So when Paul uses this word for example, in Ephesians 2:14.

Eph 2:14 (ESV) –For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

When Paul said, “For [Christ] is our peace”—he is saying that because of Jesus, we have tranquility and harmony.

Christ is actually peace itself. The most literal translation of Ephesians 2:14 is, “For He Himself is the peace of us.”

Men hold “peace-talks,” where they try to “achieve” peace, “promote” peace, and “enact” peace. But the Lord Jesus Christ is peace. It’s also significant that Paul did not use the Greek word eirenopoios,^[G1518] which means “peacemaker.” What a great truth! There are many peacemakers today, those who try in vain to bring peace to the world. But the Lord Jesus is far more than a “peacemaker,” He is peace. This is further indicated by the fact that the word “peace” is preceded by the definite article (“the”). Christ is “the peace,” the one and the only peace there is.

War. We see it in the news constantly. Over the past 3,400 years, mankind has experienced only 268 years of peace – just eight percent of recorded history. Historians are unsure of the actual number of people killed in war, but some estimate it is up to one billion. War is an integral part of who we are. Physical battles take place every day on this planet, but the unseen conflict is what is really at the heart of what we are seeing happen in the world.¹

Why can’t man ever achieve peace outside of Christ? Because there isn’t any peace outside of Christ!

Let’s look at Romans 5:1, and Philippians 4:6–7.

Rom 5:1 (ESV) –Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil 4:6-7 (ESV) – [6] do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

It looks like two kinds of peace are indicated by prepositions. Peace with God, and the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds.

Colossians 3:15 commands us to, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

Col 3:15 (ESV) –And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

We were called into the body of Christ so that peace could rule our hearts.

Confession:

Christ is “the peace,” the one and the only peace there is. My heart is under the authority of the peace of Messiah and His anointing! Thank you, Lord, that we were called to shalom in the body of Christ.

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and I know when that happens Jesus will be here. Shalom, Shalom from northern Indiana, United States of America.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond

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¹Giammona, Col. David J. and Troy Anderson. The Military Guide to Armageddon (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2021), 23.