Shalom Carries a Load
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
I am amazed at the amount of stuff people can carry on bikes and motor scooters. Scenes like this are typical in many countries -- the lone entrepreneur using the only means of transportation they have to get the job done. I call this enterprising resilience. They can do it because they have to!
The Hebrew word shalom carries a heavy load, too. While the word shalom in the Bible is usually translated into the English word peace, it bursts with at least 9 complex and nuanced meanings. Interestingly, these 9 meanings cluster into three main themes:
- Upward -- shalom that expresses right relationship with God;
- Outward -- shalom that characterizes relationships with others; and,
- Inward -- shalom that describes a personal state, which can be both spiritual and physical.
We'll explore the 9 meanings of shalom in coming conversations here, but for now keep this big, all-encompassing definition of shalom in mind --
Shalom is the state in which things are as God has intended them to be.
Shalom is the Swiss Army knife of biblical words -- crammed with useful, practical tools and insights to describe God's intended ideal. Both the word, shalom, and its meanings capture God’s vision for all of Creation to thrive and flourish now and in eternity.
Thought for Today: Ask God for His peace -- in other words, ask Him that things will be as He intended.
