Shalom

In the pre-springtime in the Southeast, this is often the beginning of severe weather outbreaks. Cold air from the north collides with warm, moist air from the Gulf of America, triggering storms. The severity of the storms depends on how unstable the air becomes based on how cold the air from the north is and how much warm, humid air from the south comes in.

 A storm was coming. The predictions were mostly warnings instead of mild cautions. The wind began to blow several hours before the storms came, howling and gusting. The wind chimes made noise like a circus calliope ringing in an event.

Then the storms arrived, first rain and then heavy downpours, accompanied by continuous thunder and lightning. The weather notifications on the television were steady and we even received phone calls from the local EMS office.

Tornadoes were announced in other areas not far from our home; storm watches and warnings were updated often. The busyness alone was fatiguing. Our dogs were nervous, fidgeting around at a tense pace. I had prayed before the storms arrived and was not concerned about them at all, however, all the hustle and bustle, sound, and nervousness was distracting noise in every sense.

The storms came in two waves. The less severe wave early in the day with the stronger one later in the afternoon with only a short break in between. The afternoon was much louder and erratic. Just as the later storms were winding down, the power went out. The thunder and lightning had subsided and the blowing sheets of rain slamming into the house had slacked off.

Yes, it was still raining hard, but in a much calmer fashion. A quiet fell in our home, a welcomed stillness. Both bears, the wolf, and our hound were soon sleeping and snoring. In case you are wondering, the “bears” are what we affectionately call our Newfoundland and our Newfoundland-Great Pyrenees cross, “wolf” is our pet name for our black German Shepherd, and the youngest of our pack is our hound cross.

In the house it became darkened, and since the wind had calmed, the chimes on the porch were gently ringing. There was no noise from fans, the AC system, or television, and there were no calls. It wasn’t long ‘til I realized my wife had fallen asleep in her recliner, and I was soon to follow. As I reclined, I began to pray, thanking the Lord our God for answered prayer in keeping us safe.

As I was fading into sleep, I understood the true meaning of “shalom”. You see, “shalom” is more than peace. Peace is an emotional state, but shalom is far deeper than emotion. It is a happening, a rightness in grace, a place of comfort and protection given from Heaven itself. Rather than feeling, it is a realization of love. “Shalom” appears 236 times in the Old Testament. It is written as “grace and peace” in the New Testament.

I realized I had again lived the meaning of scripture, experiencing the presence of the Lord God in tranquil safety. “Shalom” became reality.

I count it my greatest privilege to experience the reality of scripture in my life! To live out scripture in a particular circumstance teaches in depth not gained through association, and it instills a foundational understanding that would not be established otherwise.

The first time “shalom” was used in scripture was in Judges 6 when the Angel told Gideon, “Shalom to you, do not fear, you shall not die.” When he spoke the word “shalom” the Angel was explaining to Gideon that everything had been set right by God.

Gideon would soon grasp the wisdom of what “shalom” truly meant. Sadly, unless you’re reading a direct translation from Hebrew, the word “peace” is used in place of “shalom” and, in my opinion, that replacement cheapens the meaning of the verse.

In scripture, "shalom" (Hebrew for "peace") signifies more than just the absence of conflict; it encompasses wholeness, well-being, prosperity, and God's blessing, often used as a greeting and a promise. And when translated to just the English word “peace” it can drastically change the meaning of scripture.

“Avoid a sugar-coated gospel. Seek the gospel that rips up, wounds, and even kills, for that’s the gospel that makes you alive again!” 

-Charles Spurgeon

Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple