Did you know that Shalom appears in the Old Testament exactly 237 times. When you add in derivatives and other words meaning the same, it ends up to be 350 times.

I remember our late Sister Crista Stegeman using Shalom as her sign off on emails.

I’ve heard it used in conversations primarily by our Jewish friends.

So what does “Shalom” Mean?

Its primary meaning is peace but it encompasses such things as completeness, wholeness or a state of total well-being.

Jesus, Himself, used it several times during his time on earth. Particularly when He addressed the Disciples in the upper room after his resurrection.

It implies that something broken has been restored to completeness.

This brings me to the fact that when the Savior was crucified and rose again He completed the work laid out in the old testament.

The completion of that work was finished when Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, after bearing the sins of all on his shoulders while His Father God turned His back on Him.

As we know the salvation message is based on a three part action by Jesus.

He was crucified, buried and rose from the dead.
Without the resurrection there is no salvation.

Shalom is not just a greeting or passive state but should cause us to pursue justice, equality and relational harmony.

This is what Christianity is about. Acceptance of the death, burial, and resurrection as the payment for our sins, past, present and future by a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our responsibility is to receive and accept that gift just as we would any gift offered by others to us.

God’s gift, of course, is the ultimate perfect and acceptable gift through the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 20:19 & 21 the Savior greets the Disciples with the following phrase.

“Peace be with you” & “Peace to you”

This is a clear picture of what Jesus would have for us in our life. Salvation should bring us Peace. No matter what the world around us is doing.

Peace in our relationship with our Savior Jesus gives us everything we need in this troubled world.

That experience of peace then requires Christians to share that peace and its source with all we know and love.

As is so often the case I have a hymn that came to mind.

Peace Be Still

1)  Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadow'd with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
"Carest thou not that we perish?"
How canst thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threat'ning,
A grave in the angry deep?

Chorus
The winds and the waves shall obey my will,
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey my will,
Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey my will,
Peace, peace, be still!

2) Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today;
The depths of my sad heart are troubled,
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul;
And I perish! I perish, dear Master,
O, hasten, and take control. 

3) Master, the terror is over,
The elements sweetly rest;
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirror'd,
And heaven’s within my breast;
Linger, O blessed Redeemer,
Leave me alone no more;
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor,
And rest on the blissful shore.

So with that song in mind —

Shalom, Peace be to you all.