Beth Chai Ministries
				THE MEANING OF SHALOM PART I & II by James Issa The Hebrew word SHALOM is understood around the world to mean peace; but peace is only one small part of the meaning . In Israel, the word SHALOM is used on a daily basis to greet people hello or bid farewell. However, SHALOM, means more than peace, hello, or goodbye. Strong's Concordance 7965- defines it as: Completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. SHALOM comes from the root verb Salem, meaning to be complete and perfect. SHALOM is not the absence of war, it is the presence of Yeshua (Jesus) the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, & 48:22, Matthew 10:34, John 16:33. In Numbers 6:26, God pronounces what is commonly referred to as the "Aaronic blessing" on his people through the Priests. It begins with "The Lord Bless You and Keep you" and ends with: "The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace (Hebrew-Shalom). In effect God is saying you should have all that Shalom entails. In Again in Jeremiah 29:11, God says his thoughts towards us are "thoughts of peace and not of evil." In Philippians 4:7, God assures us that when we pray with thanksgiving in the midst of an issue, that his peace which passes all understanding will "garrison" our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. The word "garrison" is a military term. What God is saying is that his peace which is not human but supernatural, will "garrison" or "keep guard" in our hearts against all the darts of unrest and confusion Satan will attempt to throw against us. We can see that Shalom is not something that one can devise. It comes only with the supernatural grace of God. In John 14:27, Jesus says the Shalom he gives is different from that of the world's. The world's idea of peace, is a broken cross, no war, free love, doing what you will, money in the bank, yoga, transcendental meditation (both of which are demonic in origin from Hinduism and Buddhism), toleration of every one's views even when contrary to God's word. The Bible says the ungodly have no Shalom-Isaiah 48:22, & 57:21. True & Lasting Peace comes only through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom).
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