Lent Devotional: Restoreਨਮੂਨਾ

Restore: Shalom

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

I bet that verse has got you feeling Christmassy, hasn’t it? Sorry about that.

One of Jesus’ titles described here by the prophet Isaiah is Prince of Peace, or, in the original Hebrew, Sar Shalom.

Shalom is quite possibly my favorite word in the whole Bible. It means, on one level, peace, but as with most Hebrew words it has a far greater depth than that.

So many people in this world are desperately searching for meaning – for that deep contentment and fulfillment that seems so far out of reach. What they are searching for is shalom. It is a peace that encompasses completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony and the absence of strife.

That is what Isaiah means when he says Prince of Peace. Christ is the epicentre of shalom. It can only be found in him, and he offers it to us freely.

Lord Jesus – Sar Shalom,
Thank you for the peace that you long to give us,
The peace that is beyond the understanding of the world.
Help us to surrender ourselves to the mystery and beauty of your peace,
To lean on your truth and to trust completely in you.
Amen.

Gideon Heugh, Tearfund