May This Be
A
‘Shannah Of Shalom’,
A
‘Year of Peace’
For You
We are familiar with the story.
The scene on the hillside just outside the town of Bethlehem where the shepherds were watching their flocks of sheep.
The air was clear and all was calm…
a night like every other,
just another night…
‘Bethlehem’,
is the Greek spelling of the Hebrew name
‘BEIT LECHEM’
meaning
‘HOUSE OF BREAD’.
In what more appropriate place could He have been born,
the One who said,
‘for the bread of God is that which descends from heaven and gives life to the world.’ John 6:33
He truly is our Manna from above, our Bread from Heaven.
It is not insignificant that the first words of the angels to the shepherds was Peace on Earth…
Luke 2:8-10 – “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, Peace, Good Will towards all men on whom his favor rests…”
Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor]. Luke 2:14 Amplified
Peace was also the first words of the New Covenant that Messiah gave His disciples after His resurrection.
He said,
“Peace be unto you.”
But Messiah didn’t speak English, so what He said in Hebrew is actually,
“Shalom aleichem.”
First of all,
‘Shalom’,
doesn’t just mean peace,
it means a whole lot more than that.
It’s amazing to find out what the original meanings of the words are, as it gives us a whole different picture of what He was saying and promising us.
When Jesus said,
“Peace I leave with you I you My peace I give to you not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27
He was saying Shalom I give to you and in His native Hebrew, ‘shalom aleikhem’.
It is both a greeting and a farewell.
Several Middle Eastern countries have a version of Shalom e.g. salem alakhem, whereas Israelis say Shalom Aleikheim. Its a little like Hawaiians who say Aloha to both greet and bid farewell to someone.
The definition of Shalom is not translated by one word but its essence is contained in the following phrases:
Shalom means to set, to establish you in shalom. The law of our covenant with Him does not give it and leave it at that, but He sees to it that you are firmly established in His shalom.
Shalom, the word normally translated peace, means wholeness, completeness, nothing missing, nothing left out, health, welfare, security, justice, and tranquility, also freedom from all disaster.
Having a settled quietness and composure of mind, the fullness of the word for peace which is ‘Shalom’ which could also read ‘full, total and complete wholeness for the human spirit, soul (mind will emotions), and body.’)
A Hebrew scholar gave probably the best English translation of shalom:
‘no good thing is withheld.’
‘Shalom’ comes from ‘shalem’, meaning ‘to be complete’, so when there is ‘shalom’, there is tranquility just as there is sufficient food clothing and housing. There is divine health, with no sickness.
Shalom means an absence of: disorder, injustice, bribery, corruption, conflict, flat, hatred, abuse, violence, pain, suffering, immorality and all the other negative forces.
Therefore when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we are praying for the shalom of Jerusalem and literally we are praying that there will not be any injustice, disorder, strife, violence, poverty, sickness, abuse, accidents, homelessness, pain, anger, and more.
So when we say ‘Shalom’, to someone, this is how much we are blessing them.
When shalom reigns there will be no more immorality, no more injustice and the principles advocated in the scriptures will be followed by all and then the command to love your neighbor will be to make complete. This will be the essence of His Kingdom that is coming.
Another reference is in Numbers 6:24-26 Amplified
(May) The Lord lift up His approving countenance upon you (me) and give you Shalom/ peace, (tranquility of heart and life continually). It becomes more apparent that only a personal relationship with the living God can give you His true shalom/peace in your spirit
This is really neat, as it creates a picture and here at MiniMannaMoments, pictures are an essential part in feeding and helping us both visualize and focus on the context.
YHWH (Jehovah) Shalom, means God who is peace, wholeness, completeness, nothing broken and nothing left out. It is found in Judges 6:24
It means fullness, well being, completion, wholeness, perfection, blessing, prosperity, and healing.
Whereas the Old Covenant was based on trying to get there, trying to live up to the Law, trying to measure up, trying to get to the place God wants you to be, longing for the day of Messiah’s coming, the New Covenant is based on Shalom.
In other words, it’s here.
It’s come.
It’s finished.
You’ve arrived.
You can stop striving.
You can rest, be well, whole, healed, fulfilled and blessed.
Messiah began by saying,
“Shalom be to you.”
The first thing in the New Covenant is “Shalom.”
Not just Shalom, but
Shalom TO YOU.
However you have to receive it and come into the blessings of the new. That’s your part of the action of believing, to receive and experience all Messiah has for you, peace and blessing in Him. It’s all contained in just two words. Shalom Aleichem.
A street sign in Israel!
What an address to have!
Secondly, the word In Hebrew, Shannah means year.
It’s also the root of the word ‘second’ – as in second time or a repeat of the year before. We often live our lives just this way, continuing to repeat the same mistakes, the same habits, doing the things we know we shouldn’t, not making the changes we know we should. We don’t go anywhere. It’s just a Shannah – a repetition of what went before.
The word Shannah or Shana (both spellings are used), can also mean, ‘new’ or ‘second chance.’
Shana/Shannah is also used as a beautiful first name.
Each year is given to us as an opportunity for a new beginning, to not make the same mistakes, continue the same habits and make the changes we know we should. It’s up to each of us to choose which one it will be, a repeat of the last one, or a second chance for a new start. How many times have we herd people say they wished they could just start over? Well you can.
In the power of his Spirit, He wants this coming ‘Shannah’, to be something better and different. This year is given to us as a brand-new opportunity for overcoming and for victory.
In the new birth, at salvation, all things became new for us, but we need courage to break out of the repetition and into the newness of life.
Be courageous today and choose newness of life.
Leave behind old habits and walk in the power of God.
Today, receive the Peace from Messiah that He has promised you and blessed you with.
As everyone is quickly moving into
2017 / 5777,
let this be a
‘Shannah of Shalom’,
of fullness,
well-being,
completion,
wholeness,
perfection,
blessing,
prosperity
and healing.
Minimannamoments wishes you all
a year of SHANNAH,
of
His Peace,
His SHALOM,
for you and all your loved ones.
Note: The Hebrew Calendar Year has already started and is the year 5777. (A subject for another post!)
He is theAv Shalom
(e-lo-hay ha-sha-LOHM)
The God of Peace
A Reference to the Lexicon