343

Te Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy

(Romans 14:17).
Introduction
T
hcy madc my brothcr hold a ashlight
and watch whilc thcy took turns rap
ing mc. Tcy wcrc likc animals. Vhcn
hc rcluscd thcir ordcr to rapc mc, thcy stabbcd him to
dcath in lront ol my cycs, just as thcy had donc with
my parcnts a ycar ago.
For cight months this Congolcsc woman was a slavc to
thc Congolcsc rcbcl army, rapcd multiplc timcs cvcry
day, until shc nally managcd to cscapc. Rcunitcd with
hcr childrcn, whom shc had thought dcad, shc is now
raising hcr ncw baby, Hopc, thc child ol onc ol hcr
rapists, whilc shc participatcs in a job training program
dcsigncd lor womcn likc hcrscll. Tis womans plight
is common in thc Congo, whcrc in somc rural villagcs
90 ol thc womcn havc bccn rapcd, agcs 3 to 73. Tc
only doctor in thc only hospital on thc lront lincs ol
this civil war, who docs his bcst to rcpair torn and bro
kcn bodics, is thc only man thc womcn who comc to
him havc bccn ablc to trust. Tcir husbands oltcn lcavc
thcm, this doctor rccognizcs, bccausc thcy havc bccn
humiliatcd by bcing powcrlcss to dclcnd thcir womcn.
!n a rcsourccrich country, this systcmatic dcstabiliza
tion ol thc socicty through violcnt acts against thc
womcn cnablcs ccrtain intcrcst groups to rapc thc
natural rcsourccs ol thc land lor thcir own bcnct.
(Summary of War against Women: Te Use of Rape as a
Weapon in Congos Civil War, a 60 Minutes segment,
televised January 13, 2008, CBS News)
Comparc thc condition ol this socicty to that dcscribcd
by thc prophct !saiah in 59:411:
No onc calls lor justicc, no onc plcads his casc with
intcgrity. Tcy conccivc troublc and givc birth to cvil.
Tcir dccds arc cvil dccds, and acts ol violcncc arc in
thcir hands. Tcir lcct rush into sin, thcy arc swilt to shcd
innoccnt blood. Tcir thoughts arc cvil thoughts, ruin and
dcstruction mark thcir ways. Tc way ol pcacc thcy do not
know, thcrc is no justicc in thcir paths. Tcy havc turncd
thcm into crookcd roads, no onc who walks in thcm will
know pcacc. So justicc is lar lrom us, and rightcousncss
docs not rcach us. Vc look lor light, but all is darkncss, lor
brightncss, but wc walk in dccp shadows. Likc thc blind
wc gropc along thc wall, lccling our way likc mcn without
cycs. At midday wc stumblc as il it wcrc twilight, among
thc strong, wc arc likc thc dcad. Vc look lor justicc, but
nd nonc, lor dclivcrancc, but it is lar away.
Questions
1. Vhat is wrong with thcsc two socictics: How do so
cictics gct to thc placc whcrc such unrcstraincd violcncc
and corruption brcak out:
2. Vhat docs God want human lilc to look likc:
3. Vhat arc thc csscntial conditions lor a socicty to
cxpcricncc wholcncss, pcacc and salcty:
4. Vhat is thc rolc ol Gods pcoplc in promoting shalom
to thc pcoplcs ol thc world: Vhat is thc rcsponsibil
ity ol thc body ol Christ to thosc in harms way: Vhat
should bc thc rolc ol Kingdommindcd !ntcrnational
cvclopmcnt workcrs in addrcssing thc roots ol human
problcms around thc world:
Shalom:
Te Goal of the Kingdom and
of International Development
Beth Snodderly
An unpublishcd papcr. Uscd with pcrmission.
SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx:
Shalom Word Study
nc way to approach answcrs to thc qucstions abovc is
to survcy thc connotations ol thc Hcbrcw word, sha-
lom, commonly translatcd pcacc, but which implics
much morc: wholcncss and wcllncss in thc contcxt ol
right rclationships with God, pcoplc, and naturc. Tis
articlc intcnds to cngagc in an ongoing dialog about thc
rclationship bctwccn advancing Gods Kingdom and
doing !ntcrnational cvclopmcnt, by invcstigating thc
contcxt ol thc occurrcnccs ol thc word, shalom, in thc
ld Tcstamcnt. Tc usagc and contcxt ol scvcral Grcck
words lor shalom that wcrc uscd by thc translators ol
thc Scptuagint will bc thc basis lor this study. (Scc a
comprchcnsivc list at thc cnd ol this articlc, Shalom:
Right Rclationships with God, Pcoplc, and Naturc.)
Absence of Shalom
Qucstion 1. Vhat is wrong with thcsc two socictics:
How do socictics gct to thc placc whcrc such unrc
straincd violcncc and corruption brcak out:
Many ol thc occurrcnccs ol thc tcrm, shalom, in thc ld
Tcstamcnt arc in thc contcxt ol conditions in which pcacc,
salcty and wcllbcing arc abscnt. Tcsc passagcs dcscribc
thc oppositc ol Gods will. Takcn lrom thc dcscriptions and
samplc passagcs just bclow, thc lollowing gcncralizations
providc somc guidclincs lor undcrstanding what has gonc
wrong in socictics cxpcricncing violcncc and dangcr.
God judges evil societies.
God turns his back on thosc who do cvil. Hc allows cvil
socictics to bc ovcrthrown and dcstroycd, whcthcr by
thc violcncc ol othcr cvil socictics or natural disastcrs, or
both. (Scc Jcrcmiah 33:46 and 4:2226.) Ralph Vintcr
has commcntcd that it shows Gods commitmcnt to lrcc
will that innoccnt pcoplc and cvcn bclicvcrs sucr whilc
God is allowing cvil culturcs and socictics to burn thcm
sclvcs out and dcstroy onc anothcr.
1
Jcrcmiah pointcd
out to thc pcoplc ol Jcrusalcm rcgarding thc disastcrs
and lack ol shalom hc prophcsicd wcrc coming to thcm,
Your own conduct and actions havc brought this upon
you. Tis is your punishmcnt (4:18).
God deals with societies according to their own standards.
!n a land lull ol violcncc, God said hc would dcal with
thc pcoplc according to thcir conduct and judgc thcm
by thcir own standards. (Scc zckicl 7:2327.) !n
sccking to undcrstand thc judgmcnt ol God against a
socicty, qucstions such as thcsc might bc hclplul:
Vhat signs can bc lound in thc history ol thc socicty
ol Gods activity or rcdcmptivc analogics:
!n what ways havc thc pcoplc, particularly thc lcadcrs,
disobcycd and rcbcllcd against what was right accord
ing to thcir own culturcs traditional valucs:
Vhat arc thc socictys own cxpcctations ol justicc
and judgmcnt:
Nature is cursed when a society turns away from God.
A pcrson or group that prcsumcs to think thcy arc salc
and blamclcss (shalom/ hosia) whcn in rcality thcy arc pcr
sisting in going thcir own way, contrary to Gods way, will
bring disastcr on thc land. All thc curscs writtcn in this
book, listcd in cutcronomy 28:15, will comc against
that pcrson or socicty, Moscs warncd. (Scc cut. 29:18,
19.) Among thc curscs lor thosc not lollowing Gods com
mands arc wasting discasc, with lcvcr and inammation,
with scorching hcat and drought, with blight and mildcw,
which will plaguc you until you pcrish (cut. 28:22).
Descriptions of the Absence of Shalom
(Rcprcscntativc rclcrcnccs arc givcn. Scc thc list at thc
cnd ol this articlc lor all thc uscs ol thc tcrm, shalom,
in its various Grcck translations.)
cccit (!s. 59:14, Jcr. 9:8)
Quarrclling, war, ghting, violcncc (!s. 59:6, Jcr. 6:14,
23:17, zc. 7:23)
Tc land is dclcd by thc impuritics/ abominations ol
thc local rcsidcnts (zra 9:12)
vildocrs ( Job 28:3)
isastcr ( Jcr. 4:4)
ctcstablc idols ( Jcr. 4:1)
!niquitics havc scparatcd thc pcoplc lrom God (!s. 59:2)
Tcy arc skillcd in doing cvil: thcy know not how to do
good. ( Jcr. 4:22)
God has withdrawn his blcssing, his lovc and his pity
lrom this pcoplc. (!s. 59:2, Jcr. 16:5)
Var, starvation, and discasc ( Jcr. 32:33)
!njusticc (!s. 59:814)
God will dcal with thcm according to thcir conduct, and
judgc thcm by thcir own standards ( Jcr. 4:16, zc. 7:27)
Beth Snodderly
Tcy plot cvil against ncighbors and lovc to swcar
lalscly (Zcch. 8:17)
Sample Passages Describing the Absence
of Shalom:
Deut. 29:18-19
Makc surc thcrc is no man or woman, clan or tribc
among you today whosc hcart turns away lrom thc Lord
our God to go and worship thc gods ol thosc nations,
makc surc thcrc is no root among you that produccs such
bittcr poison. Vhcn such a pcrson hcars thc words ol
this oath, hc invokcs a blcssing on himscll and thcrclorc
thinks, ! will bc salc, cvcn though ! pcrsist in going my
own way. Tis will bring disastcr on thc watcrcd land as
wcll as thc dry. Tc Lord will ncvcr bc willing to lorgivc
him, his wrath and zcal will burn against that man. All
thc curscs writtcn in this book will lall upon him
Is. 59:2-14, selected verses:
2 Your iniquitics havc scparatcd you lrom your God,
your sins havc hiddcn his lacc lrom you, so that hc will
not hcar.
4 No onc calls lor justicc, no onc plcads his casc with intcgrity.
6b Tcir dccds arc cvil dccds, and acts ol violcncc arc in
thcir hands.
7 Tcir lcct rush into sin, thcy arc swilt to shcd inno
ccnt blood. Tcir thoughts arc cvil thoughts, ruin and
dcstruction mark thcir ways.
8 Tc way ol pcacc thcy do not know, thcrc is no justicc
in thcir paths. Tcy havc turncd thcm into crookcd
roads, no onc who walks in thcm will know pcacc.
9 So justicc is lar lrom us, and rightcousncss docs not
rcach us. Vc look lor light, but all is darkncss.
11b Vc look lor justicc, but nd nonc, lor dclivcrancc,
but it is lar away.
12 For our ocnscs arc many in your sight, and our sins
tcstily against us.
14 So justicc is drivcn back, and rightcousncss stands at a dis
tancc, truth has stumblcd in thc strccts, honcsty cannot cntcr.
Jer. 32:23:
Tcy did not obcy you or livc as you had instructcd thcm.
Tcy did not do anything that you commandcd thcm
to do. So you brought all this disastcr on thcm. Var,
starvation, and discasc arc surc to makc thc city lall into
thc hands ol thc 8abylonians who arc attacking it.
Zech. 7:9-14:
Tis is what thc Lord Almighty says: Administcr truc
justicc, show mcrcy and compassion to onc anothcr. o
not opprcss thc widow or thc lathcrlcss, thc alicn or thc
poor. !n your hcarts do not think cvil ol cach othcr.
8ut thcy rcluscd to pay attcntion, So thc Lord Al
mighty was vcry angry |and| scattcrcd thcm, thc land
was lclt so dcsolatc bchind thcm that no onc could comc
or go. Tis is how thcy madc thc plcasant land dcsolatc.
Presence of Shalom
Qucstion 2. Vhat docs God want human lilc to look likc:
!n contrast to thc passagcs quotcd abovc, dcscriptions
ol shalom arc dcscriptions ol Gods will lor pcoplc and
thc land. (Scc thc list and samplc passagcs dircctly
bclow.) !n a prcscntation to thc sta ol thc U.S. Ccntcr
lor Vorld Mission on Fcbruary 14, 2008, Paul Picrson
askcd thc qucstion, Vhat docs God want human lilc
to look likc: and answcrcd with a good dcscription ol
shalom, which is also a good dcscription ol !ntcrnation
al cvclopmcnt goals: gracc, hcalth, cducation, salcty,
wcllbcing lor all pcoplc.
Tcsc qualitics ow lrom bcing in right rclationship
with God. Jcrcmiah ticd thc conccpt ol prospcrity
(shalom/eirene) to Gods lorgivcncss ol sins ol rcbcllion.
! will lorgivc all thcir sins ol rcbcllion against mc.
Tcn this city will bring mc rcnown, joy, praisc and honor
bclorc all nations on carth that hcar ol all thc good things
! do lor it, and thcy will bc in awc and will trcmblc at thc
abundant prospcrity and pcacc ! providc lor it (33:8, 9).
From this passagc, it is clcar that shalom is a quality
that is obscrvablc. An cvidcncc ol shalom in thc rcalm
ol naturc was undcrstood by onc ol Jobs comlortcrs
as including thc wild animals bcing at pcacc (shalom/
eirene) with humans ( Job 5:24). !saiah claboratcd on
this conccpt in dcscribing thc rcign ol thc Mcssiah:
Tc woll will livc with thc lamb, thc lcopard will lic
down with thc goat, thc call and thc lion and thc ycar
ling togcthcr, and a littlc child will lcad thcm. Tcy
will ncithcr harm nor dcstroy on all my holy mountain,
lor thc carth will bc lull ol thc knowlcdgc ol thc Lord
as thc watcrs covcr thc sca (11:6, 9).
6 SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx:
!n thc abscncc ol a knowlcdgc ol microorganisms, and thc
harm thcy causc through discasc in humans, animals, and
plants, !saiah did not includc bactcria and viruscs in his list
ol animal lilc that will no longcr harm or dcstroy whcn
thc Lords shalom is bcing cxpcricnccd. 8ut knowing now
that discasc is causcd by bactcria and viruscs, and knowing
that discasc is onc ol thc curscs that is cvidcncc ol a lack ol
shalom (scc cut. 28:22 and Jcr. 32:23), it sccms rcasonablc
to includc thc taming (or cradication) ol thcsc typcs ol
animal lilc in an application ol shalom lor thc 21
st
ccntury.
Anothcr obscrvablc sign ol shalom is hcalth and hcaling
lor a lormcrly wickcd city and thc pcoplc in it: ! will
bring hcalth and hcaling to |thc city|, ! will hcal my
pcoplc and will lct thcm cnjoy abundant pcacc/eirene
and sccurity (pistinthc root word lor laithlulncss)
( Jcr. 33:6). Tis passagc dcmonstratcs that thcrc is no
dichotomy bctwccn social and spiritual hcaling or bc
twccn physical and spiritual hcaling. Shalom is wholistic.
Descriptions of the Presence of Shalom
(Rcprcscntativc rclcrcnccs arc givcn. Scc thc list at thc
cnd ol this articlc lor all thc uscs ol thc tcrm, shalom in
its various Grcck translations.)
Vcllncss, good hcalth (Gcn. 29:6)
Salcty, sccurity (Gcn. 26:31, Josh. 10:21, zra 9:12)
God will dcal mcrcilully with you, lcar not (Gcn. 43:23)
Lct good happcn to mc (cut. 29:19)
God has givcn mc rcst round about (no onc plotting
against mc) (1 Kings 4:24)
Tcir houscs arc salc (good condition, no rod ol punish
mcnt lrom God is upon thcm) ( Job 21:9)
Tcy will go out with joy, and bc lcd lorth with pcacc/
gladncss (!s. 55:12)
Kindly spccch (Gcn. 37:4)
Abscncc ol quarrclling, war, ghting, violcncc or dangcr
(1 Sam 7:14, 16:4, 5)
Gods lavor/covcnant (Ps. 85:11, !s. 26:3, 26:12, 32:17,
53:5, 54:10)
Prospcrity (Ps. 35:27)
No cvil intcntions (Zcch. 8:17, 1 Sam 25:35)
Tc wild bcasts ol thc cld shall bc at pcacc with thcc
( Job 5:24)
Tc pcoplc turn away lorm cvil and do what is right.
(Ps. 34:14)
Tc mcck shall inhcrit thc carth (Ps. 37:11)
Justicc, rightcousncss (Ps. 35:27, 72:3, 85:10)
Hc will rulc lrom sca to sca, his grcatncss will rcach to
thc cnds ol thc carth (Micah 5:5, Zcch. 9:10)
Salvation (!s. 45:8, 60:17, Zcch. 8:13)
Tc land will yicld its harvcst (Ps. 85:13)
Vild animals will bc at pcacc with humans ( Job 5:24)
ctcstablc idols arc put out ol Gods sight and thc
pcoplc no longcr go astray ( Jcr. 4:1)
Acknowlcdgcmcnt ol wickcdncss and sinning against
God ( Jcr. 14:20)
Hcaling ( Jcr. 33:6)
God will clcansc thcm lrom all thc sin ( Jcr. 33:9)
Tc pcoplc will lcar thc Lord. (Haggai 2:12)
! will savc you, and you will bc a blcssing. o not bc
alraid, but lct your hands bc strong. (Zcch. 8:13)
Truc and sound |N!\: pcaccablc| judgmcnt in thc
courts (Zcch. 8:16)
Sample Passages Describing the Presence
of Shalom:
Is. 60:17-21:
! will makc pcacc your govcrnor and rightcousncss your
rulcr. No longcr will violcncc bc hcard in your land, nor
ruin or dcstruction within your bordcrs, but you will call
your walls Salvation and your gatcs Praisc. Tc sun will
no morc bc your light by day, nor will thc brightncss ol
thc moon shinc on you, lor thc Lord will bc your cvcr
lasting light, and your God will bc your glory. Tcn
will all your pcoplc bc rightcous and thcy will posscss
thc land lorcvcr.
Jer. 29:11:
For ! know thc plans ! havc lor you, dcclarcs thc Lord,
plans to prospcr you |ol pcacc| and not to harm you,
Beth Snodderly
plans to givc you hopc and a luturc. Tcn you will call
upon mc and comc and pray to mc, and ! will listcn to
you. You will scck mc and nd mc whcn you scck mc
with all your hcart.
Jer. 33:6, 9:
! will bring hcalth and hcaling |peace| to |thc city|, !
will hcal my pcoplc and will lct thcm cnjoy abundant
pcacc and sccurity. ! will clcansc thcm lrom all thc
sin thcy havc committcd against mc and will lorgivc
all thcir sins ol rcbcllion against mc. Tcn this city
will bring mc rcnown, joy, praisc and honor bclorc all
nations on carth that hcar ol all thc good things ! do
lor it, and thcy will bc in awc and will trcmblc at thc
abundant prosperity and peace ! providc lor it.
Malachi 2:5, 6:
My covcnant ol lilc and peace was with him, thc law
ol truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not lound in
his lips, hc walkcd bclorc mc dirccting his way in peace
and hc turncd many lrom unrightcousncss.
Conditions for Experiencing Shalom
Qucstion 3. Vhat arc thc csscntial conditions lor a
socicty to cxpcricncc thc wholcncss, pcacc and salcty
dcscribcd immcdiatcly abovc:
As has alrcady bccn rclcrrcd to scvcral timcs, whcn
a socicty rcpcnts and turns to God, Hc is willing to
rcstorc and blcss thc pcoplc with shalom/eirene. (Scc Ps.
30:11, Jcrc. 33: 6, 9.) Tcrc sccm to bc two conditions
lor a socicty or pcrson to cxpcricncc shalom. nc is thc
intcntion to lollow Gods laws and principlcs. Tc othcr
is acccptancc ol Gods provision ol a substitutc punish
mcnt lor not lollowing Gods laws and principlcs.
Tc principlc ol kccping Gods rcquircmcnts as a
condition lor blcssing was spccically statcd to !saac
shortly bclorc hc cncountcrcd Abimclcch, king ol thc
Philistincs. (Scc Gcncsis 26:15.) !t is through lollow
ing Gods guidclincs that a socicty can lunction wcll.
!n lact, all nations on carth willing to lunction accord
ing to thc will ol God as rcvcalcd through His choscn
pcoplc, will cnd up bcing blcsscd matcrially and spiri
tually (shalom). Tis is sccn in Gcncsis 26:4, 5 whcrc
God rcpcatcd thc promisc to !saac that was originally
givcn to Abraham: through your ospring all nations
on carth will bc blcsscd, bccausc Abraham obcycd mc
and kcpt my rcquircmcnts, my commands, my dccrccs
and my laws. !mmcdiatcly lollowing this promisc is
an illustration ol onc ol thc nations, thc Philistincs,
bcing blcsscd by thc prcscncc ol !saacs lamily, in spitc
ol various problcms, and scnding him away in pcacc/
shalom/eirene (Gcn. 26:29, 30), without lurthcr quarrcl
ing or ghting.
Vhcn Gods principlcs arc lollowcd, pcacc rcsults.
Tis is also sccn in thc cncountcr bctwccn Moscs and
his lathcrinlaw. Jcthro showcd Moscs how to satisly
thc pcoplcs nccd lor justicc, without wcaring himscll
out by dclcgating somc ol thc work to othcrs. Jcthro
spccically statcd that il God so commands that thc
principlcs ol dclcgation bc lollowcd, and il Moscs did
lollow thcm, thcn Moscs would bc ablc to stand thc
strain ol lcadcrship and thc pcoplc would go homc
satiscd (shalom/in pcacc). (Scc xodus 18:723.)
8ut shalom docs not comc casily. 8rokcn rclationships
among pcoplc and with God charactcrizc thc activi
tics ol pcoplc and nations throughout thc ld Tcsta
mcnt. A pattcrn sccn throughout thc Major and Minor
Prophcts is thc rcpcatcd dcscription ol God allowing
onc nation to punish anothcr lor thcir cvil ways, with
thc locus on thc pcoplc ol !sracl and Judah who had
thc most opportunity to know Gods cxpcctations,
yct lailcd to lollow Him. Tcn thosc who wcrc Gods
instrumcnt ol punishmcnt in turn cxpcricnccd punish
mcnt lor thcir own cvil ways, in a sccmingly ncvcr
cnding cyclc.
8ut a climactic statcmcnt by thc prophct !saiah points
toward thc possibility ol a brcak in this vicious cyclc.
Spcaking ol thc coming Mcssiah, !saiah prophcsicd:
Hc was picrccd lor our transgrcssions, hc was crushcd
lor our iniquitics, thc punishmcnt that brought us
peace (shalom/eirene) was upon him, and by his wounds
wc arc hcalcd (!s. 53:5). Jcsus brought an cnd to thc
ncccssity ol onc socicty punishing anothcr lor thc cvils
it commits in its rcbcllion against God. Jcsus took thc
nal punishmcnt on bchall ol any pcrson or socicty
that will acccpt his pcacc ocring. 8y acccpting this
substitutc punishmcnt, pcoplc and socictics can brcak
out ol thc vicious cyclc and cxpcricncc hcaling ol bro
kcn rclationships with God, pcoplc, and naturc.
Promoting Shalom
Qucstion 4. Vhat is thc rolc ol Gods pcoplc in pro
moting shalom to thc pcoplcs ol thc world: Vhat is thc
8 SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx:
rcsponsibility ol thc body ol Christ to thosc in harms
way: Vhat should bc thc rolc ol Kingdommindcd
!ntcrnational cvclopmcnt workcrs in addrcssing thc
roots ol human problcms around thc world:
Jcrcmiah sccmcd to bc saying, in his plca to !sracl, that
il Gods pcoplc will obcy him, thc rcst ol thc world will
bc blcsscd: !l you put your dctcstablc idols out ol my
sight and no longcr go astray, and il in a truthlul, just
and rightcous way you swcar, As surcly as thc Lord
livcs, thcn thc nations will bc blcsscd by him and in
him thcy will glory (4:1,2). Tc challcngc to bc Gods
obcdicnt pcoplc, who arc cxpcricncing somc ol that
blcssing bccomcs vcry pcrsonal il wc darc to ask our
sclvcs thc qucstion lrom thc Lord through thc prophct
Haggai: Vhat arc wc doing building our panclcd
houscs and claboratc landscapcs whcn Gods Tcmplc,
thc intcndcd 8ody ol Christ, is in shamblcs around
thc world: (scc Haggai 1:3), whcn thcrc arc pcoplc
lrom many nations in harms way whom God wants to
rcdccm lor his glory (!s. 11:9):
Quoting again lrom Paul Picrsons prcscntation on
Fcbruary 14, 2008, wc arc callcd to call pcoplc to bc
comc lollowcrs ol Jcsus as authcntic disciplcs ol Jcsus
in thcir culturc and to show somcthing to thc world
ol what thc Kingdom ol God mcans, and what arc its
valucs. Picrson addcd, Vhat passion has God givcn
you: !l hc givcs you a passion Hcll givc you thc gilts
to go with it.
Tc 8ody ol Christ contains pcoplc with thc gilts to
do shalom in many dicrcnt arcas: justicc, pcacc
kccping, skillbuilding lor cconomic indcpcndcncc,
hcalth, ghting and cradicating discasc, ctc. All ol
thcsc pcaccmaking activitics can potcntially dcmon
stratc thc valucs ol thc Kingdom and bring shalom into
thc livcs ol troublcd pcoplc and socictics. Jcsus con
cludcd his larcwcll spccch to his disciplcs by promising
shalom in thc midst ol troublc: ! havc told you thcsc
things, so that in mc you may havc pcacc/eirene. !n
this world you will havc troublc. 8ut takc hcart! ! havc
ovcrcomc thc world ( John 16:33). !n 1 John wc scc
that bclicvcrs in Jcsus also ovcrcomc thc world and thc
cvil onc who rulcs it (1 John 2:13, 14, 5:4). As a rcsult
thcy arc ablc to cnjoy and pass on to othcrs thc shalom
ol God, as sccn in thc grcctings ol 2 John and 3 John.
Comparc thc Grcck words in thcsc grcctings with thc
list ol words lound at thc cnd ol this articlc showing
how thc Scptuagint translatcd shalom:
Gracc/charis, mcrcy/eleos and pcacc/eirene lrom God thc
Fathcr and lrom Jcsus Christ, thc Fathcrs Son, will bc
with us in truth and lovc (2 John 3).
car lricnd, ! pray that you may cnjoy good hcalth/
hugiainei and that all may go wcll with you, cvcn as your
soul is gctting along wcll (3 John 2).
Concluding Challenge
Vhat will it takc lor a socicty that is not cnjoying
good hcalth, that is cngullcd in cvil and cxpcricnc
ing thc abscncc ol Gods prcscncc, to gct to thc placc
whcrc it cxpcricnccs shalom: Vhat would shalom look
likc in thc Congo, in Sudan, in !raq, in Myanmar:
Contrast thc unjust and violcnt conditions in such
socictics with Zcchariahs prophcsy, as hc sings and
prophcsics to his baby son, John thc 8aptist, in Lukc
1:6879:
Praisc bc to thc Lord, thc God ol !sracl, bccausc hc has
comc and has rcdccmcd his pcoplc.
Hc has raiscd up a horn ol salvation lor us in thc
housc ol his scrvant avid (as hc said through his holy
prophcts ol long ago), salvation lrom our cncmics and
lrom thc hand ol all who hatc usto show mcrcy to
our lathcrs and to rcmcmbcr his holy covcnant, thc
oath hc sworc to our lathcr Abraham: to rcscuc us lrom
thc hand ol our cncmics, and to cnablc us to scrvc him
without lcar in holincss and rightcousncss bclorc him
all our days.
And you, my child, will bc callcd a prophct ol thc Most
high: lor you will go on bclorc thc Lord to prcparc thc
way lor him, to givc his pcoplc thc knowlcdgc ol salva
tion through thc lorgivcncss ol thcir sins, bccausc ol thc
tcndcr mcrcy ol our God, to shinc on thosc living in
darkncss and in thc shadow ol dcath, to guidc our lcct
into thc path ol pcacc/eirene.
Zcchariah sang about salvation lrom human cncmics,
about scrving God without lcar in holincss and
rightcousncss, lorgivcncss, mcrcy, pcaccthc samc
shalom spokcn ol throughout thc ld Tcstamcnt.
!n thc contcxt ol similar justicc, rightcousncss and
laithlulncss, !saiah dcscribcd salvation lrom lcarcd
cncmics in thc rcalm ol naturc (which can also
rcprcscnt discasc microorganisms that wcrc unknown
at that timc): Tc woll will livc with thc lamb, thc
lcopard will lic down with thc goat, and a littlc child
Beth Snodderly
will lcad thcm. Tcy will ncithcr harm nor dcstroy on
all my holy mountain, lor thc carth will bc lull ol thc
knowlcdgc ol thc Lord (!s. 11:6, 9).
!n thc wholistic naturc ol shalom, thcrc is no dichotomy
bctwccn physical and spiritual hcalth and wcllbcing.
Shalom is thc dcscription ol Gods will lor thc carth and
cvcrything living in it. Shalom is thc goal ol !ntcrnation
al cvclopmcnt bccausc this is thc goal ol thc Kingdom:
ur Fathcr in hcavcn your kingdom comc, your will
bc donc on carth as it is in hcavcn (Matthcw 6:10).
8lcsscd arc thc pcaccmakcrs lor thcy will bc callcd sons
ol God (Matthcw 5:9).
Occurrences and Meanings of
Shalom in the Septuagint:
Wholeness and Right Relationships with
God, People, and Nature
hugiainei 10x
Vcllncss, physical hcalth
Gcn. 29:6, 37:14, 43:27,28, 2 Sam. 20:9, sthcr 9:30, !s. 9:6
Grccting (! wish you wcll, pcacc to you, good hcalth to
you, prospcrity to you)
x. 4:18, 1 Sam. 25:6
Farcwcll (go in pcacc/hcalth)
2 Sam. 15:9
sotarias 3x
Salcty (salvation)
Gcn. 26:31, 41:16, 44:17
hileos 1x
God dcal mcrcilully with you, lcar not
Gcn. 43:23
hosia 1x
Lct good happcn to mc
cut. 29:19
anepause 1x
God has givcn mc rcst round about (no onc is plotting
against mc)
1 Kings 4:24
euthenousi 1x
Tcir houscs arc salc (good condition, no rod ol pun
ishmcnt lrom God is upon thcm)
Job 21:9
chairein 3x
No joy to thc wickcd
!s. 48:22, 57:21
Go out with joy, and bc lcd lorth with pcacc/gladncss
!s. 55:12
teleian 1x
Vholly carricd away (Hcbrcw: pcacclully cxilcd)
Jcr. 13:19
eirenes 169x
ic pcacclully
Gcn. 15:15, 2 Kings 22:20, 2 Chron. 34:28, Jcr. 34:5
Spcak pcaccably, kindly, abscncc ol dcccit
Gcn. 37:4, cut. 20:10, Ps. 28:3, 35:20, 120:7, Prov.
12:20, !s. 52:7, Jcr. 9:8, Nah 1:15, Zcch. 9:10
Satiscd that justicc has bccn donc
x. 18:23
Abscncc ol quarrclling, war, ghting, or dangcr
Gcn 26:29, Lcv. 26:6, cut. 2:26, 20:11, 23:61, Josh.
9:15, Jud 4:17, 8:9, 11:13, 21:13, 1 Sam 7:14, 16:4, 5, 2
Sam. 15:27, 19:24, 30, 1 Kings 2:5,13, 5:12, 22:27,28, 2
Kings 9:17,18,19,22,31,
1 Chron. 12:17, 2 Chron. 15:5, Ps. 120:6, 122:6,7,8, 147:14,
ccl 3:8, !s. 27:5, 33:7, 57:2, Jcr. 4:10, 6:14, 8:11,15, 12:5,
23:17, 28:9, zc. 7:25, Mic. 3:5, Zcch. 6:13, 8:10
Gods lavor/covcnant, associatcd with truth, doing
good, rightcousncss, obcdicncc, hcaling
Num 6:26, 25:12, 1 Kings 2:33, 2 Kings 20:19, 1 Chron.
22:9, Ps. 30:11, 34:14, 37:11,37, 72:3,7, 85:8,10, 119:165,
125:5, 128:6, Prov. 3:2, Song ol Sol 8:10, !s. 26:3, 26:12,
32:17, 39:8, 45:7, 48:18, 53:5, 54:13, 57:19, 59:8, 60:17,
Jcr. 12:12, 14:13,19, 16:5, 29:11, 33:6, Lam 3:17, zc.
34:25, 37:26, Mic. 5:5, Hag 2:9, Zcch. 8:16,19, Mal. 2:5
Salc, sccurc
Josh. 10:21, 1 Sam. 20:7,13,21, 2 Sam. 3:21,22, 23, 17:3,
18:29,32
1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chron. 18:16, 2 Chron. 18:27, zra
9:12, Job 5:24, Ps. 4:8 Prov. 3:17, !s. 32:18, 41:3, Jcr.
25:37, 30:5, 43:12, zc. 13:10,16
Grccting (pcacc bc to thcc, how arc you)
Jud. 6:23, 18:15, 19:20, 1 Sam 10:4, 25:5, 30:21, 2 Sam.
8:10, 11:7, 2 Kings 10:13, 1 Chron. 12:18, an. 10:19
o SHALOM: Tnv Go~i ov :nv Kixcbo: ~xb ov !x:vvx~:iox~i vvviov:vx:
Farcwcll |go in pcacc|
Jud 18:6, 1 Sam. 1:17, 20:42, 29:7, 2 Sam. 11:7, 2 Kings
5:19
All is wcll/ is it wcll:
2 Sam. 18:28, 2 Kings 4:23,26, 5:21, 9:11, Jcr. 15:5
Prospcrity
Job 15:21, Ps. 35:27, 73:3, !s. 66:12, Jcr. 29:7, 33:9, 38:4
Fricnd |man ol pcacc|
Ps. 41:9, Jcr. 38:22, badiah 7
Endnote
1 Commcnt in a privatc convcrsation with thc author on Fcb
ruary 14, 2008.