Hebrew Highlights 08 – Perfect Peace

 

Shalom, this is Yuval Shomron, coming to you from Jerusalem.

 

ISA 26:3 "The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee.

 

          Perfect peace!  Shalom Shelem! That’s right, this is one of the bible’s many plays on words.  Both the word for peace, and the word for perfect, come from the roots shin, lamed, mem.

 

          Shelem, the word translated here as perfect, can also mean complete.   In JAMes 1:4 we read, “And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

          Actually, in Hebrew, you can’t do anything perfectly without completing it.  Nor can you complete something without perfecting it. 

          As an example, I sometimes volunteer to do dishes late at night, after we’ve had guests.  Once in a while, I miss a spot.  If my wife notices, she may say to me, “why volunteer to help me if you are not going to do it right?”  She has a point.  Even the dishes should be perfect and complete.

 

          From the same root, we also get shulam, or paid.  How can there possibly be a connection with peace and paid?  I don’t know about you, but whenever I make a final payment on something, I realize an inner peace.

          Our real spiritual peace is usually realized only when we accept the fact  that our sins have been paid for.

 

ACT 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

 

          Yeshua shelem or paid the price for our salvation with his own blood.

 


In JOH 14:27, Yeshua said,  "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

 

The word shelem as an adjective also means “whole”. 

 

          We can only be whole, perfected, complete, and paid for through Yeshua, the Prince of Peace.

 

Shalom Shelem from Jerusalem.