Peace in the Tanakh
by David Lazarus

SHALOM IN THE TANAKH

1. MATERIAL WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY

Gen. 37:14 Joseph is asked to check on the Shalom of his brothers and the cattle.
I Sam. 17:18 David sent by his father to see if his brothers are OK.
Esther 2:11
Psalm 38:3 (4 heb.) physical health
 
Success-Blessing
 
I Sam 1:17 The priest Eli , after hearing Hannah’s prayer, says go in Shalom, a wish that she will prosper and succeed.
 
Num. 6:24-26 Priestly Blessing
 
·PEACEMAKER IS TO WORK FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ENJOY PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OR MATERIAL SUCCESS.
 
2. GOOD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE
 
I Kings 5:26 Peace between Shlomo and Hiram
 
·PEACEMAKING IS WORKING FOR GOOD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLE.
 
3. LIVING IN SHALOM IS LIVING GOOD MORALS: HONESTY, GOOD LIVING
 
Psalm 34:14-15
Zech. 8:16
 
·PEACEMAKING IS WORKING TOWARDS HONESTY, EXPOSING HYPOCRISCY.
  
Shalom defines how things SHOULD BE in all these three realms. It describes how things were for the children of Israel in their material world, their community, and in personal character when everything was OK.
 
FALSE PROPHETS
The false prophets could proclaim peace and well-being in the very situation where the true prophets spoke of doom and destruction. WHY? Because the true prophets were looking for the true SHALOM which we find in the Bible. There could be no Shalom when things were not as they are supposed to be.
 
Jer.8:11, 14:10-13
 
MATERIALLY the poor were being oppressed (Amos 3:9-11)
 
Foreigners, widows, orphans
Opposite is Mercy
King makes Shalom by delivering the oppressed
 
SOCIALLY the people continued in their hatred and jealousy.
 
Racism , Ethnic conflict, Anti Semitism, homophobia
 
ETHICALLY they were full of corruption. (Isa.10:1-2)
  
Ezek. 13:10-16 Relevant verses for today.

EIRENE IN THE NT
 
Used in much the same way as Shalom
 
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
 
Used in greetings and closing letters.
Rom. 1:7 Go well with you
Mt.10:13 Speak Shalom to the house you leave
Mark 5:34 Healed woman wished go in health and peace.
 
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PEOPLES
Rom.14:19
 
MORALS, VALUES
Rom. 8:6
  
UNIQUE IN NT
 
YESHUA MAKES SHALOM
 
1. God and Man
Rom 5: 1
 
2. Man and man
Eph. 2:14-17
 
Peace between God and man and man and man are intertwined.
  
OSEH SHALOM WORK BY HELPING THE POOR
BY HELPING THE OPPRESSED
BY EXPOSING DECEPTION, LIES
 
PEACEMAKERS WORK TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.
 
NOT JUST SOCIAL WORK, NOT JUST EVANGELISM
 
WORKING TO MAKE THINGS AS THEY OUGHT TO BE.

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