What is Shalom? – Fruit of the Spirit: Peace, Part 1

This week we welcome guest blogger, David Hundert, who is a Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown, PA.

As I’ve been going through my studies, the one thing that I’ve really been enjoying is using the tools available to me to do word studies. Now, I do have a confession to make. When I was in high school, I actually failed my senior English class and had to retake it in order to graduate with the rest of my class. I must say, English grammar is a real struggle for me. I tell people that my native language, and those that know me well would agree, is sarcasm. I can’t necessarily offer words of wisdom, but I can offer you a sarcastic comment! However, I’ve really been enjoying the study of individual words in Scripture. Have you ever really given any thought as to how a single word, or the lack thereof, can completely alter the meaning of a sentence? For instance, take the old worship song, “Through it all…”

Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God

I mean, what would happen, if we added one little word? What if we were to add the word, “up”? That changes the whole meaning, the whole trajectory of the song, right? Okay, so maybe trajectory is the wrong word there… You know, I need to quit while I’m behind!

So, let’s just agree that words are important. The last two weeks, we looked at two different words from Galatians 5 verses 22 and 23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (which is another way of saying patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Over the last two weeks, we’ve learned that if we walk in step with the Spirit, we will do two things. First, we will crucify the acts of the sinful nature and second, we will leave room for the Spirit to grow His fruit in our lives. In Galatians 5:22-23, the word, “fruit” is a singular noun. The Holy Spirit desires to grow all of these characteristics in our lives; it’s a total package. The first two characteristics of this fruit that we looked at is love and joy. As we walk in step with the Spirit, He equips us to love ourselves and to love our neighbors in the same way. We also learned that joy is a state of happiness and well-being and that as we walk in step with the Spirit, our joy will increase.

This week we are going to take a look at the next characteristic this fruit contains and that is “Peace.” First, in Isaiah, chapter 26, verse 3, we’re going to take a look at some of the things that Scripture says about peace.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.“

The word peace is translated from the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom is defined as “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, soundness in body, health, prosperity, to be well with, tranquility, contentment. What is it that the author states that we need to do for all this to be ours? We need to “Trust in…” God. What does that kind of trust look like?

In the next post we’ll learn more!

Photo by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN on Unsplash