Thou wilt keep him in shalom shalom, whose yetzer (mind-set) is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. Isaiah 26:3 Orthodox Jewish Bible
Today I used a translation of the Bible that is very different. It mixes both English and Hebrew words to help the reader better understand the true meaning of a verse or passage. You will notice in this translation it says shalom twice rather than the word perfect. That’s because in Hebrew there is no word for perfect. In Semitic language emphasizing a word you repeat it two times. so when your mind stays on God you not only have peace, you have an all encompassing peace. It also is repeated twice when there are multiple meanings for the word, describing what kind of peace you need. For instance, if your mind stays on God, when you have a troubled mind you have a calming peace, or you are experiencing health issues and you need healing peace. Perhaps you are facing lack and you need provisional peace. And at this time of year, you are feeling alone, discouraged and depressed, you long for His comforting peace. These are only some of the adjectives, the are definitions of shalom.
Peace can only be seen as perfect when it is seen in the person of Jesus. So perfect peace then only comes from the inside out not in our circumstances or environment. So ask yourself what kind of shalom, shalom do you need? Or is there someone you know who needs shalom, shalom and it so, how can you show them the true Shalom who is Jesus? We are so very loved, that He will become whoever we need Him to be to help us. Whenever we realize all we need to do is call out to our Prince of Peace, His peace will rise up inside us to strengthen and encourage us and we can find true rest in Him.
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