A Prophecy of Shalom

Yesterday I spent some time reading journalists’ accounts of the violence that spread across our country in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.  Lifetimes of anger at systemic injustice boiled over into violence.  Shortly after I did my Bible reading.  I read this prophecy in Isaiah 11. 

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

    or decide by what he hears with his ears;

but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth...

The wolf will live with the lamb,

    the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

    and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

    their young will lie down together,

    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the cobra’s den,

    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

This prophecy invites us to consider a time that is coming when the powerful will use their power to protect, not exploit or injure.  Wolves, leopards, and lions will live in peace with what had been their vulnerable prey.  Shalom.  It’s easy to watch the news and quickly reach a verdict.  But I want to encourage you towards two alternatives.  First, listen empathically.  Put yourself in the shoes of another.  And second, pray.  Those two activities will bring shalom much faster than figuring out who’s right and who’s wrong.

Looking for Shalom

Yesterday we began a series called Shalom.  Shalom is more than a Jewish greeting or  cease-fire. It is a state of wholeness and completeness where everything is as it’s supposed to be.  It is every part of God’s creation living in harmony and mutual benefit. Sin vandalized and shattered the full shalom that was originally present in this world.  But it has not destroyed it. Remnants of shalom are all around us. We see them in natural beauty, in reconciliation between two people, in unconditional love, and in art or music that transports us to a place of Yes! - a place where things are how they’re supposed to be.

One of the best ways to embrace hope and joy is to look for the shalom that remains in this world.  The fragments of shalom are all around us. So I challenge you this week to keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of shalom.  Keep your ear to the ground for the sounds of shalom. It may come on the radio or on the drive home. Shalom might happen as you walk around your neighborhood, read a book, or catch up with a friend.  Look for examples of shalom and be sure to share them with someone. Tell a family member or friend. Share it with a co-worker. You don’t have to call it shalom. You can refer to it as “this cool thing that happened.”  Because that’s what shalom is and more. It is a powerful reminder that God is still present and his creation is still good.