Messiah King Yeshua (Jesus) was born. The Eternal One entered time. The Omnipotent became a tiny Infant. The Lord of glory veiled in the glory of a human body, and "...in Him dwells all the fullness  of the Godhead bodily" Corinthians 2:9

 

The name Jesus presents Him as Jehovah-Savior; the title Christ ("Anointed") presents Him as the long awaited Messiah the Lord.

The title Son of David is associated with the roles of both Messiah and King.

The title of Son of Abraham presents our Lord as the ONE who is the ultimate, fulfillment of the promise made to the progenitor of the Hebrew people.

 

Jesus is the legal heir to the throne of David through the adoption of Joseph and the actual seed of David through Mary.

Jesus was Jehovah Himself, visiting earth to save people from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and eventually form the very presence of sin.

 

Gold is the symbol of deity & glory; it speaks of the shinning perfection of His divine Person. Frankincense is an ointment a perfume; it suggest the fragrance of the life and sinless perfection. Myrrh is a bitter herb; it presages the suffering He would endure in bearing the sins of the world.

 

 

Abba Father, discovery brings great joy.

 

I've just discovered that Shalom means far more than peace in the aftermath of war or peace between enemies or just a greeting. You've signed off our talks with Shalom, (be at peace child), what You have been telling me, is  that You created Shalom, an inner peace which brings wholeness, unity and balance to an individuals life. It's described as a harmonious nurturing environment in which You are its center.

You have been telling me that You are bringing harmony out of chaos, first to the human heart and flowing from that, a heart-to-heart relationship.  As I meditate on Your promises, they flood my heart and mind with peace, cleansing me from the stress of the day. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7

I can have peace with You, peace in my walk, and peace with my enemies. Shalom! What a wonderful word when you realize it’s full meaning. Thank You Father for Shalom.

                                                                      Written by Susie 1/00

 

 

 

Simple Fact on the Word "Shalom"

 

Shalom as Good Relationships

We tend to think of peace as the absence of war and hostilities. The Hebrew word is more positive, suggesting the presence of unity and amicable relationships.  This most common usage in the Old Testament occurs between fifty to sixty times.

Regarding King Solomon (Heb. Shelomoh), whose very name is related to this concept, we read that "He had a peace on every side all around him." (1 Kings 4:24) Because David has been a warrior and a man of blood, God rather chose his son Solomon, who was a man of peace, to build the temple.

 

Peace with God

"Peace with God." is theologically the most important usage, and also the most common (about two-thirds of the OT occurrences of shalom ). This peace is a gift from God, and cannot be earned. It often occurs in context of a covenant of peace. God made such a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:15

One of the best known and best-loved passages on the OT has God's representatives, the Levites, giving a blessing of peace. It is called the Aaronic benediction: "The Lord bless you and keep you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers6:24-26)

 

Prince of Peace

"Prince of Peace" (Sar Shalom) is one of Isaiah's several titles of the Messiah (9:6). The enmity and hostility of men against the Lord and against His Messiah are clearly drawn in Psalm 2 and several other texts.

 

Peace in the New Testament

One of the benefits of the Greek version of the OT (I.XX) is that it brought into a world  language much of the truth of the OT revelations. Then, building on the Hebrews original, the NT picks up these rich concepts and pours them into the Greek word eirene.

In Ephesians 2;14, Paul writes that (Jesus) Himself is our peace. Good relationships are restored between God and those who accept Christ as their Savior. Christ also initiates good relationships between those Jews and Gentiles accepting the Messiah, who pulls down the barriers  between us and creates in Himself "one new man" (2:15)

 

Because we have been "justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) His Spirit at work in our lives grants this peace. (Gal 5:22)

 

 

 

The Kingdom of heaven is the sphere in which God's rule is acknowledged. The Word "heaven" is used to denote God.

There are two aspects of the kingdom of heaven. In its broadest sense it includes everyone who professes to acknowledge God as Supreme Ruler. In its narrower aspect it includes only those who have been genuinely converted

 The kingdom of heaven in its inward aspect can be entered only by those who are converted. (Matt. 18:3) "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as a little child, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

1. The kingdom was prophesied in the OT. Daniel predicted that God would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed nor yield it sovereignty to another people. He also foresaw the coming of Christ to wield universal and everlasting dominion.  (Dan. 2:44 : Dan 7: 13,14: Jer. 23:5, 6)

2.  The kingdom was described by John the Baptist, Jesus and the twelve disciples as being at hand and present. (Matt. 3:2 - 4:17; 10:7) In Matthew 12:28, Jesus said "..if I cast out demons by Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  In Luke 17:21, He said, " For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you," or in your midst.

3. The kingdom is described in an interim form. After Jesus was rejected by the nation of Israel, the King returned to heaven. The kingdom exist today, while the King is absent, in the hearts of all who acknowledge His Kingship, and its moral and ethical principles, including the Sermon on the Mount, are applicable to us today.

4. The kingdom is what might be called its manifestation.  This is the one-thousand reign of Christ on earth which was pictured by the Transfiguration of Christ when He was seen in the glory of His coming to reign. (Matt. 17;1-8) Jesus referred to this phase when he said, "...many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

5. The final form will be the everlasting kingdom. 2 Peter 1:11-"..the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The phrase "kingdom of heaven" is found only in Matthew's Gospel, but "kingdom of God" is found in all four gospels.

Final Note: The kingdom is not the same as the church. The kingdom began when Christ Jesus embarked on His public ministry; the church began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) The kingdom will continue on earth till the earth is destroyed; the church continues on earth until the Rapture (the catching away or removal of the Church from earth when Christ descends from heaven and takes the believers home with Him. (1 Thess 4:13-18)

The Church will return with Christ at His second advent to reign with Him as His Bride! Hallelujah! So come Lord Jesus.

                              Believer's Bible Commentary