Monday, February 16, 2009

Upon entering the Promised Land, the people expected to enjoy ________, the deep peace of God.

The Hebrew term Shalom is often used to refer to the peace of God. It is a polysemous word, used in many different contexts with different connotations. It can be used as a greeting, in places where one would say "hello" or "goodbye" in English, and is the root of the custom practiced in many churches of "exchanging the peace", and in English liturgy is often translated as "the peace of the Lord."


The term shalom can refer to two different types of peace, that among humans (in contrast to war) and that between God and humans, in the sense of reconciliation and forgiveness. It refers to a state of wholeness, and spiritual well-being, as opposed to material prosperity. 


The "Promised Land" is mentioned is several of the books of the Old Testament, as a place given by God to the Israelites, where they could cease their wandering and live in peace. 

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