“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
–Isaiah 9:6

This is a time of year when I am really reminded that my God is also the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). So, here is a silly question: why not the King of Peace? Is there relevance to being the “prince” as opposed to the “king” of peace, or was it simply an example of literary alliteration? So… I googled it.

The Greek word eirene means unity and accord. The most common word in the Bible translated into “peace” is the Hebrew word “shalom”. In Hebrew, shalom and its variants can be translated to mean “wholeness” and “to make whole” and “to restore”. Obviously its precise meaning depends on its context.

In my digging, one of the things that most intrigued me is that shalom is often used in reference to personal relationships, and it means “wholeness” of relationship. It has other context, but during this time and place, it was the personal relationship context that resonates with me. Boy, that sounds selfish. That Christ came and died in order to make my relationship with Him whole. Something I could never do on my own.

I’m still not sure where the “prince” part comes in, but I simply must stop and deal with my personal relationship with God, and how He seeks to make me whole. What does that mean? What does that look like? I don’t know, exactly. Living as His disciple is a life of figuring that out because I am changing constantly… as I learn more about Him and as He reveals His glory to me. What I do know though, is that He is also Prince of Peace to all of you, and SO AM I if I am made in His image. That, to me, is where the communal context of shalom becomes most tangible. What am I doing to bring “wholeness” and “restoration” to my brothers and sisters? No so much in relationship to me, but in YOUR relationship with Christ? Not just those who have their salvation in Him, but those who are still searching or heading the other direction. I think, I know, that one of the reasons I write is to share who Christ is to me, in order that it might help others towards their knowing more of Christ… helping to fill and restore other’s relationship with the Price of Peace.

Getting back to the importance of the personal aspect of shalom, I like how one writer put it –
“But, first of all, to be “shalom-makers” it is imperative that we make our shalom with God.”

May this day, this season, the coming day of celebrating Christ’s birth, bring you closer to true shalom with the Prince of Peace.