On the way to Sunday ... Asking Why?

We ask why in the face of tragedy because there is a part of us that knows “this” isn’t right.

When bombs are ignited at the Boston Marathon and people are killed, we know that’s not right.
When a child slowly dies of cancer, or a young mother or father, we know that’s not right.
When a woman is abused, we know that’s not right.
When children are hungry and starving, we know that’s not right.
When children are growing up without fathers and mothers, we know that’s not right.
Whether we believe in God or not, something in us tells us this events aren’t right.
Something causes us to ask Why? Why aren’t things right?

There is a reason for our questioning: 

The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it. 16 But the Lord told him, “You may eat fruit from any tree in the garden, except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong."  Genesis 2:15-17 CEV

Creation was good. The Human Race had everything they needed to be healthy and happy. There was one rule and that one rule was broken and with it came knowledge of right and wrong – good and evil. In other words, we learned to know when things are the way they should be and when they are not. And as descendants of Adam and Eve, we have inherited their problem and no matter hard we try, life will never quite be the way we hoped it would be. That’s why we find it so disappointing that things aren’t the way they are supposed to be.

The prophets of old used to dream about the time when things would be made right. They wrote of the Promised Day when God would make everything right as it was supposed to be. They had a word for it: shalom. 

So, as the events of the the week - or the events of your life - cause you to ask, "Why?"

I offer you this answer:  Shalom - שָׁלוֹם

Most people know the Hebrew word shalom as a term of greeting. However, while Shalom is used to greet people and to bid them farewell and it also means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye" 

The interesting thing about Hebrew words is that they go beyond their spoken pronunciation in meaning. Each Hebrew word also conveys feeling, intent and emotion. Shalom means more than just simple peace. According to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalem meaning to be complete, perfect and full.  In other words, shalom means “all things the way they are supposed to be.” To say shalom describes a process, an activity, a movement towards fullness. When Shalom is rendered it means:

To make amends
To make good
To be (or to make) peace
To restore
Peace
Prosperity
Wellness

Shalom then is as much a prayer of hope as it is a greeting. Shalom, may all things be as they are supposed to be. One day, according to the Bible, they will be – but not yet. We keep running into the things of life that aren't right and we keep asking, “Why?” We ask because we know things aren’t right. And yet we hope ... Shalom.

Remember Jesus was called the Prince of Peace (Sar shalom) which perfectly described the ministry and personality of our Messiah.

So in the moments come that cause us to ask Why?

May I offer a simple answer - a simple prayer: Shalom - שָׁלוֹם
 
I'll see you Sunday ... and until then ... Shalom to you.