8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
Though “shalom” is often translated as “peace,” its meaning is much richer and fuller. It connotes soundness, completeness, or wholeness. In one’s personal life, it suggests well¬ being, safety, and contentment of spirit, “safely”; “all is well with”. For a nation, it suggests security and cessation of conflict. Among companions, it suggests friendship and freedom from discord.
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Between human beings and God, therefore, it suggests a close and unhindered relationship. Indeed, it is only in relationship with the God of peace, a relationship made possible through faith in Jesus Christ, that true shalom can be fully realized.
