This past Sunday a guest speaker in our adult Sunday School spoke about ministry to Muslims. In the course of his talk he told us that “Islam” is an Arabic word for “submission,” that is, submission to Allah. However, Muslims will often say that “Islam” means “peace,” because the consonants of the word in Arabic are related to the Hebrew/Arabic word for peace, shalom. It may be misleading to leave out the literal sense of “submission” when explaining the meaning of Islam, but the connection makes good sense, even in Jewish and Christian terms.
As we move on in Proverbs to chapter 3 we encounter the only two times the Hebrew word shalom “peace” is used in the first nine chapters. In verse 2 the parent says that their teaching and commandments will provide peace (translated “abundant welfare”), while in verse 17 we read about wisdom “all her paths are peace.”
It’s often been noted that the Hebrew concept of shalom is much richer and broader than our notions of peace. For us it’s almost a negative concept, the absence of conflict, or perhaps an internal sense of calm and tranquility. But as the first translation (“abundant welfare”) attempts to communicate and as the whole chapter unfolds, shalom denotes a wide sense of well-being that includes material prosperity, mental calm, and spiritual security. It is both peace with God and peace with other human beings.
The message of Proverbs is that wisdom is the path to shalom, to peace, as it says directly in verse 17. That is why, in verses 13-16 wisdom is prized higher than precious metals or jewels, and is said to provide long-life and honor. That is why in verses 21-26 wisdom is what gives one a sense of confidence and brings sweet and peaceful sleep without fear.
This extensive peace, this shalom is an extravagant promises for the pursuit of wisdom. To some extent it requires the rest of the book of Proverbs to unpack this promise and show how it can result from seeking wisdom. In the meantime it is good to know that there is another route to peace and prosperity besides the endless hard work and eternal vigilance by which we have often pursued those prizes.