Sabbath and Shalom

April 20, 2017

Student Choice: Sabbath and Shalom

“So it is possible to hear this text about primordial beginnings suggesting also the promise of ultimate endings, pointing towards the time when perfect peace, shalom, will finally be established once and for all, when the universal history of God will one day be consummated, fully sanctified, beyond the sinfulness and the finitude of this world of human and cosmic history.” – Paul Santmire

This quote refers to a new understanding of the Sabbath. The author points out that on the seventh day, there was no official ending declared. He argues that because of this, the Sabbath could continue on forever, with true peace not to be found in this fallen world. Instead, this peace or shalom – conveying wholeness – will be found when Jesus returns, bringing with him a new heaven and a new earth. He argues that all of creation is in a broken state but that does prevent Jesus from working through creation. In the same way that human can operate within God’s purpose, nature is also achieving God’s purpose.