Jehovah Shalom: The Lord my Peace
It is interesting how the Lord showed Israel His character, by giving them names.
This would be the character He would manifest to them, in the situation they were in. It would be what they needed from Him now….would they receive it?
And what was the situation that Israel was in when He said “The Lord my Peace”?
Was it when they had peace and prosperity?
No.
Actually, Israel was worshipping idols…the gods of the people they were living among. They had no peace, spiritually, or temporally.
Judges 6:1 “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.”
God’s people were identifying with their enemies, in their worship, instead of being separate from them, to God. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “…come out from among them, and be ye separate…)
So, to awaken the people to their sin, God permitted enemies to come into the land and take away much of their harvest…year after year.
This had continued for years, and finally God shows Himself to someone who had a very small knowledge of God….he knew a little of what God had done before…but no knowledge of Him, for himself.
Judges 6:12-13 “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
And Gideon said unto Him, O my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”
To me, this is pretty mouthy. But God does not correct him, because he was asking the right question….just in the wrong tone.
See what the Lord does: “And the Lord looks upon him…” (Judges 6:14).
I want to say here, that when the Lord gives you “that look”, things change.
God tells him to, “Go in this thy might and thou shalt save Israel….Have not I sent thee?”
Gideon now asks, How?
And the Lord says, “Surely I will be with thee,…” (Judges 6:15-16).
God’s Presence means grace…the unmerited favor of power. Power on the inside for faith, courage, and trust. Power on the outside for guidance, strength, and ability.
So Gideon says, “If I have found grace in Thy sight, show me a sign…”
(Psalm 86:17 “Show me a token for good: that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because Thou, Lord, hast helped me and comforted me.”)
And here is where the Lord shows him His character:
Gideon goes to “bring forth my present”….a meat-offering, for the Lord. And when he brings it:
Judges 6:20-21 “And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.”
All of a sudden Gideon knows God’s power, and is afraid….”Alas, O Lord God!…”
(“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked”. Isaiah 57:21)
Only God can give real peace…steady, comforting, and establishing peace.
But then the Lord speaks peace to the one He is calling….and an altar to the Lord, is made.
Judges 6:23-24 “And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Then Gideon built there an altar unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord my Peace): unto this day it is yet in Oprah of the Abi-ezrites.”
Shalom or Peace in the Bible means “the end of all strife, the removal of everything that causes division; and a giving of wholeness or wellness.”
The offering, and the altar shows sacrifice, and it is only on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice that we may have peace with God.
Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whither they be things in the earth, or things in heaven.”
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
Peace of mind and heart are given as we learn to trust in Him.
He will keep us…we do not keep Him, but simply hang on to Him and HIs Word by the arm of trust.
“Mind” here is imagination; and how many times we let our minds follow a path which leads us no where near where God wants us.
The Lord showed Gideon His character by this name: The Lord my Peace.
He gives us peace with God, peace with each other, and peace, even with ourselves.
He is peace. He speaks peace. All, by, and in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He has it for me, you and all His people…inside to establish us in faith, courage and trust…..and outside, for guidance, strength and ability…..will we yield to Him and receive it?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 