Jehovah Shalom
The Lord Our Peace In the fast paced world we live in where we have to swim with the
sharks, peace is certainly not a description you would apply to our
society. We break minutes up into sixty
parts and aim for maximum use of each one.
The world’s demands and our County’s drive for efficient use of time
seem to spur us on into an ever increasing frenzy. In all that hurry and stress the person who
lives in Jehovah Shalom sticks out like an oasis. Sometimes shalom is translated whole, or
well, and that is certainly a part of living in peace. We have the cure for
this fast paced stress filled society, Jehovah Shalom.
In
Judges chapter six we meet a man named Gideon.
Joshua had died 200 years earlier and Israel had no central government.
The Word says “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Gideon certainly did not see himself as a
leader. The Midianites used their new
secret weapon, the camel, to subjugate Israel.
Because Israel had forgotten God and turned to the idol worship of their
neighbors God allowed this enemy to come against them. But in Judges 6:6 the people called out to
Jehovah to rescue them. God called
Gideon to lead the people to victory. He
told Gideon, “Surely I will be with you and you shall smite the Midianites as
one man.” Jesus within us gives us
strength and ability that is way beyond our own.
When
the angel of the Lord (Jesus) came to Gideon in Judges 6:11 Gideon’s sacrifice
was consumed. Gideon knew he had seen God and thought he would die. The angel
answered him in verses 23,24. Gideon
built an altar and called it Jehovah Shalom. God prepared Gideon for war by
becoming his peace. Peace does not come from outward circumstances, it comes
from who God is inside you. If you grasp
that you can live a life of peace. The vast army of the Midianites didn’t drive
out his peace once He confirmed that Jehovah Shalom was indeed with him. Is He
with you?
Phil
4:6-7 Note carefully what God’s path to peace is: First don’t worry, go to God
with your concerns. Then with thanks tell him what you need. With thanks, indicates you know him as a
Father who desires to and is able to meet all your needs. Then Shalom (blessing, wholeness, peace),
that is beyond reasoning, comprehension, understanding, will guard or protect
your heart (desires and emotions) and mind (thought life) in Christ Jesus (the
Anointed Salvation of Jehovah) We
should commit that to memory.
Is
9:6 Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If you’re in touch with his presence in your
life you are in touch with peace. He has made peace between God and us by his
payment (another translation for shalom) for our sins. Jer 29:11 is possible because He stands
forever before the Father with the sign of payment, the scars of the nails, so
that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Shalom also means perfect. I
can’t think of a better description for my Savior. Jerusalem, Jesus’ city means
“city of peace” or “possession of peace”.
Is
66:12 God wants us to have peace like a
river, that reaches out and brings his peaceful presence to those we come in
contact with. It never runs out or runs
dry. It takes two to fight but only one
to bring peace. Mt.5:9 The peacemakers are called Sons of God.
The
Greek word for peace is “eirene” which means to live life at its best.
When
Christ was born the angels sang Lk 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men.” Peace himself had come to earth. After his resurrection his first words to the
disciples were, “Peace be unto you.” Col
3:15 His peace should rule our hearts. He paid a great price so that it could.
We go against his sacrificial work when we don’t allow it to. Is 26:3 When our
mind is fixed on Him and who He is to us we have peace. It is our choice as to
where we will set our thoughts and yield our emotions. Ro 8:6 says to be
spiritually minded is live and peace.
One
of the greatest pictures of peace to me is Psalm 23. Lying in green pastures by
still waters is where He leads us. Even walking through the valley of the
shadow of death, He is with us. We can have peace even there. Peace is not
circumstances but the relationship and presence of the Prince of Peace in the
middle of the worst situation. Jn 6:17-21 See the waves and the wind? Is Jesus bouncing up and down out there? I don’t think so. Where ever Jesus is there
is peace. Let Jehovah Shalom in your boat!
Are
you allowing Jehovah Shalom to reign over the situations of your life? If not
determine now that you will let Him into each of those areas.
Jn
14:27,28, Nu 6:24-26, Mt 11:28,29, Ps 119:165
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