Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord Is Peace

by Chris Simmons

In Judges Chapter 6 we read that because of the iniquity of the Israelites, God had delivered them into the hands of the Midianite nation for seven years of oppression. During this period of history, the Midianites along with the Amalekites would wait until it was time for the harvest and “destroy the produce of the earth…and leave no sustenance in Israel” (verse 4). The Israelites then “cried to the Lord” and God sent a prophet to them to remind them that it was Jehovah who had delivered them from Egyptian captivity and from all who had oppressed them before, and it was He who had driven out all of the inhabitants of the land in which they now dwelt, and yet “you have not obeyed Me” God said (verses 7-9).

An angel of the Lord then visits a man named Gideon and gives him the divine message that “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior” (verse 12). This statement prompts a question in Gideon’s mind and he responds by asking, “If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” (verse 13). The Lord answers Gideon by simply saying “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” (verse 14). Gideon had been sent by God and was simply charged with the command to “go.” Similar to Moses (Exodus 3:11; 4:10), Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 1:6) and perhaps ourselves, Gideon did not feel adequate (II Corinthians 2:16; 3:5-6) for the task which God had given to him to accomplish and asked “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house” (verse 15). Similar to the responses to Moses and Jeremiah are the words to Gideon, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man” (verse 16). Gideon then asked for a sign that he might know that it was truly God who was speaking to him through the angel (verse 17). After the angel miraculously causes the sacrifice Gideon had prepared to be immediately consumed by fire, Gideon declared, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face” (verse 22). Jehovah then responded by saying “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die,” and Gideon replied by building an altar to Jehovah and naming it “Jehovah Shalom” or “the Lord is Peace” (verse 24). Gideon’s anxiety, doubt and fear having now been allayed, Gideon recognizes that Jehovah is peace and the source of all peace.

“The basic idea underlying all the various translations of this one Hebrew word – a harmony of relationship or a reconciliation based upon the completion of a transaction, the payment of a debt, the giving of satisfaction. Therefore this word is most often and most appropriately translated ‘peace’ some 170 times. It expressed the deepest desire and need of the human heart” (Names of God, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago). Peace is about harmony and reconciliation. God is the source of all such harmony and reconciliation and in Jeremiah 29:11 we read that such peace is foremost in His thoughts towards mankind. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

It could be said that the establishment of peace between God and man is the theme of the Bible. Above all else, any biblical discussions about peace must begin with the peace between God and man. It was prophesied that the Messiah that was to come who would reign in the kingdom would carry the name the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7). In the old law, there were many references to a “peace offering” which was one of the blood sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people (Leviticus 7:11-21) and illustrated the need for a restoration of fellowship between God and man. Paul states in Ephesians 2:13-18 that Jesus is “our peace” in that those who once were “far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” In that context, Paul spoke of both harmony and reconciliation that all men (both Jews and Greeks) have through, and in, Christ (cf. Colossians 1:19-23). Justification through the blood of Christ brings about peace (Romans 5:1), while continuing “in the faith firmly established and steadfast” (Colossians 1:19-23) is what maintains and sustains our peace. Paul devoted his life as a Christian to helping to establish peace between God and man and to bring about the reconciliation that we so desperately need (II Corinthians 5:20-21).

But there’s another type of peace referenced in God’s word that can’t be attained without first establishing peace with God through the forgiveness of our sins. It’s the inner peace that comes from knowing that because we are in fellowship with God, we don’t need to worry about the affairs of this life (Matthew 6:32-33). It’s the calmness and serenity that comes from knowing that we have eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (cf. Jude 24-25). It’s a peace which the world can not offer (“…My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful,” John 14:27) and it’s a peace that those with a mind set on the flesh are not able to comprehend (Philippians 4:7, “…the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension…”). It’s the peace that would allow a man such as Peter, with expectation of being put to death for his allegiance to Jesus Christ, just as James had been previously, to sleep peacefully knowing that whether he lived, or whether he died, he belonged to the Lord (Acts 12:1-17; Romans 14:7-8; Philippians 1:21-25). It’s the type of peace that allowed two men (Paul and Silas) who were beaten and imprisoned for preaching the gospel in Philippi to publicly pray and sing hymns of praise to God (Acts 16:22-25). It’s the peace that would allow Paul to sit in a Roman prison and pen the words to the brethren in Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Talk about a peace that defies human understanding and that transcends any human experience!

Do you have that kind of peace? Through our faith and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can have peace with our heavenly Father and a peace within ourselves beyond comprehension. The Lord is peace.