YHWH SHALOM: The LORD is Peace

The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:23-24)

But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it Yahweh Shalom (Judges 6:23-24 HCSB)

But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. (Judges 6:23-24 ESV)

Derivations/Usage

  • YHWH: from the Hebrew word “havah”, meaning “to be” or “being”. Closely associated with the Hebrew word “chavah”, meaning “to live” or “life”
  • Shalom: shalom or shalom, shaw-lome’; (shalam); safe, i.e. (figurative) well, happy, friendly; also (abstract) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace :- do, familiar, fare, favour, + friend, great, (good) health, (perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ty), salute, welfare, (all is, be) well, wholly. (from www.mystudybible.com)
  • Usage of “shalom” in the Old Testament: Welfare (Genesis 43:27); good health (Genesis 43:28); all is well, safe ( 2 Samuel 18: 28, 29); prosperity (Psalm 35:27); favor (Song of Solomon 8:10); rest (Psalm 38:3); whole (Deuteronomy 27:6); finished (1 Kings 9:25; Daniel 5:26); full (Genesis 15:16); make good (Exodus 21:34); restitution or repay, well or welfare (Exodus 22:5, 6; Genesis 43:27; 2 Samuel 20:9); pay or perform in the sense of fulfilling or completing obligations (Psalm 37:21; 50:14; Deuteronomy 23:21). In some cases it is translated requite and recompense (Deuteronomy 32:35). Several times it is given as perfect (1 Chronicles 29:19) the idea being wholeness or in harmony with God. (from “All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible” by Herbert Lockyer)

YHWH (Jehovah) is Peace

The Israelites were in a bind. They disobeyed God’s command to drive out the inhabitants of the promised land (Judges 1:27-35) because they

  • had forgotten about Jehovah Jireh, who provided redemption from bondage
  • were not mindful of Jehovah Raphah, who healed their sicknesses and sorrows
  • turned their backs on Jehovah Nissi, who had been their banner in battle, and so suffered defeats as they strove to conquer the land in their own power, and
  • they would not sanctify themselves to Jehovah M’Kaddesh, but instead bowed to the gods of their enemies.

A new generation was born who did not know the LORD their ancestors had forgotten.

Peace is for the righteous

  • The LORD is the source of peace in His attitude
    (Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 48:18, Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 26:12, Isaiah 66:12, Numbers 6:26)
  • The LORD is the source of peace in His presence (Judges 6:12)
  • The LORD is the source of perfect peace (Isaiah 26:2-3)
  • Righteousness precedes peace (Isaiah 32:17-18)

Peace is not for the wicked

  • The LORD is with those who are with Him (Judges 6:13, 2 Chronicles 15:2) 
  • The LORD withdraws His peace (Jeremiah 16:5)
  • There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:20, 21; Isaiah 59:7-8; Isaiah 48:22) 
  • The way of peace they have not known (Romans 3:17-18) 

Jesus is our Perfect Peace (Ephesians 3:11-18)

  • He is the source of our peace as The Angel of the LORD (Judges 6)
  • He is the source of our peace in His birth (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:78-79, Luke 2:14)
  • He is the source of our peace in His life (John 14:27; John 16:33)
  • He is the source of our peace in His death (Romans 5:1, 6-10; Colossians 1:20)
  • He is the source of our peace in His resurrection (John 20:19; John 20:21)
  • He is the source of our peace, with God the Father (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 3; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 John 1:3)
  • He is the source of our peace, with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
  • His peace guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7)
    • If we trust (Philippians 4:6)
    • If we obey (Philippians 4:9)
  • His peace rules in our hearts (Colossians 3:15)

 


Praying to God by Name

From “Praying the Names of God” by Ann Spangler

Reflect On:    Judges 6:1-24

Praise God:        For his power to deliver us.

Offer Thanks:     For punishments that bring us back to God.

Confess:             Any patterns in your life that keep you from experiencing God’s peace.

Ask God:           To free you from spiritual oppression.

Reflect On:    Philippians 4:6-9

Praise God:        Because he is full of mercy.

Offer Thanks:     That God’s Son is our peace.

Confess:             Any habits of worry and anxiety.

Ask God:           To grant you the peace that passes understanding.

Reflect On:    Psalm 122

Praise God:        For his sovereignty over the nations and rulers of the world.

Offer Thanks:     For the peace we have enjoyed as a nation.

Confess:             Any lack of faith in God’s power to bring peace.

Ask God:           To create a lasting peace in the Middle East.

 

Hymns based on Jehovah Shalom

 JEHOVAH-SHALOM,
THE LORD SEND PEACE

JESUS, whose blood so freely stream’d
To satisfy the law’s demand;
By thee from guilt and wrath redeem’d,
Before the Father’s face I stand.

To reconcile offending man,
Make Justice drop her angry rod;
What creature could have form’d the plan,
Or who fulfil it but a God?

No drop remains of all the curse,
For wretches who deserved the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce
The guilty but returning soul.

Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hoped to see?
Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought,
His Sovereign fasten’d to a tree.

Now, LORD, thy feeble worm prepare!
For strife with earth and hell begins;
Confirm and gird me for the war,
They hate the soul that hates his sins.

Let them in horrid league agree!
They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench thy love to me,
Nor rob me of the LORD my peace.

William Cowper
“William Cowper’s Olney Hymns”, p 31

He Is Our Peace

He is our peace,
Who has broken down ev’ry wall;
He is our peace, He is our peace.
He is our peace,
Who has broken down ev’ry wall;
He is our peace, He is our peace.

 Cast all your cares on Him
For He cares for you.
He is our peace, He is our peace.
Cast all your cares on Him
For He cares for you.
He is our peace, He is our peace.

Kandela Groves © 1975 Maranatha! Music | CCCM Music

PEACE, PERFECT PEACE

Peace, perfect peace,
in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus
whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace,
by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus,
this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace,
with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom
naught but calm is found.

 Peace, perfect peace,
our future all unknown?
Jesus we know,
and He is on the throne.

 Peace, perfect peace,
death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death
and all its powers

 It is enough:
earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus, call us
to heav’n’s perfect peace.

 Edward K. Bickersteth

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