Shalom is a
special word in the Hebrew language meaning “peace, wholeness, well-being and
rest.” When you Know the Author of Peace then it is not difficult to know Peace
and wholeness as well. Peace is that one quality that money cannot buy.
Someone has said, “No God No Peace; and Know God, know
peace.” We have JEHOVAH SHALOM and He is our peace.
Judges 6 is the first
mention of JEHOVAH SHALOM. It is found in the History of Gideon who was
trouble by the Midianites attacking his homeland. During the previous two
hundred years, Joshua died and there was no central leadership in Israel. ‘Everyone
did what was right in his own eyes.’ They had forgotten about JEHOVAH, their
God and had turned to following the Idols of their neighbours. As a result of
their backsliding they had suffered defeat at the hands of their enemies. The
camel riding Midianites had invaded the land of Israel in such numbers they
were like locusts, and stolen their food each year.
Gideon was hiding from the Midianites threshing some grain
in a wine-press. The LORD wanted him to lead Israel in Battle against the enemy
but this young man didn’t believe he could succeed, even though the LORD had told
him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.”
Jdg 6:21 Then the Messenger of
the LORD touched the meat and the bread with the tip of the staff that was in
his hand. Fire flared up from the rock and burned the meat and the bread. Then
the Messenger of the LORD disappeared.
Jdg 6:22 That's when Gideon
realized that this had been the Messenger of the LORD. So he said, "LORD
God! I have seen the Messenger of the LORD face to face."
Jdg 6:23 The LORD said to him, "Calm down! Don't
be afraid. You will not die."
Jdg 6:24 So Gideon built an
altar there to the LORD. He called it JEHOVAH SHALOM - The LORD Calms. To this
day it is still in Ophrah, which belongs to Abiezer's family.GW
Barnes Notes: “Gideon’s naming the altar which he built, in
commemoration of the words of peace spoken by the Angel, is very similar to
what we read of Abraham Gen_22:14, and of Moses (Exo_17:15, when
he named the altar Jehovah-nissi).
God had now given Gideon Peace and calm in his soul before he ever won
the battle against the Midianites. Peace comes because of He who is there with
you, not because of the circumstances.God is greater than anything that we can
encounter. He wants to be our JEHOVAH SHALOM (the LORD MY PEACE) and not the
situation that you are facing.
| a Winepress 1400 years old |
Php 4:6 Never worry
about anything. Instead, in every situation
let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with
thanksgiving.
Php 4:7 Then God's peace, which goes far beyond
anything we can imagine, will guard
your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah Jesus.
Applications
1.
Don’t get all worried about ANYTHING. If you
need something then pray and ask for it and then thank the Lord for it.
2.
In Israel they say “SHALOM, SHALOM”, as a
greeting. They say it twice because they want you to have peace on the inside
and the outside. Shalom means “whole”. When God’s peace reign in you then you
are whole. You don’t have to worry about the future because The LORD our Peace
will provide for you complete and give you His Perfect peace.
3.
Jesus is
the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6. Let Him give you His peace today.
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