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Jehovah Shalom
Gideon
Gideon was hurled up in a cave, beating the wheat near the wine skins. We don’t have to know too much about how life used to be to know that wheat dusted wine skins isn’t a great idea.
Doing his job,, afraid and hiding away; Gideon was scared and for good reason. Once again the Israelites have forgotten who God is-who He has proven Himself to be time and again, and they’ve chosen to walk away from the Lord and to their own sin.
Here, the angel of the Lord visits Gideon.
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh 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. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Gideon’s Offering Consumed with Fire
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 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. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Judges 6:11-23
Peace Be Unto Thee
I’m sure you’ve heard the greeting, “Shalom,” at some point in your life. I remember walking through the bustling DC mall when a group of young people passed us by, hands raised up high, greeting us as they went, “Shalom.”
I question their sincerity, but we were able to teach our son that Shalom means peace.
God’s Peace
However, they were not really attempting to spread peace, and that’s ok because they are not equipped to bring anyone peace or even receive it by themselves. Shalom alone misses the mark in a big way. But, JEHOVAH SHALOM? Now, that is God’s Peace!
JEHOVAH SHALOM, God’s Peace!
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
This is what God’s angel said to Gideon, too.
And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Judges 6:23
Peace
Today my elderly father returns to the doctor. We’re not sure if he’ll have to be admitted back to the hospital or not, but we’re praying not.
Today my dear friend, a cancer survivor, endures yet another biopsy and waits for the results; we’re praying for an all clear.
Today my second mom sits by the empty chair her husband of almost 70 years filled until very recently; God, be near her.
Today my former roommate and friend limps on a mangled toe, weary from burying her own husband and nursing her aging mom’s health. It’s been a tough few months and many long years as a caregiver. May God take care of her as no one ever has.
Today my sweet friend watches in anguish to see just how much more of their beautiful marriage her husband will lose the memory of next. Horrible disease to watch unfold in someone you love most. I pray the Lord’s peace will grab her and hold her tightly.
Today a best friend greets another morning hoping it was all a bad dream but realizing new and fresh the hard truth that her husband-just as unexpectedly- joined her mother’s new arrival-in heaven. Her heart has never known deeper pain. May Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace, hold her.
Today our nation prepares for inauguration of a new president, and we pray for God’s hand of mercy. Mercy so undeserved, so needed. How we need to turn to Him.
Can you relate?
Today, I join this list with my own set of needs, I bet you do, too. Each of us have a space in our lives for peace. We all need HIS peace whatever our lives hold.
Today we all long for Jehovah Shalom.
God’s People
Praise the Lord, God wants to bless His people. Though the Israelites chose to turn from Him again and again, and even dealing with the consequences they had to face, God never left them.
God wants to bless His people. That’s me! And that’s you if you know Him and walk with Him. You are not God’s enemy when you are His own, you are His family and friend!
God’s Blessing
God’s blessing is so important that He gave the exact words to Moses to use as a blessing over His people.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Numbers 6:22-27
I was just talking with my brother about our grandfather. Pa and Gram lived in Upstate New York and we lived several states away. So many beautiful memories with them.
It’s funny how as a child, and probably until-like yesterday-I liked to think Pa sat in his chair from one visit to the next, months in between, waiting for me to push open the garage door and barrel down the hall to jump in his lap. His face beaming to see me again.
Pa loved and adored me. My own countenance reflected his glow when he looked in my face, and I can’t think of anything, tangibly, that was a bigger blessing in my life or more peaceful than Pa’s face shining on me.
Covenant with God
There in the Old Testament God has a covenant with His people, Israel, and He showers them with His blessing in Numbers 6:22-27.
We are the recipients of God’s blessings, but His blessings over us are really all about Him, God Himself and not much about His people.
God gives Moses instruction to say this blessing to them: THE LORD (bless thee and keep thee). THE LORD (make His face shine upon thee and be gracious to thee). THE LORD ( lift us His countenance upon thee and give thee peace). I, THE LORD, (will bless them).
Not to be left out, God has something to say to us, His new covenant Believers. You and me.
The Peace of God
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Jehovah Shalom, The Lord of Peace
Not just, Shalom, but JEHOVAH SHALOM, God of Peace. He IS Peace.
In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; For thou, Jehovah, alone makes me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
Peace for You and Me
Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace. Oh, our wonderful God! I am blessed by God’s Word. He amazes me each time I take with Him. He altogether encourages and convicts me, edifies and humbles me. I am thankful. I pray you, too, will draw close to Jehovah Shalom and seek peace.
Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
