Names of God | Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace

Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace

It's a new month in the  Create Truth Art Challenge and we are going to be studying a few of the Names of God, this week looking at Jehovah Shalom. This is the devotional part the Challenge (the Truth Prompt).  You can find the entire lesson, including this devotion and the Creative Prompt, as well as all of the other weekly lessons in the Grace in Color Classroom.  It’s FREE to sign up, so head on over so you don’t miss a thing.

Context of the Name

This name was given to the Lord by Gideon in Judges 6. I kind of love this account for a few reasons. Basically, Gideon was a brave man who was afraid. The Israelites were being oppressed by their enemies, because of their disobedience to God. (v1-10). So much so that he was threshing wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. Seriously, threshing wheat in a winepress! Think about that for a minute. Wheat was threshed in open air so the wind could help separate the chaff from the grain. However, the threshing floor was also an easy target for the enemy to come and steal or destroy the grain. A winepress was basically a pit where grapes were crushed for wine. Gideon was hiding. I find comfort in this.

If you read the story (and you really should), you will see that an angel appears to Gideon. At first, he doesn't know who he is and starts complaining about his circumstance. I love this, too, because Gideon the warrior, was whining. To an angel.

That angel then tells him “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”. At this point, Gideon reminds us a bit of Moses and lists off the reason he is not qualified to do this. #loveit.

Then, when he finally starts to get a clue who he is talking to, he demands proof! The angel gladly gives the proof by causing a great big spontaneous bonfire and Gideon freaks out a bit. The prevailing thought at the time was that if you witnessed an angel face to face, you would die. Knowing this, the Lord told Gideon “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.”  Side note: how awesome that God knew his fear and addressed them head on.

Now, the next part of the accounting is critical. “Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace.” (Jehovah-Shalom) And what does he do next? After his act of worship? He obeys. He gets past his objections and his feelings of inadequacy, puts on his warrior face, and destroys the altar of Baal. Gideon totally rocks. Once he realized he was at peace with God. Do you see that? Cool.

Scripture

When the hour was dark for Gideon, and he was literally hiding from his enemies, God revealed Himself as a God of peace, reminding him of what he was being called to do. God saw something in Gideon that Gideon did not see in himself.

God is still the God of peace. And we can be at peace in Him through the work of Jesus on the cross.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:19-20 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.“

Application

God sees beyond our fears & frailties. God does not save us & use us for what we already are but for what by His grace we may become in Christ.  And only because of his saving power in us can we stand proudly, stop hiding, and do the work we were called to do.

What about yourself do you think could disqualify you from doing the work of God?  How does the way you see yourself differ from the way God views you?  And which image do think is most true?

Pray for the ability to clearly see the grace that God has given each of us and allow yourself to be awed by His goodness in giving it.

REMEMBER: An organized list of all of the devotions and creative prompts for the Create Truth Art Challenge are found in the Grace in Color Classroom.  Sign up for the FREE challenge now.  I designed Create Truth Art  so that you can jump in at any time.  Each devotion and art prompt stand alone.  Of course, the goal is to be in God’s Word more and more, so I’d love it you followed along with us each week!  There is, however, no pressure and no stress involved in this fun way to grow closer to God.