9 - Jehovah Shalom
Scripture Passages: Judges 6, John 14
Devotional
In the book of Judges, we encounter a powerful moment in the life of Gideon, a man who was chosen by God during a time of great distress for Israel. In Judges 6:7–10, the Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, and they cried out to the Lord for deliverance. In response, God sent a prophet to remind them of His past faithfulness—how He had brought them out of Egypt, delivered them from oppression, and given them a land of peace. However, God also reminded them that their disobedience had led them to this point of suffering.
It is in this moment of spiritual crisis that the Lord appears to Gideon, calling him a “mighty man of valour”, even though Gideon saw himself as anything but mighty. His family was poor, and he was living in fear, trying to survive under the oppressive rule of the Midianites. Yet God saw something in Gideon that he could not see in himself. God was not just calling Gideon to act with strength, but to trust in the power that only comes from God Himself.
When the angel of the Lord spoke to Gideon, He revealed something more than a mere message of deliverance. He revealed the essence of God’s character: His peace. In Judges 6:23, after Gideon recognizes he has been speaking with the Lord, God responds with a profound declaration: “Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” At this moment, Gideon understood that he had encountered the very presence of Jehovah Shalom—the Lord our Peace.
The name Jehovah Shalom means “The Lord is Peace.” This name of God is not just a declaration of tranquility, but of wholeness, safety, and well-being. It is the kind of peace that transcends circumstances. It is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God’s grace in the midst of it. For Gideon, encountering the Lord in this way transformed his understanding of who God is and who he was in God’s sight. The peace that Gideon experienced was a gift, granted not because of his own efforts or worthiness, but because of God’s mercy and presence.
God’s peace, Jehovah Shalom, is available to all who are willing to surrender to His will and recognize His holiness. It is a peace that comes when we stop relying on our own strength and abilities and, like Gideon, understand that we cannot win the battle in our own might. When we face challenges and trials, we often forget that true peace does not come from the absence of trouble, but from God’s presence in the midst of it.
For us, as New Testament believers, Jehovah Shalom is fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who Himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14 tells us, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” Jesus, through His sacrifice on the cross, has made peace between God and mankind, and He continues to be the source of peace in our lives.
The peace of God is not a fleeting feeling; it is a firm foundation for our lives. It is peace that remains, even when the storms of life rage around us. It is peace that tells us we do not need to be afraid, because the Lord is with us. Jehovah Shalom’s peace is rooted in God’s holiness, His unchanging nature, and His faithfulness. For Gideon, that peace was the assurance that he would not die, that God would be with him, and that he could face his fears with confidence.
In our own lives, we can sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed by fear, doubt, and confusion. Like Gideon, we may feel unqualified, uncertain, and lost. But Jehovah Shalom offers us peace in those moments of uncertainty. When we turn to God, acknowledge His sovereignty, and trust in His presence, we can experience a peace that transcends our circumstances.
Prayer:
Lord, I come to You today asking for Your peace. There are areas of my life where anxiety and fear are taking hold. Forgive me for trying to handle things on my own. I invite You into these situations. Jehovah Shalom, fill me with Your peace and help me trust that You are with me, guiding me through every challenge. Amen