My proper name is Donald, but I’m also called dad, father, grandpa, son, uncle, brother, nephew, and Pastor along with others. Each of these is a name for me which describes certain attributes. God’s proper name is Jehovah, but as with you and me His is known by other names that describe Him.
Jehovah Shalom
Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Shalom is a derivative of shâlêm (which means "be complete" or "sound") Shalom is translated as "peace" or "absence from strife. The name Jehovah Shalom appears only once in the Bible
Judges 6:21-24 (NKJV)21 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face."23 Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die."24 So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Bold mine)
With all that is going on in the world today; terrorism, the threat of nuclear war, religious hatred, racial hatred, sexism, sexual orientation, rich versus poor, young versus old, I could go on and on; peace seems impossible. Those are just some of the things going on in the world, but we don’t have peace in many of our homes either. There’s no peace because of money, rebellious children, meddling in-laws, sickness, infidelity and even more. Where can we find peace when all this is going on around us. What about the things going on inside us, frustration, fear, anxiety, worry? Where’s the peace? Where’s the shalom? Gideon gives us the answer.
Judges 6:24 (NJKV) So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Bold mine)
Gideon built the altar that he named “The-LORD-Peace after getting a message from God that He was going to use him to deliver the children of Israel from Midian Gideon asked for a sign just to make sure that he was talking to an angel of the Lord, and after he got a sign that convinced him Gideon built the altar. Read the entire account in the sixth Chapter of Judges.
Gideon found peace in a person and that person was Jehovah. He found peace in Jehovah and what He said to him. "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die."
Jehovah is the same today as he was when the talked to Gideon through His angel.
Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Jehovah also promised a Messiah who would be called the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We know that Jesus is that Messiah and the Prince of Peace. Jesus is Jehovah Shalom. Jesus is peace.
Ephesians 2:13-17 (NKJV)13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near (Bold mine).
The Greek word for peace eirēnē, corresponds to the Hebrew word shalom and expresses the idea of peace, well-being, restoration, reconciliation with God. Reconciliation with God happens at salvation and that only happens through the right relationship with the Prince of Peace, Jesus.
The peace that comes from God through Jesus is not a psychological state of mind; this peace is spiritual peace…the peace of the God of all Creation. This is the peace of people whose sins are forgiven
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
This peace is the opposite of anxiety. It is the tranquillity that comes when you commit all your cares to God in prayer and don’t worry about them anymore. You are confident that God can and will do what is best for you.
This peace guards you from anxiety, fear, and worry. The peace that comes from being in a right relationship with Jesus is not a peace that depends on everything going well. If that’s the case, when things go bad, that peace quickly goes away.
Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB) 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NKJV)16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
by Shannon Wexelberg
Jehovah Shalom
Jehovah Shalom
You are my Peace
You are my Peace
In the darkness Your presence wraps around me
Like a blanket of rest that covers me
When my heart is overwhelmed
You’re my Comfort and my Help
You are with me
Jehovah Shalom
Jehovah Shalom
You are my Peace
You are my Peace
When the pain of my yesterday’s before me
And the fear of the future floods my soul
You are singing over me
Deliverance and healing
You’ll never let me go
Your Spirit soothes me
Fills and renews me
I am completely in need of You
You are so worthy, holy in violence.
And when that trumpet blasts, I'll bow in awe.
And for one half hour, silence.
Jesus enthroned.
Let the world be silenced.