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Let’s continue looking at the name of God and particularly what that name stands for. Today we look at Jehovah-Shalom – “God my Peace.” 

But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

Judges 6:23-24 

Peace. This is one word of course that everyone no matter who you are wants to have a part of. Our lives though at times can be anything but that. We have seen a pandemic, lives matter and just in the last few weeks the Middle East crisis. Of course, that does not include all the other personal events happening in your life that are robbing you of peace,

Ever since the human race began it is the one commodity everyone desires and yet it was not long before one brother killed another and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Thousands of years ago Israel as a nation was being hounded by the Philistines and one young man, in particular, was so scared he used to live his life by hiding in a cave.

One day God appeared and changed everything. These next words are for you too so read them carefully “The LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid”. 

Gideon was so afraid he thought he was going to die. Not so for Gideon who had to learn that God has the ultimate say as to the time of our death. Gideon was going to do great things for God when he learnt to trust God and allow God’s peace to settle in his heart.

You see when God uses this name The-LORD-Is-Peace literally Yahweh Shalom it shows us that in the midst of whatever hardship and trial we are facing in this world the only true peace that we are ever going to find is that found in God. 

God sent Jesus to give us His peace. Listen to what Jesus says.

I leave you peace. My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

You see Jesus peace is not like human peace. Sadly the human race tries but untimely fails in everlasting peace. God does not. Jesus died and rose again to bring you that peace if you will only trust Him.

Let me leave you with this….

The-LORD-Is-Peace is literally Yahweh Shalom. Gideon’s new sense of security in his relationship with the Lord is effectively expressed by the term shalom, meaning wholeness, security, well-being, prosperity, peace, and friendship.

Jack W. Hayford, general editor; consulting editors, Sam Middlebrook…[et.al.], Spirit filled life study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1991.

Stay safe and blessed.

Author Edward Lawrence

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