Today we look at God as Jehovah-Shalom: "The Lord, our peace." Judges 6:24 says: "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Gideon had just been visited by an angel of the Lord and told that he would deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites. The angel tells Gideon to have peace and that he will not die. Gideon responds by building the alter described in verse 24. In times of trouble, we need to know that our God is a God of peace. Shalom means peace. One of the best definitions I have heard of the word shalom is "nothing broken, nothing missing." Yes; God comes to us to fix that which is broken and to provide all we need to have a life that pleases Him.
Adam Clarke described this peace as follows: "'Peace to thee;' which implied, not only a wish, but a prediction of the prosperous issue of the enterprise in which he was about to engage." In these times of uncertainty, e.g. economic set backs, violence and war, we need a word of peace from God to calm our fears. God most likely will not send an angel to you like he did to Gideon; however, He sends you peace through the indwelling Holy Spirit and His Word in the Holy Scriptures. We have peace today because of who God is. He is Jehovah-Shalom.
Today, regardless of the circumstances you face, look to God as your peace. Man cannot bring you total peace; only God can do that. God is the peace over every difficult situation that you face. When things look rough or fear begins to attack, say "God is my peace, He is Jehovah-Shalom." You will find that the problem looks smaller as God looks bigger.
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