Judges 6:1-24, YAHWEH-Shalom

Perhaps you recognized the familiar Hebrew term shalom and understand the meaning of this name: The LORD is Peace.  But it is quite possible that you are not aware that shalom is much more than the absence of conflict in a relationship.  Shalom speaks of the satisfaction of the soul; it is a sense of fulfillment or fullness.  It is the end point of the Aaronic blessing in Num. 6:24-26:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you; and be gracious unto you.  The LORD lift up His countenance on you and give you peace!

That blessing makes it clear, that in Scripture, God is the source of shalom.  All we have said here is illustrated in the calling of Gideon.  This was a time when Israel had no national experience with shalom.  Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites (v6).  In Gideon’s initial view of things, God had abandoned them (v13); Gideon had no strength in himself to do anything to save Israel (v15).  Further, Gideon found himself in the presence of the LORD (the Angel of the LORD); and this brought fear, not shalom.

In all this, the LORD assured Gideon that he need not fear.  The LORD preached peace to Gideon: Peace be with you.  Gideon believed God, that He could and would bring shaloam to Israel.  Thus, he was compelled to worship God.  No longer afraid, he now had a desire to draw near to God.  He named his altar of worship according to the God who would bring peace, fullness, soul satisfaction to Israel.  YAHWEH-Shalom, The-LORD-Is-Peace.  The altar stood as a testimony to God for a long time in the hill country community of Ophrah.

Again, there is a strong connection to Christ; He is YAHWEH-Shalom.  Remember how He brought fullness, soul satisfaction, for those who trust in Him.

·       Col. 1:20: He made reconciling peace through the blood of His cross. 

·       Rom. 5:1: Through faith in Christ, we are justified, giving us peace with God.

·       Eph. 2:14-18: He is our peace in the body of Christ (v14), making peace for all (v15).  He has reconciled men to God; thus He came and preached peace (v17).

·       John 14:27: In the upper room, Jesus gave peace to His disciples, a peace unlike what the world could give.  Again, it was soul satisfaction; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  It was a peace that had nothing to do with their external circumstances.  Everything He said to them, and for us, in the upper room, He said, that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33).

Peace with God, peace with others, peace inside ourselves; Christ, YAHWEH-Shalom, is the source of all this peace.