Jehovah Shalom is one of the 32 names of God found in the Old Testament. It means the Lord is peace. Jehovah is the Latinized version of the Hebrew name of God, Yahweh. Shalom is a Hebrew word for peace, which appears more than 200 times in the Old Testament. The root meaning is “to be whole.” Shalom may suggest either a personal, internal peace in the heart of an individual or an external peace between people and nations. In a personal sense, it’s a peace that gives us victory no matter how hard our personal lives become or how difficult the circumstances we face. Shalom “puts our minds at ease” despite the stress, anxiety, tension, pressures, or worries that may come our way.
In the Old Testament book of Judges, we discover an account where God is called Jehovah Shalom. Judges records events that occurred within the 250 years after Joshua, Moses’ successor, died. After Joshua’s death, the Israelites lost momentum in driving out the inhabitants of the Promised Land. The Lord warned that this would lead Israel into a downward spiral. This is precisely what happens as the Israelites begin worshipping idols, suffering punishment by attackers, crying to God for help, and receiving God’s aid in the form of a human judge (or “deliverer”) who restores order. In short, Israel goes through cycles of sin, suffering, and salvation.
One of the Judges is Gedeon, who lived when the Midianites were causing havoc on the Israelites. We read of an account of an angel of the Lord appearing to Gideon in Judges 6. Notably, Gideon was beating wheat in a winepress (Judges 6:11). Nothing is mentioned in Scripture casually. Gideon is in a winepress because he fears his enemies, the Midianites. Gideon is like a child fearing bullies will steal his lunch. Keep in mind that fear and faith cannot coexist in equal measures. Where fear increases, faith diminishes, and where faith increases, fear diminishes. One always gives way to the other.
The Lord calls Gideon to deliver Israel as He also works Gideon through his doubts about God and himself (Judges 6:12-21). Fear has dominated Gideon, and he cannot comprehend the angel’s greeting or God’s call on his life. Gideon’s fear has distorted his view of God, his current situation, as well as what God can do in and through his life. It’s apparent in the account that Gideon has the strength to save Israel but must appropriate it through faith. Faith activates the Lord’s provisions in and through our life. Again, faith and fear cannot coexist in equal measures. One must give way to the other. Gideon has to come to the realization that his strength lies in his being chosen by God and in God’s promise to be with him. The Lord encourages Gideon. He declares, “I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16). What is unthinkable on my own is unstoppable with God!
As Gideon accepts his call, we read, “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:24). Gideon declares, “The Lord is Peace.” Peace is part of the character of God. God revealed himself as the Lord of Peace to Gideon. We discover Gideon in a time lacking peace where the Midianites are bringing havoc on Israel. Gideon does not have personal peace, as we find by his hiding and possessing such a poor view of himself. But, when he encounters the Lord, he receives genuine peace. Gideon still lives in this fallen world, but he gains a heavenly perspective and a touch of the peace of our eternal God. Genuine peace is found in and only in the Lord.
It becomes clear through the New Testament that Jesus is the source and giver of shalom, of peace. Peace is grounded and rooted in Jesus, God the Son, Prince of Peace (Romans 1:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35, 37; 2:1). Jesus, as “Prince of Peace,” is the giver of (shalom) “peace.” Jesus brings both world peace and personal peace. One is still to come, and the other is available here and now. The ultimate fulfillment of this “shalom” peace will occur when Christ returns, but a foretaste can be experienced in the inner life of a believer today. It’s been said, “No Jesus; no peace. Know Jesus; know peace. This is so true. The peace of God will reign in the lives of those who choose Him, Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is our peace. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!