The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is involved in a study that has the potential to deepen our understanding of the very character and nature of God. As many of you know, names in the Bible are not merely labels; they reveal profound truths about who a person is. This is especially true when we consider the names of God. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself through various names, each highlighting a unique aspect of His being, His power, His love, and His relationship with humanity. Over the coming sessions, we will explore some of these powerful names, such as Elohim, Jehovah, Adonai, and many others, uncovering the rich tapestry of God's self-revelation and how understanding these names can enrich our prayer lives and our walk of faith.
These are the notes to session five.
The combination names of Jehovah reveal different facets of His character by pairing His covenant name, often translated as LORD, Yahweh or Jehovah, with words that describe specific attributes or actions. We've looked at the combination name Jehovah-Jireh a Hebrew phrase that literally means "The LORD Will Provide. We also talked about the name Jehovah Rapha. Rapha: This Hebrew word means "to heal," "to restore," "to make whole," or "to mend." It encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
In this session (5) we talk about Jehovah-Shalom,The Lord is Peace.
Judges 6:24 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.
Exodus 3:14-15 NIV [14] God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” [15] God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
Moses asks for God's name, God replies "I AM WHO I AM".
The very first name God reveals to us in Scripture—Elohim. This name is found in Genesis, the book of the beginning, and we discover it inthe very first verse: “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.”
Elohim is the first name used for God in the Bible, appearing in Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth"). It is used exclusively to refer to God from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3, highlighting God as the powerful creator.
The combination names of Jehovah reveal different facets of His character by pairing His covenant name (often translated as LORD or YHWH) with words that describe specific attributes or actions.
We've looked at the combination name Jehovah-Jireh a Hebrew phrase that literally means "The LORD Will Provide.
Genesis 22:14 NIV So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
We also talked about the name Jehovah Rapha. Rapha: This Hebrew word means "to heal," "to restore," "to make whole," or "to mend." It encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Exodus 15:26 NIV He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.
Rapha conveys the idea of restoring something to its intended state.
The name Jehovah-Rapha reveals God as one who not only heals and restores physical needs but spiritual and emotional ones too.
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Last week we started a study of the combination name Jehovah-Shalom.
Meaning of Jehovah Shalom
Jehovah/Yahweh : This is the sacred covenant name of God in the Old Testament, often translated as "LORD" in English Bibles. It signifies God's self-existence, eternality, and faithfulness to His promises.
Shalom: This Hebrew word conveys much more than just the absence of conflict. It encompasses wholeness, completeness, well-being, health, harmony, and prosperity. It speaks of a state of perfect tranquility and flourishing in every aspect of life.
Therefore, "Jehovah Shalom" means "The LORD is Peace" or "The LORD is our Peace." It reveals that God is not only a provider of peace but is Himself the very essence of peace.
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."
The context is the story of Gideon and him saying that Jehovah/Yahweh was the Lord of our Peace. We will see that Gideon's declaration wasn't a theological abstraction but a deeply personal and experiential acknowledgment of God's nature as the source of peace, a peace he himself had directly received in a moment of fear and divine encounter. It was a testament to God's ability to bring shalom even in the face of daunting circumstances.
Jehovah is the same today as he was when he 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.
Even after the initial encounter and the symbolic act of building the altar, Gideon likely sought further proof due to a combination of factors:
Human Frailty and Doubt: Despite his initial faith, Gideon was a human being facing a daunting task. Leading an army against a much larger and more powerful enemy naturally brought fear and doubt.
The Magnitude of the Task: God was asking him to do something extraordinary – deliver Israel with a small and seemingly inadequate force. This could have felt overwhelming, leading him to seek more reassurance.
Seeking Certainty: The fleece tests can be seen as Gideon's way of seeking tangible and undeniable confirmation that God was truly with him and would empower him for this specific mission. He wanted to be absolutely sure of God's will and support before committing to such a risky endeavor.
Gradual Growth in Faith: Gideon's faith wasn't necessarily complete and unwavering from the start. His journey of faith involved seeking these confirmations to strengthen his trust in God's promises.
In a time of fear and unrest, God revealed Himself as the source of peace, offering comfort and assurance to Gideon.
Gideon said "The Lord Is Peace (Jehovah Shalom)" and named the altar this for a direct and powerful reason stemming from his encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
God had said to Gideon "Peace be with you; do not be afraid, you shall not die." This divine pronouncement of peace directly addressed Gideon's terror and offered him a sense of safety and well-being in the presence of the divine.
Gideon who was initially filled with doubt, fear, and a sense of inadequacy in the face of the Midianite oppression, experienced a direct encounter with God (through the Angel of the Lord). This encounter culminated in God's explicit declaration of peace.This wasn't just a casual greeting; it was a powerful assurance that transcended his immediate fear and the troubled circumstances of Israel.
By building an altar and naming it "Jehovah Shalom" ("The Lord is Peace"), Gideon created a tangible reminder of this pivotal moment.The altar served as a testament to God's presence, His power, and specifically His gift of peace in a time of conflict and fear.It was a way to commemorate that true peace wasn't found in the absence of enemies or favorable circumstances, but in the Lord Himself.
Naming the altar Jehovah Shalom was also an act of faith. Gideon, despite his initial doubts, was acknowledging that God was the ultimate source of peace for him personally and potentially for the nation of Israel. It was a statement of trust in God's promise and His ability to bring shalom into their lives.
In summary, Gideon named the altar Jehovah Shalom because he had:
Received a direct word of peace from the Lord in a moment of fear.
Experienced God's presence and recognized Him as the one who could bring peace.
Desired a lasting memorial of this significant encounter and God's promise.
Made a public declaration of his faith in God as the source of true peace.
Therefore, Gideon's action in Judges 6:24 was a direct and meaningful response to his personal interaction with the divine, solidifying his understanding of God as "The Lord is Peace" in the midst of a troubled time.
Gideon was called to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. Despite the initial divine encounter, when faced with the enormity of the task, Gideon sought further confirmation through the famous fleece tests:
He asked God to let the fleece be wet with dew while the ground was dry. When this happened, he still asked for the reverse as another sign.
He then asked for the ground to be wet with dew while the fleece remained dry, which also occurred.
Why did Gideon still want proof?
It's important to remember that God, in his grace and patience, accommodated Gideon's requests for proof, even though he had already given him an initial sign. This highlights God's understanding of human weakness and his willingness to meet us where we are in our faith journey.
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.
Key Points and Applications
God is the Source of True Peace: Jehovah Shalom reminds us that true peace does not depend on external circumstances but flows from a relationship with God. In a world filled with chaos, God offers a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Peace in the Midst of Conflict: Gideon's story illustrates that God can bring peace even in the midst of conflict and adversity. When we turn to God in times of trouble, He offers comfort, courage, and hope.
God's Peace is Comprehensive: Shalom encompasses every aspect of our lives - physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. Jehovah Shalom desires for us to experience wholeness and well-being in every area.
Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace: The Old Testament concept of Jehovah Shalom finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Living in Peace: As followers of Christ, we are called to live in peace and to be peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). We can experience and extend God's peace by trusting in Him, obeying His Word, and seeking reconciliation with others.
Conclusion
Jehovah Shalom is a name that reveals the heart of God as the ultimate source of peace. In a world that often lacks tranquility, He offers a peace that surpasses all understanding. By trusting in Him and living in relationship with Him, we can experience the wholeness, well-being, and harmony that He desires for us.
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