Jehovah Shalom - The Lord Our Peace
Judges 6:23-24 – “And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee … Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom.”
In A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos tells this story: Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.
A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
The songwriter tells us, “Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above! Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love.” Such great peace cannot even be described. We try – in poem – in song – in art – but true peace cannot be expressed in any medium but the feelings of the heart – the very soul. It’s a peace that transcends all language. It’s a peace that only an eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God can give to His child. I know that peace. If you’ve been born again, you know that peace. Men have sought for that peace for centuries, though many not willing to pay the price.
It’s a peace that comes from giving one’s heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 tells us, “If thou … shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And that salvation will definitely bring peace to your life – a perfect peace that only He can give.
It’s a peace that comes from giving one’s soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:7, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” If you’ll give Him your soul, He’ll take you to heaven to be with Him.
It’s a peace that comes from giving one’s body to the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 12:1, “That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” If you’ll present your body to Him, you’ll find the “perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)”
Quote – “Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always.” – Unknown
