It is fitting that God chose a period of turmoil in the land of Israel to introduce himself as the God of peace. In Judges 6 the Midianites had just ruled over the Israelites for seven long years. Now they raided the land like locusts leaving devastation in their wake. I think this description is an understatement, “Israel was brought very low.” Judges 6:6. It was during this time of devastation and conflict that God brought his name Jehovah Shalom to his people.
The people of Israel were so terrified of the Midianites that they hid in caves. A young man named Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press. Where does one usually thresh wheat?…high on a hill so the wheat catches the wind and the wind drives the chaff away. But Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press, a stone-lined shallow pit. Gideon didn’t believe the encouraging word of the prophets that God had sent who said that the Lord would rescue them like he had so long ago. When the angel of the Lord appeared, Gideon didn’t believe him either. He called Gideon a valiant warrior, but all Gideon could do was complain. He wanted to know what happened to all the miracles God used to perform. He declared that God had abandoned them. When the angel of the Lord told him to go in strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian, Gideon replied he didn’t qualify for this job, his family was the least in Manasseh and he was the least in his family.
You might think that the Lord would look upon this man who was hiding out in the winepress and had such a negative attitude and think he could never use him. But you would be wrong.
The Lord saw something in Gideon that Gideon did not see. God saw the man Gideon would become. God calls into being that which does not exist. Romans 4:17. God called Gideon when he was a complaining worrier full of anxiety because He saw something in that man, He saw the heart of a valiant warrior. He would lead the armies of Israel in triumph. Because of Gideon the people of Israel would dwell in peace.
In the interchange that followed, Gideon realized he had seen the angel of the Lord face to face. He had heard that a man could not see his face and live, so now he was really scared! And the Lord said to him, “Peace to you , do not fear; you shall not die.” Judges 6:23. Shalom, Gideon. I cannot prove it, but I believe that when the Lord spoke those words a deep sense of peace permeated the very atmosphere around Gideon. With those audible words of the Lord Shalom settled over Gideon. Then “Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it the Lord is peace, Jehovah Shalom.” Judges 6:24
Shalom comes in the midst of turmoil. It comes when we are threatened and afraid. It comes when we are living in uncertainty. Shalom defies the circumstances of our lives. Shalom doesn’t come from the absence of war, shalom comes from the presence of the Lord, even in the midst of anxiety, fear and disappointment. Peace is not a thing, peace is a person.
Shalom is the hallmark of the Trinity. The Father is called Jehovah Shalom. The Son is called the Prince of Shalom. The Spirit produces the fruit that is shalom. At his first coming Jesus came to settle our most pressing need, peace with God. He made the way for us to come into a restored relationship with God through his sacrifice for our sin on the cross. “We now have peace with God.” Romans 5:1. Some day the prophets tell us, the whole earth will experience his peace. The lion will lay down with the lamb, the child will play next to the viper. God is going to bring tangible peace to the entire world.
But in the meantime you might feel abandoned by God. You might feel discouraged and afraid, even unbelieving and negative. You may find yourself in uncertain times and turmoil. Take heart, God is still meeting us in the discouragement and deep disappointments of our lives. He is still bringing his peace that passes understanding. Let this shalom, the peace of Christ rule in your heart today.
