“Yahweh Shalom”—God Our Peace

“The Lord said to him (Gideon), ‘Peace be to you.  Do not fear; you shall not die.’  Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, ‘The Lord is Peace.’” –Judges 6:23-24 (ESV).

The pronouncement that Jehovah was Shalom—God our Peace—was made when Gideon was a judge in Israel.  He had been called to lead an attack against the Midianites, but doubting his qualifications and strength to do so (for his people, the Abiezrites, were the weakest clan in Manasseh).  Gideon was one who needed signs to verify God’s presence with him.  Frist he made an offering of a young goat and unleavened cakes.  Placing these on an altar, they were consumed by fire that sprang from the rock when the angel of the Lord touched it with a staff.  It was after observing this miracle that Gideon built an altar to God at Ophrah and called it “The Lord is Peace.”  He tore down the altar to Baal and angered the townspeople.  They demanded that Joash bring out his son Gideon so they could kill him for destroying the Baal altar.  Joash then said, “If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself.”  Gideon’s life was spared, and his name was changed to Jerubbaal, which meant, “Let Baal contend against him.”  Of course, there was no Baal to stand up against Gideon.  When Gideon (Jerubbaal) was asked to lead an army to fight the Midianites, again he required a sign.  He put out a fleece, asking that all around the fleece be wet with dew, but the fleece remain dry.  This was accomplished, but he wanted still another sign, a wet fleece when all around it was dry.  That accomplished, a mighty army was gathered, but God told him it was too many; 22,000 left and 10,000 remained.  But by means of eliminating all but the bravest (see Judges 7:1-8), Jerubbaal’s army was reduced to 300 men.   These were divided into three companies of 100 each, given trumpets, pitchers, and torches (lamps) and at a given signal they sounded the trumpets, broke the jars and lighted the torches so that the large army of the Midianites were in confusion and began to kill each other and to flee.  The cry, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” went up, and soon other Israelite tribes began to pursue the fleeing Midianites.  When the Israelites asked Gideon to be their king, he refused, saying, “”The Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23).

“The Lord our peace”:  With so much warfare going on in Gideon’s day, how could he declare “The Lord is our peace?’  Sometimes warfare is unavoidable.  Formidable enemies arise, as in the days of Gideon.  God’s people seek out the will of God and try to determine the best course of action.  Amidst the wars and storms of life—whether these are corporate or individual—God can give us peace.  All peace comes from the Lord.  He is the author and foundation of peace.  Aaron’s blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-26 is used still as a benediction following worship services:  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (ESV). The greatest bestower of peace is the Lord Jesus Christ who is “the Prince of Peace.”