Freedom 2024
Jehovah Shalom, The Lord is Peace
July 28, 2024
Last lifeboat lesson we talked about Jehova Jireh our provider. This lesson we are talking Jehovah Shalom the Lord is Peace.
Discussion Point #1: When has there been a moment when you could feel the peace of God in a situation?
Judges 6:11-24 (AMP) 11Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, and his son Gideon was beating wheat in the wine press [instead of the threshing floor] to [hide it and] save it from the Midianites. 12And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O brave man.” 13But Gideon said to him, “Please my Lord, if the Lord is with us, then why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wondrous works which our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” 14The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” 15But Gideon said to Him, “Please Lord, how am I to rescue Israel? Behold, my family is the least [significant] in Manasseh, and I am the youngest (smallest) in my father’s house.” 16The Lord answered him, “I will certainly be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as [if they were only] one man.” 17Gideon replied to Him, “If I have found any favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speaks with me. 18Please do not depart from here until I come back to You, and bring my offering and place it before You.” And He said, “I will wait until you return.”
19Then Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket and the broth in a pot, and he brought the food to Him under the oak (terebinth) and presented it. 20The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth [over them].” And he did so. 21Then 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 flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. 22When Gideon realized [without any doubt] that He was the Angel of the Lord, he declared, “Oh no, Lord God! For now I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face [and I am doomed]!” 23The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.” 24Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah, of the Abiezrites.
Jehova Shalom The Lord is Peace. When in stressful, important, unprecedented times: use His name. There is Power in the name Jehova Shalom.
When times are good it is easy to slip into a comfortable Christian status when times is when hard we walk closer to God. As whole when times are good or hard we need to stay close to God but when we do stray we can ask for forgiveness and get that peace.
Discussion Point #2: Has there been a moment when repentance brought God to move so He could bring the peace that Jehova Shalom?
Judges 6:1-10 (AMP) 1Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years. 2The [powerful] hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens (hideouts) which were in the mountains, and the caves and the [mountain] strongholds. 3For it was whenever Israel had sown [their seed] that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the people of the east and go up against them. 4So they would camp against them and destroy the crops of the land as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, and they would come in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were innumerable. So they came into the land to devastate it. 6So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord [for help].
7Now it came about when they cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 7that the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites, and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. 7And I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land, 7and I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.” But you have not listened to and obeyed My voice.’ ”
It is in the prayer of repentance God was able to move on the Israelites behalf with Gideon and become Jehova Shalom to the very man God intended to use to gain their freedom.
Discussion Point #3: Are there specific scriptures that are pulled upon in your time of needing God’s peace(Jehova Shalom)?
Isaiah 26:3 (AMP) 3You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
John 16:33 (AMP) 33I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
Jeremiah 29:11 11For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Luke 1:78-79 (AMP) 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us, 79To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.
Prayer: God, In times of turmoil and the unknown help us obey and not just obey but be quick to obey so we are able to reside in the peace that comes with obedience. Forgive us of our sins, our mess ups, our anger, our resentment, and help us be quick to forgive others as well. Be Jehova Shalom to us Lord Jesus. In your mighty name we pray. Amen
Challenge for the Week: Study the above scriptures and truly try to reside in the peace of Jehova Shalom.