Psalm of Praise: Psalms 89:5-6
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
Background:
In the Old Testament God is referred to as Yahweh, also pronounced Jehovah, and translated in English as ‘Lord’. There are seven occasions where Jehovah is used with a suffix which describes a different aspect of the nature of God.
Today we are going to look at Jehovah Shalom: The Lord our peace.
When Israel was overrun by the Assyrians, the Angel of the Lord appeared, initially unrecognised, to Gideon and called him to lead the Israelites against the Assyrians. Gideon then prepared an offering to God.
Bible Reading: Judges 6:19-24
Gideon prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast.
Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot,
he brought them out and offered them to (the angel of the Lord) under the oak.
Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread.
And the angel of the Lord disappeared.
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed,
"Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!"
But the Lord said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."
So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it ‘Jehovah Shalom’, The Lord Is Peace.
A Reflection:
For Gideon, the realisation that he had been standing in the presence of God caused him to fear for his life, believing that no one could see the Lord and live. Into this fear the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid’.
When the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and a storm blew up he brought them peace. When he was about to leave them he gave the his peace. In his letters to the churches, St Paul mentions peace over fifty times, sometimes referring to God as ‘The God of Peace, often as a form of blessing, ‘Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’
I wonder what the situations are that cause you to fear. They may be rational or irrational, but they bring about a deep sense of fear in you. They may be things out of your control or they may be things that you could deal with if you didn’t feel like a rabbit in the headlights. Fear can cripple all of us at times.
Can you reflect on these times now? Imagine them as if you are a boat in a storm.
Look for the presence of Jesus. Allow him to say to you, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid’.
Pray:
Lord, My Peace; when I am full of fear and doubt,
remind me of your presence and give me your peace. Amen
May the peace of God our Heavenly Father
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