Jehovah shalom The Lord is Peace (12th Feb 2012)

Scripture Reading: :Judges 6:11~24

14. The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

15. "But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

16. The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

17. Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

18. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."

19. Gideon went in, 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 him under the oak.

20. The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.

21. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.

22. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"

23. But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."

24. So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

 

 

 

Sermon: Jehovah shalom The Lord is Peace

When asking "do you wanna peace?" everybody says "we want it".

Why they want peace? Firstly, their circumstances are in chaos and danger. Secondly, so they feel insecure and fear. Thirdly, they are spiritually suffered. They have no peace.

Today biblical text shows Gideon met God of Peace given to the Israelites in situationally, mentally, and spiritually confusion and hardship. Through this, let us meet THE LORD OF PEACE!

Following Judges 6:1, "Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites." That is to say, as the Israelites committed sins, there was the judgement of God. Look at verse 6 "Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.” By the Judgement of God, they repented their sins and asked His help. For responding to prayers, God chose Gideon for saving them as a Judge. Read verse 14 together, "The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Obeying the calling of God, Gideon became a judge, organised 300 warriors and stroke down all the Midianites. By getting a victory, the Israelites gained peace from God. Like this, we can find a circle, "sin-judgement of God-repentance-salvation".

Today story is about Gideon who was a Judge for undertaking the mission of God. As soon as Gideon met the angel of God, he built his own altar for God. It was called "Jehovah Shalom". Why did he call God's name Jehovah Shalom? What is the meaning of the name to us? I want to share the grace of meaning with you.

Firstly, Jehovah Shalom is the God who give us peace when life is hard.

As soon as the Israelites committed sins, God used the Midianite to attack them. For 7 years, the Midianite occupied them. The style of domination is very coarse. Whenever harvest season was coming, they entirely took away crops. Even they took livestock. Their sufferings was so ineffable By serious exploitation, they had to live in shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. (verse 2) Even though they possess their own house, they had to live in clefts, caves and strongholds. The lives is misery!

For 7 years to experience the misery is very hard to them. There was not any peace in their lives. However, God did not ignore them in sufferings. He came to them and make them call Him "Jehovah Shalom", God of Peace. It means he returns their peace.

Not only the Israelites but also many people are suffered by life hardship. Breaking their family, losing their health, and even trembling their own business make us lose our way. For overcoming these, we try to do everything. in spites of any trials, there is nothing to solve rather we face more hardship. At the time, we lose peace! At the time, we are suffered. All of us experienced it or now are experiencing it. However, we have to know the God of peace who met the Israelites without any peace and gave them peace with great almighty. He is our God! Do not forget! He loves us and come to here, be with us for giving peace to us. He is so good to us! Why? He is the origin of Peace! The God of Peace is our father!

How can we meet the God of Peace? There is one condition! What is this? According to verse 6, "Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help." When we lose peace in us, we have to pray to God believing in the fact that God save us for peace. " call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15)

Are you losing peace? So are you in the suffering of your live? Go to the Lord our God! He is Peace! only He can give us true peace. Amen!

Secondly, Jehovah Shalom is the God who gives us our purpose of life.

Whenever we are suffered without any peace, we lose our purpose of life. Why I have to do everything? Why I should take charge of them? Why me? We want to give up by these because we can handle all without peace in us.

Although Jesus' disciples saw many miracles by Jesus, when they face rough waves, they make sleeping Jesus wake up for saving them. on the other hand, in rough waves Jesus was asleep and be peaceful. How it can happen to him? Jesus knew his purpose of this earthly life. By knowing the purpose, he could get peace. "in any hardship, I cannot give up why? I do not finish God's mission. Till finishing it, I am not dead."

Yes! this makes people change to live positively, Look Gideon! He was only coward boy before he met God of peace. But after meeting God, he realized his aim of living in this world. He fought the Midianites with holy braveness. He is not any more a person who are suffered losing peace! He was a warrior for God with peace overcoming every hardships! Therefore, he called God Jehovah Shalom.

Where is your purpose of life? Why are we living for? Those who find out their aim of life never lose their peace. never lose their way! never give up! Please find out your purpose of life in God. If so, you can enjoy His peace, Shalom.

Thirdly, Jehovah God is the God who surely give us peace in our lives.

Look at verse 12, When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." and promised him to be with him by all means. Gideon received His promise, found out peace to his mind, and call God Jehovah Shalom. Being with God is perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Now let us imagine a seashore waving very roughly! there are thunder and lightening with storm. But there is a little bird who is peacefully sleeping nestling in its mother's bosom. How the bird can be asleep peacefully? the bird knows the mother protect him.

Being with God is so. Do you know the praise song "Still"? The lyric is the followings;

Hide me now Under your wings Cover me within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul In Christ alone Know his power In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are king over the flood I will be still and know you are God

Being still only belong to those who have peace. Are you still in God? Do not forget our God is peace! When we lose our way, He come to us for giving peace. Also He makes us find out our mission of life, and bless us giving peace. Moreover, He makes us enjoy peace by being with us in any rough stormy situations.

How can we be peaceful? God is peace! Remember Jesus saying in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid"

I wish you all possess the peace God given to us. Being with God is the blessing of Peace.

Let us pray! Oh God of Peace! Thanks for your kindness and mercy! You can give us perfect peace. We want to enjoy your peace in our lives. We repent our sins and want only your peace, please come and give us your peace. Believing in your words, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.