Jehovah Shalom: What Does it Mean?

Jehovah Shalom: What Does it Mean?

Peace. We don’t think much about peace-that is until you don’t have it. Then it suddenly becomes something you want very badly.

Shalom means peace. But what does peace mean? It means completeness, well-being, safety, to be sound. It carries the meaning that not only is there no conflict-there are also blessings like peace with God, peace with people, peace with nations. Shalom is connected to the covenant relationship with God.

In Israel still today, Shalom, remains a greeting and farewell.

There are many verses that speak of peace in scripture. Often the word refers to lack of conflict, or well-being, as in these places:

When the LORD made a covenant with Abraham, He told Abraham that at the end of his life he would go to his fathers in peace and be buried at an old age. Genesis 15:15.

When Joseph’s brothers stood before him-but didn’t recognize him-Joseph asks his brothers: Is there peace with your father, is he still alive? Genesis 43:28.

Today we are dealing with the name of the LORD, Jehovah Shalom. This comes from the time of the Judges (after the Israelites moved into the promised land, but before Israel had kings). When needed, God would raise up a judge, a leader. At the time, the Midianites were terrorizing the people by raiding and taking all their food. God chose a man named Gideon to be a judge.

To get the background of this period of time, read Judges 6. The people were living in fear of the Midianites. Because they have been stealing all the food, Gideon was hiding in the wine press as he beat wheat into flour. He hoped to hide it from the marauding Midianites.

While there, The angel of the LORD (I believe a preincarnate Jesus) appeared to Gideon. The first thing the LORD says to Gideon was “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.”

Amazing. Gideon was hiding in fear of the enemy, but the LORD knows the plans He had for Gideon. The fearful man would become a valiant warrior through the LORD. The LORD told Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites.

Once the angle of the LORD vanished, Gideon was afraid. He was afraid he would die because he had seen the LORD. (This comes from Genesis 33:20 when God told Moses that no man could see His face and live.)

The LORD knew his fear, and spoke to Gideon: “Peace to you, do not fear, you shall not die.” Judges 6:23.

It is easy to pass over these verses in Judges 6, but let’s think about it. The people were living in fear of the Midianites. Gideon was hiding as he beat wheat in the wine press. Then the LORD tells Gideon that he would lead the fight to deliver Israel from the Midianites. If that wasn’t enough, Gideon realizes that he had seen the LORD.

I suspect Gideon did not have a peaceful heart at that moment. I suspect Gideon was full of fear and confusion.

Then the LORD gives Gideon peace. A pure peace in his soul that can only come from God.

Immediately, Gideon built an alter to the LORD and called it

THE LORD IS PEACE. Judges 6:24.

Gideon is the once who used this name for God: Jehovah Shalom. Gideon, found out that the LORD not only gives peace. The LORD is peace. The LORD is completeness. The LORD is well-being. The LORD is safety. The LORD is soundness of mind, body, and soul.

Now God had Gideon in the place he needed to be in order to lead Israel to defeat the Midianites. The first plan the LORD gave Gideon wasn’t easy. Sadly, at this time many of the people were worshipping Baal, a false god, and had made alters to them. The LORD told Gideon to tear down the alter to the idol Baal. That was hard enough to do-but there was more. The alter to Baal belonged to Gideon’s father. But the frightened man turned valiant warrior by the LORD accomplished the goal.

Still today, the LORD IS PEACE.

We haven’t been called to defeat Midianites. Today our enemies can be many things, and is probably different for everyone. It could be fear, worry, anxiety, depression, unforgiveness, grief, pain, physical problems, mental problems, spiritual problems, and more.

Jehovah Shalom is greater than any of them.

Carla Killough McClafferty