Day 158 of 365: Jehovah Shalom – The LORD Is Peace

Greetings, Precious Family l. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, for the past several days, we have explored the power, authority, and beauty found in the name of Jesus. As we continue our journey through Scripture, we now turn our attention to the names God reveals about Himself. Each name unveils a different aspect of His character, helping us know Him more deeply and trust Him more fully. We begin with a name that speaks directly to anxious hearts: Jehovah Shalom – The LORD Is Peace.

In this series, I will be using different biblical versions from NIV, The KJV, and New JKV, The Living Bible, The Orthodox Jewish Bible and others. I am doing this in order to paint as clear a picture as possible of the depth, height, and width of God’s love for us. The entire Bible is the greatest love story.

Read today’s passage below to see how Gideon honored and trusted God even when things looked impossible.

Scripture Passage

Judges 6:20-24
New King James Version

20 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so.

21 Then 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 rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

23 Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it [a]The-Lord-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Family, how many times has God had to reassure you that He was with you and that everything would be alright if you simply trusted Him?

When we read Gideon’s story, it is easy to focus on the mighty victory that came later. But before God ever used Gideon to deliver Israel, He first had to calm Gideon’s fearful heart.

Gideon was living during a time of oppression, uncertainty, and hardship. The Midianites had devastated the land, and Israel was overwhelmed by fear. When the Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he did not see himself as a mighty warrior. He saw himself as weak, insignificant, and unqualified. Yet God saw something greater.

After realizing that he had encountered the Angel of the LORD, Gideon became terrified, believing he might die. But God spoke words that countless believers have needed to hear throughout history:
Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” (Judges 6:23, KJV)

In response, Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah Shalom, which means “The LORD Is Peace.”

Notice that God did not immediately change Gideon’s circumstances. The Midianites were still there. The challenges had not disappeared. The battle had not yet been fought. Yet God revealed Himself as peace in the middle of the storm.

That is often how God works in our lives. We pray for Him to remove the difficulty, but sometimes He first reveals His presence within it. True peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of God in the midst of trouble.

Looking back over our lives, we can see countless moments when God carried us through situations that seemed impossible. At the time, we may have been anxious, afraid, or uncertain of what would happen next. Yet somehow, God provided strength for each day, wisdom for each decision, and grace for each step forward.

On the other side of those seasons, we can see the beauty of God’s faithfulness. What once looked impossible became a testimony. What once brought fear became evidence of God’s presence. What once kept us awake at night became another reminder that Jehovah Shalom was with us all along.

Today, whatever battle you may be facing, remember that the same God who spoke peace to Gideon still speaks peace to His children. His presence has not changed. His power has not diminished. And His peace is still available to every heart that trusts Him.

Let Us Pray

Spirit of the Living God,

You know every burden I carry and every fear I do not speak aloud. Thank You for revealing Yourself as Jehovah Shalom. When my mind is restless, be my peace. When my heart is weary, be my peace. When answers are delayed and circumstances remain uncertain, help me remember that Your presence is greater than my problems. Teach me to rest in You, not because everything around me is calm, but because You are with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen, Amen and Amen.

Video of the Day

CityHope Music’s single “Jehovah Shalom”.

Subscribe to our channel: ‪@cityhopemusic‬
Subscribe to CityHope Church’s channel: ‪@CityHopelive‬ and join us for worship live on Sunday mornings at 9 & 11AM CST.

Learn more about CityHope Church: https://cityhope.cc/

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)