What does "The LORD is Peace" reveal about God's character in Judges 6:24? Setting the Scene in Judges 6 Judges 6 opens with Israel crushed by Midianite raids. Into that fear-filled climate God meets Gideon: • Judges 6:12 — “The LORD is with you, O mighty warrior.” • Gideon questions, builds a meal-offering, and the Angel of the LORD consumes it with fire (vv. 17-21). • Alarmed that he has seen the LORD face-to-face, Gideon fears death (v. 22). • Judges 6:23 — “Peace be with you,” replied the LORD. “Do not be afraid, for you will not die.” That assuring word leads directly to verse 24: “So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” Unpacking the Name “Yahweh-Shalom” “Shalom” carries far more than “absence of conflict.” It speaks of wholeness, safety, settledness, completeness, and well-being. Gideon does not merely say, “The LORD gives peace,” but “The LORD IS Peace.” His very nature embodies shalom. What “The LORD Is Peace” Reveals About God’s Character • Source, not just supplier – Peace comes from who He is, not merely what He does (Isaiah 26:3). • Personal Presence – God steps into Israel’s chaos, addressing Gideon by name. Peace flows from His nearness (Psalm 46:1-2). • Covenant Faithfulness – Shalom is grounded in His unchanging promises (Numbers 6:24-26). • Protection in Peril – In the face of Midian’s oppression and Gideon’s fear of death, God declares safety (Psalm 4:8). • Reconciliation and Restoration – He bridges distance caused by sin, pointing forward to the ultimate peace secured in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16). Echoes Across Scripture • Isaiah 9:6 — Messiah called “Prince of Peace.” • Psalm 29:11 — “The LORD blesses His people with peace.” • John 14:27 — Jesus: “Peace I leave with you… not as the world gives.” • Colossians 1:19-20 — God makes peace “through the blood of His cross.” • Philippians 4:7 — “The peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Every passage underscores the same truth Gideon discovered: peace is God’s own character, extended to His people. Peace in the Midst of Fear — Practical Takeaways 1. Remember the Name • When fear rises, recall that peace is not a feeling to chase but a Person who is present. 2. Build an “altar” of testimony • Gideon’s altar stood “to this day.” Keep tangible reminders of God’s past faithfulness. 3. Receive, then respond • God spoke peace first; Gideon obeyed next (vv. 25-27). Assurance fuels action. 4. Look to Christ • The fullest expression of Yahweh-Shalom is realized in the cross and resurrection, where enmity ends and wholeness begins (Romans 5:1). Living Daily with Yahweh-Shalom • Invite His presence into every decision; where He reigns, peace rules (Colossians 3:15). • Speak His promise over anxious thoughts; His Word is true and literal (Proverbs 30:5). • Extend His peace to others, becoming ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Because Scripture is accurate and literal, Gideon’s altar still proclaimed God’s character generations later. That same unchanging LORD is our Peace today. |
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