0645. Jehovah-Shalom

Jehovah-Shalom

"Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord and called it Jehovah-shalom; unto this day it is yet in Ophrah" (Jdg_6:24).

The story of Gideon is well worth repeating. Israel had been delivered into the hands of Midian for seven years. Their bondage was so severe that the children of Israel had made them dens in the mountains, and caves and strongholds.

When the children of Israel planted their crops, the Midianites came as grasshoppers for multitude; they entered into the land of Israel to destroy it. Thus the people of God were greatly impoverished, and they cried unto the Lord.

Then, an angel of the Lord came to Gideon and said, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Gideon, however, was full of doubt and he said unto the angel, "Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring my present, and set it before thee."

So Gideon went in and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes, and a pot of broth, and brought them unto the angel under the oak.

"And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh, and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth."

"Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of sight."

When Gideon perceived that an angel of the Lord had spoken unto him, he said: "Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face." Then the Lord said unto Gideon, "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." So it was that Gideon built an altar unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom, "the Lord send peace."

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. During the centuries satan has been persecuting the children of God. His name is satan, the accuser. However, one of these days, an angel is to be sent from Heaven with a great chain. He will lay hold upon satan and bind him, and cast him into the pit of the abyss for a thousand years. At this time Jesus Christ will send peace. He will become Jehovah-shalom to the whole world.

"And the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called the Prince of Peace."

Man vainly strives to bring in peace, apart from the Prince of Peace. When men say "Peace, peace, then sudden destruction cometh upon them;" but, when Christ–Jehovah-shalom, comes back to this earth, to take the Davidic throne, then "righteousness and peace shall kiss one another;" then, and only then, will the nations "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks."

Jehovah-shalom "maketh wars to cease, unto the end of the earth."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR