Judges 6- Jehovah-Shalom: God our Peace

In our world there seems to be constant disorder , chaos, war, turmoil, and fighting. There really seems to be no peace at all. This world we live in seems to destroy all remnant of peace.

Even internally we lack peace. Maybe you find yourself consumed with anxiety, stress, or worry?

Maybe your relationships seem to be nothing but conflict

Turmoil seems to rule. If I can remind you about this all so wonderful title of God we are about to go over it is that: OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF PEACE!

Judges 6:24 “24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.”

Judges 6:24 KJV 1900

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

John14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27 KJV 1900

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

God has peace!

Peace for you, for your situation, and for your soul!

You can leave here with some real peace!

In Judges 6 we are going to see a man and nation riddled with problems(some of which was their fault) find peace!

They were forsaken of peace.

Judges 6:1-2 “1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.”

They had no peace. What cost them their peace? What can cost us peace?

They had done evil

sin RUINS peace

It will ruin peace with God

Is 57:20-21 “20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

The world can’t offer peace either

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Sin will rob you of peace. It destroys peace with God and other people. You know Jesus offers the remedy to this!

romans 5:1 “1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

There is no real peace apart from Jesus!

He is the Prince of peace! Is 9:6 “6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

It will ruin relationships too

They had an enemy

An enemy will try to take your peace

1 Chron 22:9 “9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.”

Maybe there is a person trying to take YOUR peace?

The devil is also an adversary

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

A trial?

Jesus can bring peace to your trial!

Mark 4:39 “39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

They were functioning with out peace!

Life with out peace is miserable! Lets see what is cost them!

They had no abundance

(Judges 6:3-4 “3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.” )

No peace will yield no enjoyment.

Yet we can abound with Jesus!

John 15 .

Death and destruction

(Judges 6:5-6 “5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.” )

It caused them to have to seek God

Judges 6:7 “7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,”

In response to what ever trial or person may be taking our peace we can RUN TO GOD!

1 Peter 5:7 “7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Finding Peace

God brought them peace! God sends peace!

Judges 6:8 “8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;”

God Sent his word! God’s word brought peace to them

Psalm 119:165 “165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.”

We can have peace from God’s word!

Jesus’ words stopped the storm

God was the source of his peace!

(Judges 6:22-24 “22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. 23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.” )

The peace came before the battle started and was won!

Because the peace hinged on God & presence

He had peace despite the circumstances!

We must have faith in that name Jehovah-Shalom. That God is who is reveals himself as being!

Peace came to him at the realization that God was for him!

Ultimately peace comes from God!

Is 9:6 “6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

We must align and submit our thinking to this title of God!

Romans 8:5-6 “5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

It’s mental. Our peace starts with knowing who our God is and believing it!

Is 26:3 “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.”