Encountering Jehovah Shalom: Peace in God's Presence

Today’s focus is on the name of God: Jehovah Shalom—“The Lord is my peace.” This name emerges from the story of Gideon in Judges 6, where God meets a fearful, hiding man and calls him a mighty hero. Gideon’s initial confusion about who he’s speaking to—thinking it’s just a “boss” or “master” rather than Yahweh Himself—highlights the difference between knowing about God and truly encountering Him. When Gideon realizes he’s in the presence of the Holy God, his instinct is fear: “I’m doomed. I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” This fear is rooted in the Old Testament understanding that no one can see God and live, a belief shaped by stories of Moses, Isaiah, and others who trembled before God’s holiness.

Yet, in this encounter, God does not destroy Gideon. Instead, He speaks peace: “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” Gideon responds by building an altar and naming it Yahweh Shalom. This is a pivotal moment in the biblical story—a shift from terror before God’s holiness to the possibility of peace in His presence. Shalom, as described here, is not merely the absence of conflict or a feeling of calm, but a deep wholeness, restoration, and completeness that only God can bring.

The story challenges us to examine our own approach to God. In the Old Testament, people feared God’s presence; today, we often crave it, sometimes forgetting the weight and awe of His holiness. Jesus is the game changer—He fulfills the requirements of holiness and becomes our mediator, allowing us to approach God confidently, but not casually. We are invited into friendship with God, but we must not lose the reverence due to His consuming fire.

A crucial question arises: What does it mean for God to be Jehovah Shalom when our lives are anything but peaceful? The answer is that God’s peace is not a denial of chaos, but His presence within it. Peace is not a feeling we manufacture or a circumstance we wait for; it is a person—God Himself—who meets us in our pain, fear, and uncertainty. Even before the breakthrough, before the battle is won, God is present as our peace. Ultimately, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings not just personal comfort but cosmic restoration, reconciling all things and promising a future where shalom is fully restored. Until then, we are called to seek not just peace, but the One who is peace, knowing He is already seeking us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Holiness of God Demands Awe, Not Casualness God’s holiness is not just moral purity but a powerful, even dangerous reality. In the Old Testament, people rightly feared direct encounters with God, knowing His presence was overwhelming and unapproachable for sinful humans. Today, while Jesus gives us access, we must not lose the reverence and awe that His holiness deserves. Our confidence to approach God should never become casualness or flippancy, but should be marked by deep respect and wonder. [48:10]
• 2. Peace Is a Person Before It’s a Feeling Jehovah Shalom teaches that peace is not primarily an emotional state or the absence of problems, but the presence of God Himself. Even when we do not feel peaceful, if God is with us, peace is within us. This reframes our search for peace—not as something to achieve or manufacture, but as Someone to encounter and trust, even in the midst of chaos. [66:11]
• 3. God’s Peace Is Present in the Midst of Chaos, Not After It Gideon’s encounter with Jehovah Shalom happened while he was still hiding, still afraid, and before any victory was won. God’s peace is not a reward for surviving the storm, but a gift given in the middle of it. This means we are invited to experience God’s presence and wholeness even when our circumstances remain unresolved, trusting that He is with us in the struggle. [64:39]
• 4. Jesus Is the Fulfillment and Clarification of Jehovah Shalom Jesus does not lower the standard of holiness but fulfills it, becoming our mediator and the ultimate source of peace. Through His death and resurrection, He brings reconciliation, not just for individuals but for all creation. The peace He offers is not circumstantial but covenantal—a relational promise rooted in His faithfulness, presence, and the cosmic restoration He is bringing about. [68:46]
• 5. Worship Should Hold Together Bold Access and Reverent Awe Modern worship often emphasizes intimacy and access to God, but we must also reclaim the weight of His holiness. True worship is both bold and reverent—celebrating our friendship with God through Christ, while never losing sight of His majesty and the privilege of His presence. The healthiest posture is one of grateful awe, recognizing the terrifying privilege of standing before a holy God who calls us friend. [58:53]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:30] - Blue Jays Update and Series Introduction
• [03:45] - The Meaning of Jehovah Shalom
• [06:10] - Reading Gideon’s Story (Judges 6)
• [12:00] - Context: Gideon’s Fear and Hiding
• [15:00] - The Irony of “Mighty Hero”
• [18:00] - Shalom: Wholeness, Not Just Calm
• [21:00] - Why Did Gideon Fear Death?
• [26:00] - The Danger and Awe of God’s Holiness
• [32:00] - Theological Shift: From Fear to Peace
• [36:00] - Jesus as the Game Changer
• [41:00] - Boldness vs. Casualness in Worship
• [46:00] - When Life Lacks Peace: Where Is Jehovah Shalom?
• [53:00] - Peace in the Midst of Chaos
• [58:00] - Peace as a Person, Not a Feeling
• [64:00] - Jesus, Cosmic Restoration, and Our Hope
• [71:30] - Final Encouragement and Closing

Bible Reading

Judges 6:11-24 (ESV) — 11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17 And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.
18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”
19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them.
20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.”
23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.”
24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.

Observation Questions

1. What was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and why was he doing it in that particular place? ([36:52])
2. How did Gideon first respond to the angel’s greeting, and what does this reveal about his understanding of who he was speaking to? ([34:00])
3. What was Gideon’s reaction when he realized he had seen the angel of the Lord face to face, and what did God say in response? ([38:04])
4. When did God reveal Himself as Jehovah Shalom to Gideon—before or after Gideon’s circumstances changed? ([01:04:39])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why did Gideon assume he would die after realizing he had seen the angel of the Lord? What does this say about the Old Testament understanding of God’s holiness? ([41:59])
2. The sermon mentions that God’s peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness and restoration. How does this definition of “shalom” differ from how people usually think about peace? ([41:59])
3. According to the sermon, how does Jesus change the way we approach God compared to the Old Testament? What does it mean to have both boldness and reverence in worship? ([54:11])
4. The sermon says that God’s peace is present in the midst of chaos, not just after it. How does this challenge the way people often look for peace in their lives? ([01:04:39])

Application Questions

1. Gideon was hiding in fear when God called him a “mighty hero.” Is there an area of your life where you feel weak or afraid, but God might see you differently? How could this change the way you see yourself or your situation? ([39:59])
2. The sermon challenges us to think about our approach to God—do we come with awe and reverence, or do we sometimes treat God’s presence too casually? How would you describe your own posture in worship or prayer? Is there a change you want to make? ([58:53])
3. When life feels chaotic and far from peaceful, what does it look like for you to seek God’s presence rather than just a feeling of calm? Can you share a time when you experienced God’s peace even though your circumstances didn’t change? ([01:03:38])
4. The sermon says, “Peace is a person before it’s a feeling.” What practical steps can you take this week to focus on meeting with God Himself, rather than just chasing after a sense of peace? ([01:06:11])
5. Jesus gives us access to God as both friend and holy King. How can you hold together both boldness and reverence in your relationship with God? What would it look like to worship with “grateful awe” in your daily life? ([58:53])
6. The story of Gideon shows that God’s peace comes before the breakthrough, not just after. Is there a situation in your life where you are waiting for things to get better before you feel at peace? How might you invite God’s presence into that situation right now? ([01:04:39])
7. The sermon ends by saying, “Don’t just look for peace. Look for the one who is peace.” What is one specific way you can seek God Himself this week, especially if you are in a season of fear, pain, or waiting? ([01:11:34])