DCLM Sincere Milk 30 NOVEMBER 2021 — Jehovah Shalom
DCLM Sincere Milk 30 NOVEMBER 2021 — Made for God
TOPIC: JEHOVAH SHALOM
TEXT: JUDGES 6:20-24
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
Key Verse: “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).
MESSAGE:
The nation of Israel at the time of the judges was under serious oppression from the Midianites. Thus, the people cried unto God in their distress; because of His love and mercy, God heard their cry and chose Gideon to deliver Israel. This was what brought the encounter between the angel of the Lord and Gideon.
The man became fearful because he knew the repercussion of seeing God face-to-face. Notwithstanding his fears, the Lord assured Gideon that he would not die but rather become an instrument to deliver Israel and restore peace unto them. In appreciation of this unmerited grace that he received, Gideon built an altar unto the Lord and called it Jehovah-Shalom which means ‘The Lord is Peace’.
As believers, we do not have to be afraid of the coming judgment. Christ bore the punishment so we would live and be in right relationship with God. Christ has brought peace into our relationship with God and cleansed our sins with His blood.
Peace means much more than absence of conflict or strife; it includes well-being, blessings and harmony with God. Jesus as the Prince of Peace, brings us peace with God and the peace of God, including wholeness and total well-being.
We must let this peace rule in our hearts as we enjoy close friendship with Christ. How do we let this peace rule in our hearts in the midst of a world that is full of confusion and struggles? The first step is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we do so, we are justified through faith and so have peace with God.
Prayer: Oh! Lord, I pray that Your peace will reign in my life and in the nation.
Further Reading: Philippians 4:6, 7
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
