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The Midianites had overpowered Israel and were devouring their crops. A man named Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide the grain from the enemy when God appeared to him in the form of an angel—the angel of the Lord. He commissioned Gideon to save the Israelites from the Midianites and promised victory. After the angel proved that he was indeed God, Gideon exclaimed,

“Alas, O Lord God! For now, I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace (Yahweh Shalom).

 -Judges 6.22-24

The Hebrew word shalom is translated with the English word “peace” but carries a deeper and broader meaning. Shalom means “wholeness” and “completeness.” Author Cornelius Plantinga explains, “In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight—a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed…as [the] Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”

God is Yahweh Shalom. He is the Lord of completeness, wholeness, a God who brings delight to our souls. Yahweh Shalom restores things to the way they ought to be. Your sin separates you from God. But there is good news; it is the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). Yahweh Shalom sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to provide you peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20). And he gives you his Holy Spirit who “is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). God wants your life to be enveloped by his peace. He is Yahweh Shalom.

Yahweh Shalom,

Thank you for giving me peace through Jesus. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit who settles my heart with peace. Help me to live a life that is complete and whole in you. Help me to live with your shalom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We’d love to pray for you. Email us at prayer@ronmoore.org.

Today’s Journey Message:

Lust: Visual and Emotional – Part 1