Sermon #5 Series: The Names of God

Title: Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Our Peace

Text: Judges 6:22-24

Subject:

Date: Tuesday Evening, October 20, 1987

Tape: H-92

Introduction:

Would you like to have peace? I mean real peace, peace in you heart and soul, peace of mind and peace of conscience. What would you give to have peace with God, to know that God has no quarrel with you? Would you like to be able to go to bed at night and sleep in peace, without anxiety and fear? Blessed in the man who is at peace with God!

How would you like to have peace in this world of strife? What would you give to have a happy, peaceful home, a home without strife, envy, jealousy, and fighting? Blessed is that man whose home is a castle of peace!

What about personal, inward peace? Would you like to have a peaceful, restful heart? Would you be interested in having the secret to a life of peace? Blessed is the man who lives in peace, who has a quiet, peaceful heart, even in the midst of trouble, trial, and heartache! If your heart is at peace, no outward circumstance can greatly disturb you. If your heart is peaceful, though your life may be turned upside down and pulled inside out, nothing really has power to cast you down. If I could tell you how to obtain this kind of peace, would you be interested? If you would have peace, give me your ear. I have a message from God for you tonight.

Turn with me to Judges 6. Gideon was a man who longed for peace. Because the children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord, by worshipping at the altar of Baal, God had delivered them into the hands of the Midianites. For seven years, Israel knew nothing but war. Like many of the other Jews, Gideon, the son of Joash, hid in a cave. He planted a small field of wheat, by a wine press to hide it from the Midianites. Working his little patch of wheat, hiding in a lonely mountain cave, Gideon longed for peace.

This mighty man of valor knew that the only way of peace was reconciliation to God. He knew that Israel would never have peace until Israel returned to Jehovah, the true and living God. And Israel did return. Because of God’s gracious chastisement, Israel had been impoverished by the Midianites. When they had come to their wits’ end,” the children of Israel cried unto the Lord” (vs. 6). Then the Lord sent a prophet to his people who promised deliverance to God’s afflicted people. God spoke by the prophet, and said, “I am the Lord your God; fear not” (vv. 7-10).

While Gideon was working his field one day, meditating upon the words of God’s prophet, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and gave him assurance that God was with him and that by his hand God would deliver his people from the Midianites and establish peace in Israel (vv.12, 14, 16). I do not need to tell you who the angel of the Lord is. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. This angel of the Lord was the Mediator between God and men, by whom peace would be accomplished. Gideon offered a sacrifice and worshipped God. Once God had accepted his sacrifice, and promised Gideon peace and life, he” built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-Shalom” (vv. 22-24).

Here is another name for the Lord God our Savior. And this name is my subject tonight: JEHOVAH-SHALOM: THE LORD OUR PEACE. In Ephesians 2:14, the apostle Paul shows us plainly who it is that Gideon worshipped by this name. “For he (the Lord Jesus Christ) is our peace, who hath made both (Jew and Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

Proposition: Jehovah-Shalom is Jesus Christ, who is our Peace! Christ has made peace, proclaimed peace, provided peace, and given peace. But here is something even greater and more blessed--Christ is our Peace! He’s name is Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our Peace.

Illustration: The Jewish Greeting and Farewell--”Shalom,” is a prophecy of Christ.

Divisions:

The Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah-Shalom...

1. Our Peace with God.

2. Our Peace with One Another.

3. Our Peace Within.

I. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH-SHALOM, OUR PEACE WITH GOD.

When God first made man in the Garden, their was perfect love, peace, and harmony between God and man. They walked together in the Garden and spoke as friends. But as soon as Adam sinned a quarrel began. Adam, by sin broke the peace. Ever since that time there has been a quarrel between God and man.

A. The quarrel between God and man.

1. This quarrel is a mutual quarrel. God is angry with man; and man is angry with God (Zech. 11:8; Rom. 8:7).

2. It is a universal quarrel. All the sons and daughters of Adam, without exception, are born as children of wrath by nature (Eph. 2:3).

a. God is angry with man.

It is a lie to tell unregenerate, unbelieving men and women that God loves them. He does not! God is angry with the wicked everyday. God loves righteousness and hates iniquity. And all men, by nature, are iniquity. God only loves men in Christ and for Christ’s sake. In Christ, God is love. Out of Christ, God is a consuming fire.

b. And all men, by nature hate God.

Man’s heart, his understanding, his will, his mink is opposed to God. In the very fabric and essence of man’s being there is nothing but sin. And sin is nothing but hatred for God.

3. This quarrel between man and God is a growing quarrel (Hos. 4:1-2). The increase of sin and rebellion increases the quarrel.

4. And, on God’s part, it is a righteous quarrel.

a. Our sins are a debt.

We are taught to pray, “Forgive us our debts.” Because of sin, we are indebted to God. And by reason of sin, God is indebted to us (Rom. 6:23)! Though we cannot pay our debt to God, he will most surely pay his debt to us (Duet. 7:10)!

b. Our sins are trespasses, as well as debts.

The law of God was given as a hedge, to keep us in, but we have broken the hedge, transgressed the law, robbed God and encroached upon him.

c. And our sin is treason, high treason against the throne and dignity of almighty God.

Sin is an affront to God’s majesty and glory. It defies him, despises him and denies him. Like Pharaoh, every sinner says, by his deeds, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?” This quarrel, on God’s part is a most righteous and just quarrel.

5. But on man’s part, it is an unrighteous and unreasonable quarrel. God has done nothing to deserve our enmity (Jer 2:4-5; John 10:32).

6. If the quarrel is not taken up and settled now, it will be an everlasting quarrel.

Death puts an end to all other feuds, but not this one. Death only brings the sinner into a state of everlasting misery and torment. In hell, men will forever hate, curse and blaspheme God. And God will forever hate, punish and torment his enemies. Sinner, lay your hand upon your own heart and confess your sin, saying, “I am the man! God has a quarrel with me. I have sinned against him! I have hated him! I have despised him! His anger against me is just and righteous altogether!” If you will now take your place before God, as a justly condemned, quilty sinner, deserving of God’s everlasting wrath--I have good news for you tonight! Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son, is Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace.

The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has taken up the quarrel on our behalf, and settled it. He is our Mediator. He is our Daysman (I Tim. 2:5; Job 9:33). He is the Arbitrator, by whom all differences between God and man are settled. How? How does Christ put an end to the quarrel and make peace with God for us?

B. In order to make peace for us, Christ had to deal with God as our Mediator and Substitute.

If he would be Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord our Peace, Christ had to make atonement for our sins, pacify the offended justice of God, and fulfill the law of God in our place.

1. Christ Jesus stood as Jehovah-Shalom in the Covenant of Grace from old eternity (Job 33:23-24).

2. Christ Jesus lived in this world as our Representative to bring in everlasting righteousness; and the name of our Representative is Jehovah-Shalom (Rom. 5:19).

3. Christ Jesus, our Substitute, died in our place at Calvary, satisfying Divine Justice, and earned this name--Jehovah-Shalom (II Cor. 5:18-21).

Illustration: Gideon’s sacrifice (Judges 6:20-24).

4. Christ still deals with God for us in heaven as an Advocate through whom we have peace with God (I John 2:1-2).

The name of God our Savior is : Jehovah-Shalom! Christ is the Lord our Peace!

C. Having satisfied the justice of God by his obedience unto death, Christ deals with each of his elect graciously removing our inbred enmity against God, breaking down that wall of partition that separates man from God (Col. 1:21).

By the preaching of the gospel, Jehovah-Shalom sends his Spirit to persuade stubborn rebels to be reconciled to God. He persuades us, tenderly and effectually, to lay down our arms of rebellion and be friends with the Almighty.

What is that wall of partition that must be broken down before man can, or will, be reconciled to God?

Our Sins!

God’s Law!

Our Corrupt Nature!

Christ--Jehovah-Shalom, has done it (Heb. 10:19-22)!

D. Now, let me, as God’s messenger, persuade you to be reconciled to God.

1. The Lord God is willing to receive quilty sinners in peace (Isa. 27:4-5).

2. Until you are reconciled to God, you are under the sentence of death.

3. Once peace is made, it is made forever (Job 22:21).

4. The terms of peace are easy and clear--Faith in Christ--Surrender to King Jesus!

Christ is Jehovah-Shalom--Our Peace with God.

II. AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS JEHOVAH-SHALOM, OUR PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER TOO.

When men and women are at peace with God, they are at peace with one another too. Where the Prince of Peace reigns, there is peace. Where Jehovah-Shalom is known and worshipped, peace reigns.

In the Home.

In the Church (John 14:27).

A. Christ breaks down the walls of partition that separate men from one another (Col. 3:11).

B. Jehovah-Shalom begets love in the hearts of his people, and love begets peace.

C. Let us ever pray for the “Peace of Jerusalem” (Eph. 4:1-3).

The Church of God is Jerusalem, the City of Peace.

Our Charter--The Gospel of Peace.

Our Ruler--The Prince of Peace

Our Defense--The Spirit of Peace.

III. ONCE MORE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, JEHOVAH-SHALOM, IS OUR PEACE WITHIN AS WELL.

When all is well between me and my God, I have peace, an inward, sedate, composed, cheerful heart at all times, in all circumstances, under all conditions (Isa. 26:3).

What is the source of this peace within? Jehovah-Shalom:

His Sovereignty.

His Sacrifice.

His Providence.

His Promises.

If we would have peace, we must go to him for it (Matt. 11:28-29, Phil. 4:4-13).

Application:

Is Jesus Christ, Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord your Peace?

1. If Christ is my peace, I trust him alone for my entire salvation (Rom 5:1-2).

2. If Christ is my peace, my sin is my enemy.

3. If Christ is my peace, I am, in my heart, reconciled to God.

4. If Christ is my peace, I will take great care to always keep the peace.

Guilt in the soul is like a mote he eye, there is no ease until is wept out (Ps. 51).

5. If Christ is my peace, Jehovah-Shalom to my soul, I must prepare for war--The Midianites (flesh), Baal (religion), My Father’s Altar (family) (Judges 6; Duet. 13:6-9).