So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace.
Judges 6:24a
For to us a child is born… And he will be called… Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
This has been a difficult week for our nation. As if we needed a reminder, the Virginia Tech Massacre has reminded us that we live in a fallen and evil world. It seems as though the more our questions about this tragedy are answered, deeper questions about the human condition arise. There is unrest in our souls as we ponder the tragedies of this life.
One of the names for God in the Bible is Jehovah Shalom, The Lord is peace. Peace is an attribute of God. In the uproar of our world God remains steady and calm. Don’t think this means God is aloof and indifferent to our plight. The Bible teaches us that God grieves, gets angry, is afflicted, feels our sorrow, but none of these things disturb His steady peace. When this world blows up, God is steady, undisturbed. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Rock.
It is easy to have peace when things are good in our lives. But storms do come. God offers a peace that passes understanding. When there is no reason to have peace, we can have peace in God because He is Jehovah Shalom. He is our rock in the shifting sands of life. When God rules our lives, His Prince of Peace, who lives in us, gives us a peace that passes understanding. Pray for that peace in your life and share it with those around you. Today, as we worship, celebrate our Jehovah Shalom who is our steady peace no matter what we are going through.
