God's Promise of Peace

Psalm 23:2b "He leadeth me beside the still waters."

Have you noticed that the most tranquil, peaceful places usually have the sound of water somehow?

When we lived in upstate NY, the Black River was less than a block from our house. The rushing water, plus the waterfall a little further downstream serenaded us each day. We absolutely loved it! I have a little water fountain next to my bed that I enjoy turning on and listening to when I feel stressed. That, along with my "happy candle" (Yankee's McIntosh Apple) makes mama a happy girl!

When you stop and think about it, something inside us needs that sound of water for serenity. Homeowners spend literally thousands of dollars to add water elements to their backyard landscapes such as ponds and waterfalls! Others have table top water fountains like mine, or enjoy music CDs that have water sounds, such as rain, an ocean, or a stream to help them relax so they can sleep.

Water is a place of rest. Once there, we can become "calm, inspired, energized and refocused on God's larger plans for us." This is where our Shepherd chooses to lead us ~ beside still waters.

What is it that makes us seek/crave peace? According to Mrs. George, busyness, responsibility, tension and noise are the four top reasons women crave peace. I mentioned last week that my mother/father-in-law kept the kiddos for a couple of days. Sisters, I needed that! As you know, I love my children with all my heart, but that previous week had been tough! Five continuous days of thunderstorms, rain, humidity and finalizing homeschool for the year had made us all ~ shall we say ~ a little testy!?

Well, as you may assume, that combination was getting to be a bit much! Frazzled but relieved all work was done by Friday, I called my wonderful mother-in-law and told her I needed a mental health day ~ could she help me out? She laughed with understanding ~ and was willing to let the grand kids come for a couple days' visit.

As I mentioned last week, I listened to the silence and enjoyed uninterrupted conversations with the hubs. I was able to mediate on Scripture, too, and enjoyed time alone with the Lord. Not only did my physical body need the peace, but my spiritual self craved it as well.

Mrs. George writes, "We can... testify that our souls become dry on a steady diet of stress. We quickly become depleted and weary. We stagger, we stumble, we crumble, and we make errors in judgment...all because we need a time beside the still waters." She continues,

"He ~ the Shepherd, knows all about our need for peace and provides it.
Leads ~ to where peace is plentiful and makes sure we attain it.
Still waters ~ restful waters of comfort...a peaceful place beside a quiet, tranquil stream."

In the first part of Psalm 23:1, we met Jehovah~Rohi ~ the Shepherd Who leads, feeds and lovingly warns us. "The Lord is my shepherd..." In continuation, we met Jehovah~Jireh, the providing Shepherd. "...I shall not want." Now, in verse 2, we meet Jehovah~Shalom, the God of Peace ~ "the God who brings peace."

Jehovah~Shalom is first mentioned in the book of Judges with the story of Gideon. At that time, God's chosen people, the Israelites, were stuck in a vicious cycle. To understand the significance of this, we need to back up a bit.

Rewind to the book of Joshua. After 40 years of wandering through the desert, God kept His word to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses and brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Once the land was divided by tribe, Joshua called all the people together. He told them that God wanted only three things from them: to drive their enemies (the Amorites, Moabites, Perizzites, Canaanits, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) from their land, and to "Fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord." This is also where Joshua said, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

However, Judges 1:28 says, "...when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out." Verses 21-27 and 29-33 repeat the same phrase "Neither did (Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephriam, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali) drive out the Jebusites/Canaanites... but the Jebusites/Canaanites dwelt... among them." By chapter 2:11-13, "...The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."

Thus, the children of Israel began the vicious cycle of:
a. sin
b. suffering (serving a foreign king)
c. crying out to God
d. deliverance
e. rest/peace ~ only to begin the cycle all over again.

This leads us to Gideon, the sixth judge God appointed to lead and deliver His people. We meet Gideon in Judges chapter 6. He is hiding in his winepress, secretly threshing wheat. At this time, the Midianites had taken control over Israel and were destroying crops (vs. 4-6). Gideon had managed to secret some grain and was threshing it so he could feed his family. Suddenly, and the Angel of the Lord (again, the pre~incarnate Christ!) appeared to Gideon. He promised deliverance to God's people and told Gideon he was going to lead them (vs. 12-16).

Gideon was afraid. He resisted. He was a nobody ~ his family was poor, and he was "the least in my father's house." He asked for a sign (the fleece) to "strengthen the weakness of his own faith and to give evidence that would convince the people that he was really God's instrument." (Scofield Study Bible).

However, the Angel ~ the Shepherd, comforted him in verse 23. "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." Then Gideon worshiped. He built an altar there and named it Jehovah~Shalom, meaning "The Altar of Peace with Jehovah" (vs. 24).

Here was Gideon, fearful and cowering in a hole, when the Angel of the Lord appeared with:

a. A proclamation ~ "You will save Israel from the Midianites."
b. A promise ~ "I will be with you and you will defeat them."
c. Peace ~ "Peace be with you; do not fear."
d. Power ~ "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

Now he is Gideon the warrior, the fearless leader of God's people! As you may know, Gideon soundly defeated the Midianite army with 300 men bearing only trumpets, torches and pitchers! At Gideon's signal, the 300 men blew their trumpets, broke the pitchers, and held up their torches. Upon waking to the blaring trumpets and lights blazing and hearing the cry "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" the Lord caused the Midianites to "set their sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host."

Upon Gideon's victory, Israel wanted to make him king and rule over them. However, Gideon had seen the true King face to face (Judges 6: 22) and refused to rule over them, saying, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Israel had 40 years of peace under Gideon's humble leadership.

We've met Gideon the judge and Gideon the warrior. Now, let's meet the One Gideon was privileged to meet. Jehovah~Shalom, the Prince of Peace.

Mrs. George writes, "Before we finish verse two and our visit to the still waters, we need to behold the Prince of Peace. To enjoy peace and harmony with God means to enjoy the harmony of a relationship with God. And it is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), who makes a relationship with God possible. Peace with God includes...
a. Harmony ~ to be in harmony with God due to the payment of a debt.
b. A peace offering ~ restored fellowship between God and man, accomplished only by shed blood (Leviticus 3)."

Jesus' death on the cross did just that, sisters. He paid the debt He did not owe, and He shed His precious blood as a peace offering.

One of my favorite songs is called "In Christ Alone". If you have the time, please listen to the first song on my playlist. It sums up this last point beautifully!

"In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the World by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me!
For I am His, and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny!
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
'Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Doesn't that just make you want to shout? Praise be to Jesus ~ Suffering Savior, Precious Redeemer ~ King of Kings and Lord of Lords!