Yahweh-Shalom

I recently had the joy of watching Kung Fu Panda 2 with my family.  There is an early scene with Po and Shifu that sets up the plot of the movie.  The conversation is about"inner peace".  The rest of the movie is Po's quest for inner peace and the tension between inner peace and conflict.

[as he carefully handles a water droplet and lets it go onto to a leaf intact]Po: How did you do that?Shifu: Inner peace.Po: Inner piece. That's cool! Inner piece of what?Shifu: It is the next phase of your training. Every master must find his path to inner peace. Some choose to meditate for fifty years in a cave just like this, without the slightest taste of food or water.[Po's stomach makes a loud growling noise]Po: Or?Shifu: Some find it through pain and suffering, as I did. Po, the day you were chosen as Dragon Warrior, was the worst day of my life. By far, nothing else came close. It was the worst, most painful, mind destroying, horrible moment...Po: Okay.Shifu: ...I have ever experienced.[he shudders at the thought of it]

C. S. Lewis said, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."  Lewis was right, there is no peace of any sort apart from Yahweh-Shalom!  The so called peace that people experience in this life apart from Yahweh is a delusion, it does not exist!  ““There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”” (Isaiah 48:22)  

 As we continue to pursue Yahweh through knowing HIM through HIS names I noticed something in 1 John, “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)  Psalm 9:10 tells us that when we know His name we trust Him!

Instead of looking at HIS names in the sequence they occur in scripture I want to try to look at them from how we experience HIM.  Simply meaning you cannot know HIS peace, HIS Shalom, before you encounter HIM as Yahweh-Jireh, providing a substitute for your sins.  You will never know HIS peace until you know HIM as Yahweh-Nissi, finding your identity and victory in HIM alone, your banner.  You must know that you belong to Yahweh-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, and that Yahweh-Tsidkneu IS your righteousness before you experience the Shalom of God.  The Hebrew word for peace carries so much more meaning than the way we use the word peace.   "šālômh includes everything given by God in all areas of life" Brown, C. (1986). Vol. 2: New international dictionary of New Testament theology (777). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

iWorship Yahweh-Shalom

“The Lord is peace” (Judg. 6:24). This was the name of the altar that Gideon built at Ophrah signifying that God brings well-being not death to His people.  

Young Gideon was a member of the weakest clan in Israel, yet God called him to lead the people into battle. When the angel of the LORD gave Gideon this message, Gideon was afraid he would die. But the LORD told him, “Peace! Do not be afraid” (Judg. 6:23).  Gideon built an altar and called it “The LORD Is Peace.” He then led the Israelites to victory against overwhelming odds.  Bright, B. (2000). God : Knowing him by his names (26). Orlando, FL: NewLife Publications.

iThank Yahweh-Shalom
“he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)  
iPray to Yahweh-Shalom
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”” (Numbers 6:24–27)  “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

iPraise Yahweh-Shalom

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)  “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20)  ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” (Luke 2:14)  “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”” (Luke 1:79) 

 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”” (John 20:21)

 Here I am LORD, send me!

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