Page 20 - May 2026 - Truth & Tidings

s we explore the various titles of Word, they allowed their pagan neigh-
our great God, we find in Scrip- bours to lead them into idolatry, turning
Ature one particularly significant themselves away from serving the God of
Name, mentioned only once in the entire heaven. This led to God’s bringing judg-
Bible: Jehovah-Shalom. “Shalom,” mean- ment upon His people by removing His
ing “peace,” reveals an essential aspect protective hand and allowing the nations
of God’s nature. First, as “the God of around them to make war against the Is-
peace” Jehovah-Shalom unveils the truth raelites and oppress them. Consequently,
that peace is an eternal attribute of deity, this filled the nation with problems and
even in the total absence of sin. Second, suffering; it was anything but peaceful
“the peace of God” shows His ability to for the Israelites.
produce peace where sin has entered and God raised up Gideon to save His
conflict has occurred. people, and the parallels between this man

The Context of Jehovah- and Christ are notable. Gideon came from
Shalom poverty and acted in humility. His life was
demanded by his own people, with God
This exclusive mention of “Jehovah- promising he would save the nation by
Shalom” is found in Judges 6:24, and Gideon’s hand. Gideon gained that victory
in surveying the context we learn many through weakness, bringing peace to the
valuable lessons. The nation of Israel nation. It was in this context that Gideon
was in a dire state; “in those days there built an altar, acknowledging “Jehovah-
was no king in Israel: every man did that Shalom” – the source and supply of peace.
which was right in his own eyes” (21:25).
1
In their rebellion and rejection of God’s The Character of Jehovah-
Shalom
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the
KJV unless otherwise noted. A story is told of two finalists in an art

148 TRUTH kTidings May 2026