Monday
Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. . . .
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
(Psalms 29:1-4, 10-11, NIV)
A repeated theme throughout the Bible is that God is the originator, the author, the creator of shalom. Today’s psalm of praise by King David ascribes to the Lord’s glory, strength, majesty and power and identifies God as the one who blesses his people with the gift of shalom.
Identifying Jehovah as the giver of peace is graphically depicted in the narrative concerning Gideon’s call to free his people from the oppressive Midianites. Following the sign given by the Lord to prove his favor toward Gideon, a sign Gideon requested, Judges 6:24 tells us that Gideon builds an altar to the Lord and calls it “The Lord is Peace” (Jehovah – shalom).
Scripture also teaches us the opposite lesson about peace when, in Jeremiah 16:5-10, it explains that God will remove his peace from unfaithful people. When that happens, it is time for great mourning.
Jehovah God is the giver of peace, the only true peace. Only when we trust in him can we “lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
Prayer
O Creator God, the author of peace, teach us to look to you alone for the gift of peace. Help us, like Gideon, to build memorials that remind us that you are “the Lord of peace.” Amen.