Judges 6 tells us the story about Gideon and his initial encounter with and calling by the Lord. It is a story that has a lot of personal applications for us today. For example here are some of the application questions that come to my mind as I read this narrative…
Who am I afraid of? Who are the people that cause me to tremble? (v.11)
Do I recognize that the Lord is indeed with me at ALL times? Does He see me different than I see myself? (v.12)
Are there ever times when I feel forsaken and abandoned by God? (v.13)
What are the “wonderful deeds” that God has done that I can point to in my own life? (v.13)
How do I act like a man of valor when I do not feel like a man of valor? (v.14)
Do I ever try to get out of doing what God has called me to do? (v.15)
Do I ever question the fact that I have found favor in the eyes of God? (v.17)
How do I experience peace when life seems upside down? (v.23)
Speaking of peace… one of the great words of the Bible is used here to help Gideon get ready for the role he is to play. After scaring the bejeebies out of him, God says to Gideon “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” And Gideon responds by building an altar to the Lord and calling it “The Lord is Peace.” The word for peace is shalom. Here is a little more info about this incredible Hebrew word (adapted from GotQuestions)
Commonly translated as “peace” and used as both a greeting and farewell, shalom has rich meaning in Hebrew. “Peace” is an accurate translation of the term, but shalom implies more than lack of conflict. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, shalom means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.” It is translated “success” and used as part of an inspired blessing in 1 Chronicles 12:18. Shalom is applicable to an external peace between two entities—such as individuals or nations—and to an internal sense of peace within the individual.
True shalom comes only from God. Paul explains, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. . . . But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:1–3, 8–10). We are no longer God’s enemies, but He has made peace with us through the blood of Christ.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him” (Romans 15:13)