Purpose: To explain that God is our only source for peace.
Aim: I want the listener to rest assured of God's peace.
INTRODUCTION: It has been more than 200 years since God revealed Himself as Jehovah-M'Kaddesh (the LORD who sets apart or makes holy). The promised land has been conquered and divided up among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua has been dead for a long time. As soon as he died the Jews started on a downward spiral that lasted during the entire period called the time of the judges.
"During the period of the judges, from about 1380 1050 B. C., (330 years) the government of Israel was a loose confederation of tribes gathered about their central shrine, the ARK OF THE COVENANT. Without a human king to guide them, the people tended to rebel and fall into worship of false gods time and time again. 'Everyone did what was right in his own eyes'
"These judges or charismatic leaders would rally the people to defeat the enemy. As God's agents for justice and deliverance, they would act decisively to free the nation from oppression. But the judges themselves were often weak, and their work was short-lived. The people would enter another stage of rebellion and idolatry, only to see the cycle of oppression and deliverance repeated all over again." [1]
Israel's Pattern in Judges
#1 Peace
#2 Disobedience
#3 Oppression
#4 Earnest Prayer for Help
#5 God Delivers through a Leader
#6 Peace
It was during the fifth of twelve of these cycles that we find another name for God: "The LORD is peace" in verse 24.
Things haven't changed much have they? The entire history of the world proves that peace is rare. Since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than 8% of the time! Of 3,530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8,000 peace treaties were made & broken. During this period there were 14,351 wars, large & small, in which 3.64 billion people were killed.
What we need is peace.
The word PEACE (shalom) means "^7965^, peace; completeness; welfare; health." [2]
PEACE comes from a root word shalam (shaw lam') that means: "7999... to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly" [3]
In our text we learn that the Midianites had been oppressing Israel for 7 years. After the reforms under Deborah there had been forty years of peace and prosperity. Then God used Gideon to bring about another 40 years of peace.
So, Gideon and the whole Jewish nation was living in constant fear, which is the opposite of peace.
►Vs.1-5 I. The Steps Away from Peace
► Vs. 1 A. Sinning before God "did what was evil"
Every time we see a lack of peace in our lives, sin is always the cause, not our circumstances.
Paul said we could have peace, but he says that we will have in proportion to our trust (Vs.6) and obedience (Vs.9) Philippians 4:6--9 Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (NAU)
► Vs.2 B. Making your own solutions "made...dens...caves"
For seven years the Jews had to hide in caves to protect themselves. Fear is always a result of getting away from the Lord. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion. (NAU)
Fear was the first outward evidence of sin. Genesis 3:8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (NAU)
Instead of running toward God when trials come, we tend to continue running away from Him.
► Vs.3-5 C. Being defeated by your enemies "came into the land to devastate it"
The Midianites would wait until the Jews had planted and cultivated their crops and were ready to reap. They would sweep down and steal the crops and then leave them alone.
Notice that disobedience started with their will "did what was evil", then it affected them emotionally "made...dens...caves" and then it caused physical problems "came into the land to devastate it".
That is exactly the same for us. Many (not all!) physical problems are the result of emotional problems that are the result of some area of disobedience in our lives. That's why it is dangerous to always treat an emotional problem just like a physical problem unless, of course, a distinct physical problem can be diagnosed.
What is discouraging you and robbing you of your peace? Friends who don't understand you? A boss who treats you unfairly? A need for more money?
►Vs.6-24 II. The Solution to a Lack of Peace
► Vs.6 A. Cry out to God "cried to the LORD"
When we finally admit that our attempts to solve our problems aren't working, then we are ready to cry out to God for help.
David talks a lot about this in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (NAU)
The first step to finding peace is crying out to God. What is it going to take to get you to cry out to God for help?
► Vs.7-10 B. See your own sin
The prophet Hosea described it this way: Hosea 7:14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. (NAU) In other words, they complained about the lack of food and were quick to line up for the give-a-ways, but they didn't turn away from their sin.
This is similar to the problem that Esau had. Hebrews 12:15--17 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. (NAU)
Notice verse 7: they called on the right person, but for the wrong reason. They were crying out to God because of the Midianites, not because of their sin, so God sent them a prophet.
► Vs.7-9 1. Forgetting God's grace is sin "the LORD...brought you out from the house of slavery"
If you are trusting that God is great enough and good enough to suffer the pangs of hell for you in order to pay for your sin, then it should be easy to trust God for any other problem you might encounter.
Remember Calvary! Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; (NAU)
► Vs.10 2. Fearing false god's is sin "you shall not fear the gods"
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (NAU)
What are you afraid of: Wicked people, economic collapse, what others think of you? When we make our decisions based on anything other than what pleases God we are guilty of fearing false gods.
► Vs.11-16 C. Focus on the promise of God's presence "The LORD is with you"
Three times in these verses God reminds Gideon of His presence: Vs.12, 14, and 16.
God makes this so clear in Isaiah 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (NAU)
It is the absence of an awareness of the presence of God that allows fear.
This is the answer to Gideon's question in verse 13. Israel knew no peace because they no longer valued the presence of God.
We should be content with the material things we have because we already have the presence of God Himself. Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," (NAU)
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." 8 "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (NAU)
It is disrespectful and demeaning to say or even to act as if the presence of God is not enough for us.
Isaiah 26:3--4 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,[Literally "shalom, shalom"] Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock. (NAU)
Numbers 6:23--26 "...'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.' (NAU)
► Vs.17-23 D. Observe God's strength "fire sprang up from the rock"
Have you seen God do miracles? We should be able to recall answers to prayers, ways that God has tenderly cared for us. Keeping a journal of God's blessings would be a help to all of us.
The same God who has not only done wonderful things for us, but who also stepped in and endured the payment for our sin can do anything else we need.
Our God has the power to impart peace to us. After all He is the ... Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NAU)
Jesus was announced as the one Who would bring peace: Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (NAU)
Jesus announced that He was giving peace to His followers: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (NAU)
The first words that Jesus spoke to His disciples after His resurrection was "Peace be unto you."
Paul said that God's peace was possible because of Calvary: Colossians 1:20 ... having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (NAU)
The more we think about the Prince of Peace the more peace we will experience: Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (NAU)
► Vs.24 E. Boldly declare your faith in God "Gideon built an altar...The LORD is peace"
This was not a altar for sacrifice. This was a monument to remind him what he had learned and to publicly declare his faith in God's promise of peace.
He didn't wait for peace to come to Israel. He believed that God was telling the truth and that peace was coming.
This altar was his faith in action. Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: God is all about peace. We see it in all three members of the trinity.
God is a trinity of peace:
God the Father is called the "God of peace" in Heb 13:20
God the Son is called the "Prince of peace" in Isaiah 9:6
God the Spirit is called the "Spirit...of peace" in Eph 4:3
If we seek the God of Peace then we will have peace. Are you restless today or do you have a deep seated peace in spite of your circumstances?
Thomas Watson wrote that...
"The godly man, when he dies, "enters into peace" (Isa 57:2); but while he lives, peace must enter into him."
