Since I was a small girl, I have had a love for the land of Israel, for its people and a great desire to travel there. It has not been until the last  ten years that I began to have some understanding of that longing.  I became a follower or believer as Jesus Christ at a very young age, not because my family was regular church attenders and I was indoctrinated from birth but because  I had heard some Bible Stories and one day when a scary and traumatic event occurred in my pre-school life and I was filled with fear facing danger, I cried out to Jesus for help. He met me there and turned that terrifying situation around. He did this in answer to prayer many times during my childhood years and during my years as an adult. In Him, I found Jehovah (YHWH) Shalom long before I would ever understand the true meaning of the Lord is Peace.

So just what does this name for God mean?  Jehovah is the word used for the Hebrew word YHWH or Yahweh. It’s accepted meaning is Self-Existent One or Lord and comes from the root to be or to exist, one who reveals Himself unceasingly. 1  Shalom is often defined as peace but in Hebrew has a much deeper meaning.  Let’s explore.  According to Strong’s, Shalom holds with the meaning the concept of  to be or make peace, to make amends, to restore, to make good,  peace, prosperity and wellness. A friend of ours who speaks Hebrew has described it as being nothing broken, nothing missing, wholeness, complete.  How rich is the meaning of this name for God. He is the Self-Existent Lord, Who reveals Himself unceasingly, bringing or making possible  peace, restoration, prosperity and wellness, nothing missing  and nothing  broken.

One example of  shalom in scripture is:

When Gideon realized that He was the Angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.”  So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it Yahweh Shalom. It is in Ophrah of the Abiezrites until today. (Judges 6:22-24 HCSB)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you prosper; may there be peace within your walls, prosperity within your fortresses.”Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be with you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6-9 HCSB)  It also reads:  Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim (pray for the peace of Jerusalem); they shall prosper that love thee. Shalom be within thy wall, and security within thy citadels. (Tehillim 122:6, 7 OJB) as found in the Jewish orthodox Bible.

You will guard him  and  keep him in  perfect  and  constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You,  and  hopes confidently in You. (Isaiah 26:3 AMP)                                                                                                                                                   Thou wilt keep him in shalom shalom, whose yetzer (mind-set) is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. (Yeshayah 26:3 OJB)

May Yahweh bless you and protect you; may Yahweh make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh look with favor on you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 HCSB)

Shalom!

1 from blue bible.org/names of God