Lesson 3
 Yahweh-Shalom – The Lord is Peace (John 14:27; Judges 6:24 for the first mention of this name)
“When I am Afraid, I will Trust in God” (Psalm 56:3)
Read 1 Samuel 21:1 – 22:5, Psalm 56, 34, 142 www.bible.com/bible/59/1sa.21.esv

After David said good-bye to his best friend Jonathan, Saul’s son, he ran to Ahimelech the Priest and asked him for food and a sword. The only sword the priest had belonged to Goliath, the Philistine giant David had courageously killed, trusting in the Lord of Hosts. He gave David bread and the sword and David took off running, putting as much distance between himself and King Saul as he could.

Next David sought refuge with the King of Gath, but panicked when he was recognized by the Philistine king’s servants. He pretended to be crazy to escape. David wrote Psalm 56 and 34 based on this frightening experience. In Psalm 56, David confessed that when he got really afraid, he threw himself upon Yahweh-shalom, and God reminded David that He could be trusted completely. The Lord knows our sleepless nights and tears. David fervently thanked God for keeping every one of His promises.

 David also thanked the Lord his Peace for freeing him from his anxious fears in Psalm 34, and advises us never to hide our feelings from the Lord. When David was desperate, he called out to God, Who sent His angels in a circle of protection around him. Those who run to the Lord are blessed, and worship opens the door to all God’s goodness. El Shaddai keeps His eye on His friends, listening to us, ready to rescue. God is right there for the broken-hearted.

David took refuge in a huge cave, and 400 family members, friends and other men looking for work joined him; David became their leader. This is when David wrote Psalm 142, where he cried out loudly to Yahweh-Shalom. God knew what David was feeling, the danger he was in, and that he felt all alone, even with hundreds of men around him. He trusted his Lord of Peace to bring showers of blessing.

David moved his parents to Moab for their safety while he was hiding from King Saul. Next, David and his men moved their camp from the cave to a forest in Judah.

Apply God’s Word to your life:
Jesus promises, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
*How does fear affect you?
*How does our enemy tempt you to be afraid instead of trusting in God?
*What promises from God’s Word can you claim to fight these temptations to fear and not trust Yahweh-Shalom?

Dig Deeper: Read more about our Yahweh-Shalom, the Lord is Peace:
 Numbers 6:26; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 9:6, 26:3; Philippians 4:7-9; Romans 5:1; Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Timothy 1:7; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 15:33