JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH

This title is translated ‘Lord of hosts’ in our English Bible, and it appears on well over two hundred occasions in Scripture. The first reference is in today’s passage.

The ‘host of heaven’ is a phrase that is commonly used for the stars and planets, so often the object of idolatrous worship. Our God is the Lord of hosts, and with the minimum of words, the Bible tells of their creation, ‘he made the stars also’, Gen. 1. 16.

The ‘heavenly host’, Luke 2.13, is a description of the multitude of the angels. Our God is the Lord of hosts, and He controls these heavenly beings. In a crisis in his life, a meeting with God’s host at Mahanaim encouraged Jacob, Gen. 32.1-2, for the Lord of hosts is the God of Jacob, Ps. 46. 7. He is with us: He is our refuge. It is so good to know that His angel encamps around us, Ps. 34. 7, and that He gives His angels charge over us, Ps. 91.11.

The ‘host of Israel’ is a phrase that is used on occasions to describe the armies of God’s people. Our God is the Lord of hosts, and it is He who empowered His people in warfare and still gives victory in spiritual conflict. ‘The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name’, Exod. 15. 3.

Jehovah Tsebaoth conveys to us that this God is mighty, supreme and majestic. No wonder the first mention of the title is associated with Elkanah’s worship and sacrifice! It is no surprise that the downcast Hannah had confidence to address her appeal to such a one, 1 Sam. 1. 11! The ears of the Lord of hosts are always attentive to the cries of the oppressed, Jas. 5. 4. Has His majesty evoked within us the spirit of worship and self-sacrifice that was seen in Elkanah? Has His might encouraged the spirit of dependence exhibited by Hannah?

The fact that He is the Lord of hosts should remove any sense of isolation that His people may have. It seems incongruous that Elijah should describe Him as the ‘LORD God of hosts’, and yet say, ‘I, even I only, am left’, 1 Kgs. 19.10. Let us rejoice that we are part of an innumerable host. Ultimately, we shall accompany Him when He comes ‘with ten thousands (myriads) of his saints’, Jude 14. He is the Lord of hosts.