Jehovah Tsebaoth

Some of the names of God that we have studied recently have been a challenge to get our minds around.  This week we have been studying Jehovah Tsebaoth, The Lord of Hosts.  You might be thinking, what is a host anyway?  We learned that a host, as it pertains to Scripture, means an army. More specifically, when we talk about Jehovah Tsebaoth, we are studying our God who commands armies of angels.  Pretty cool! Let’s look at what we learned this week.

What are Angels?

In our present culture angels have become, in a manner of speaking, in vogue. We see them on calendars, t-shirts, and on tv.  As we learned, these modern-day angels have little to do with the angels that are represented in scripture. Here is what scripture does tell us about angels:

Angels are created beings. “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.” Psalm 148:5

Angels have the ability to choose. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;” 2 Peter 2:4

Angels are strong and powerful. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.” Acts 12:7

Angels are intelligent. “Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” Psalm 103:20

Angels cannot be seen unless God gives us a special ability to see them. “Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.” Num. 22:31

Angels are awesome and frightening to behold. “And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel.” (Dan. 10:11b-12a)

What Do Angels Do?

The Israelites would use the name LORD of Hosts to remind them that God was the commander of an army of angels, available for His use. If they obeyed the LORD and trusted Him, the hosts of angels would be sent to fight on their behalf. Psalm 103:20 tells us exactly what His angels do: “Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.”  We were given three specific areas in Scripture where angels were most often involved.

Proclamation.  “The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Luke 1:19

Protection.  “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

Participate in warfare on our behalf. “Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” Daniel 10:12

How Many Make Up a Host?

In the beginning of this week’s study we learned that a host was an army. We have learned that God’s armies of angels are powerful and do His bidding. The question remains – exactly how many angels comprise a host?  We were given a few scriptures to point us in the right direction: “a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” (Daniel 7:10 ESV); “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering” (Heb. 7:22, ESV); “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands“ (Rev. 5:11, ESV).  So how many would you say make up a host??

Last Mention of First Mention.

Throughout this season of Bible study we have learned that the first mention of a specific word in the Bible holds the most significant meaning.  That meaning will flow through and add a shade of understanding to that word in subsequent passages.  The homework brought us to the passage where Jehovah Tsebaoth is first introduced. Please read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-20.

In this passage Hannah is in an impossible situation. God had closed her womb while the second wife of her husband was fruitful and constantly antagonized Hannah because of her barrenness.  In her despair, Hannah cried out to the LORD, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.  Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (1 Sam. 1:10-11, NKJV).

God might allow us to be in an impossible situation so that He can reveal Himself to us in a new way.  Hannah did not accept her circumstances.  She laid aside her bitterness and called out to the LORD of Hosts to come to her aide. We were encouraged to follow Hannah’s example. Our battle might be physical, relational, or spiritual.  God might be waiting to reveal Himself to us in a way we have never known. Call out to Jehovah Tsebaoth, The LORD of Hosts.  Ask Him to send His angel armies to fight on your behalf!!

We were encouraged to remember that our Heavenly Father is the LORD of Hosts.  We can trust Him implicitly. He is mighty and He is powerful. He can call down legions of angels at a moment’s notice. He does hear our prayers. Yet we love Him and trust Him because of Who He is, not because of what He does.

 “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He the King of glory. Selah”. (Psalm 24: 7-10, NKJV)