Jehovah-sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts

In the original text, “hosts” refers to an encampment of troops/army; a mass of persons organized for war – literal war or figuratively for the handling of a hardship. Jehovah-sabaoth “The Lord of Hosts” meets failure and offers strength, deliverance and a place of refuge.

Throughout the Old Testament, the nation of Israel encountered persecution and condemnation below is a summary of how the Lord of Hosts offered them strength, deliverance of their trials and a place of refuge:
(1) Jehovah-sabaoth was first used in the book of 1 Samuel…

• Elkanah, Hannah’s husband, worshiped and sacrificed to the Lord of Hosts (1 Sam 1:1-3) then Hannah in her barren state cried out to the Lord of Hosts; she was at her rock bottom wanting a child and feeling great distress (1 Sam 1: 6-7, 10-11).
• David had faith; he knew without God the task ahead was impossible but knew he could accomplish great things with the Lord of Hosts (1 Sam 17: 42-47). Contrary to the manner David cried out to the Lord, the people were overwhelmed by the Philistines and thought the ark would save them. They were seeking religion and religious rituals not a relationship with the Lord of Hosts (1 Sam 4: 3-4) and as a result they experienced defeat (1 Sam 4: 10-11).

(2) During the time of Jeremiah the name Jehovah-sabaoth appeared 83 times in 52 chapters. Israel was disintegrating morally from within and being destroyed militarily from the outside. Jerusalem was attacked and taken in 586 BC and many people taken into captivity to foreign lands.

(3) Jehovah-sabaoth was not mentioned once in the 48 chapters of Ezekiel. God’s people had given up during their 70 years of captivity.

(4) During the years Zechariah prophesied the name Jehovah-sabaoth appeared 52 times in 14 chapters. Zechariah was born in exile in Babylon; the children of Israel was returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple after being in captivity in Babylon for 70 years (the first group return in 538 BC).

(5) The name Jehovah-sabaoth was used appeared 24 times in the book of Malachi; 22 of those instances was a direct word from God wanting them to see Him as their Lord of hosts and to bow their knee to Him. At this period of time the Israelites gave God lip-service but showed no actions to back up what they said.

Just as with Hannah, during our rock bottom experiences in life, Jehovah-sabaoth is there waiting with open arms for us to cry out to Him. There is no substitute for a relationship with the Lord, seeking religious experiences/rituals will only leave you empty and facing your time(s) of need alone. However, when seeking the Lord and a relationship with Him, true strength even during times of weakness is possible.