One of God’s names is the Lord of Hosts. Hosts translates from the Hebrew word Sabaoth meaning “armies”. Therefore, properly translated, God is the leader or commander or the Head of the armies of Israel. Israel considered its battles as spiritual battles. Ephesians 6: 12 says for our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Hence, the Lord of Hosts meant the Lord God was the leader of Israel’s spiritual and physical armies as the one who rules over all forms of battle situations. 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6 say for our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and very high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. In every battle or war, Israel deferred to God for his pleasure prior to engaging it.
Why is God the Lord of Hosts?
He is Lord of all creation which is at his command. The Lord said in Haggai 2: 6-8, once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all the nations shall come, and will fill this house with splendor says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
No being or authority can alter God’s plan. Isaiah 14: 27 says for the LORD of hosts has planned, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? The Lord of hosts cannot suffer defeat in battle but victory. Psalms 46: 9-10 say he makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shield with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.”
None can contend with God and win. Psalms 76: 7 says but you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is aroused? The psalmist expands this in Psalms 147: 17, he hurls down hail like crumbs who– can stand before his cold? The Lord said in Jeremiah 49: 19; 50: 44… for who is like me? Who can summon me? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me? The prophet Nahum said in Nahum 1: 6, who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
How does he fight his battles?
He goes before us and not at the rear. Deuteronomy 1: 30 says, the LORD your God, who goes before you, is the one who will fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your very eyes. He decides on the battle plan and strategy. He said in Deuteronomy 1: 42, “Say to them, ‘Do not go up and do not fight, for I am not in the midst of you; otherwise you will be defeated by your enemies.”’ We are pitiful without God.
Deuteronomy 20: 4 says for it is the LORD your God who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory. Isaiah 31: 4-5 record, as a lion or a young lion growls over its prey, — and when a band of shepherds is called out against it– is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill. Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will spare and rescue it.
The Lord of hosts chooses his battles. He said in 2Chronicles 11: 4, “You shall not go up or fight against your kindred. Let everyone return home, for this thing is from me.” It is not every battle that is worth fighting except the Lord directs so. We must seek first God’s decision in every encounter. 2Chronicles 20: 17 says this battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ We must let the Lord of hosts direct our battles to his glory.
Who can invoke the Lord of hosts?
The Lord of hosts is for those who trust in him. Psalms 84: 12 says O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. Our tribes and languages and colour do not matter but his acceptance from the heart through repentance. Revelation 7: 9 says after this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. He saves physically and spiritually.
We need the Lord to prevail. Jeremiah 1: 19 says they will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you. He makes his choices great. He told David in 2Samuel 7: 8-9; 1Chronicles 17: 7 I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
We need faith to invoke the Lord of hosts. He said in Deuteronomy 20: 3-4, “Hear of Israel! Today you are drawing near to do battle against your enemies. Do not lose heart, or be afraid, or panic, or be in dread of them; for it is the LORD your God who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.” Trust in God without any faint heart is what God needs from us to do his battle. God always has an army for us which we do not know or see. 2Chronicles 32: 7 says, be strong and of good courage… for there is one greater with us than with them. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us the Lord our God.
Who is our Lord of hosts in trying times when everything seems to go wrong? May Christ Jesus, the captain of Israel’s host and guide be our refuge in troubled times and Lord of our souls always.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, while we submit to your command as the Lord of hosts, weather the storms in our lives and keep us in your eternal peace, humbling us and teaching us to know and apply your will in our lives by your grace and love. Wash our sins away and keep us by your side in your holy name, Amen!!
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