Nearly all English versions translate this name LORD of hosts (NIV: LORD Almighty). The Hebrew tsava appears 485 times, and refers to “hosts” whether of men (Jud. 4:2), angels (Deut. 4:19), or stars and planets (1 Ki. 22:19). It is used 285 times in the name, LORD of hosts. It appears twice in the NT, once quoting Isaiah (Rom. 9:29) and once by James writing to Jewish believers (Jas. 5:4).
The name, LORD of hosts, is never used in the Pentateuch. The first use is in 1 Sam. 1:3,11 in the
story of Hannah. Hannah prays to the
LORD of hosts. Of the 285 uses, 230 of
these are found in 5 prophetic books: Isaiah (62), Jeremiah (77), Haggai (14),
Zechariah (53) and Malachi (24).
The basic picture in this name is of God
marshalling the hosts of heaven, especially on behalf of His people. It is when the battle is upon us that we call
upon the LORD of hosts. There is no
better illustration of this than the story in 2 Kings 6:8-18, where the name is
not even used. The city of Dothan was surrounded
by the hosts of the Syrian army. Elisha
asked the LORD to open the eyes of his servant that he might see the mighty
host of the LORD’s army around the city.
Another illustration appears in Joshua 5:10-15, again with no mention of
the name. Instead, Joshua is met by, we
believe, Christ Himself, as “the Commander of the LORD’s army.” It may be this experience of Joshua, at the
time Israel entered the land, that might have been behind Hannah’s reference to
God as LORD of hosts.
Why did the LORD reveal Himself in such a way
through the five prophets mentioned above?
Isaiah and Jeremiah wrote at different stages leading up to the Babylonian
captivity. Thus there are lines like
this: the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment (Isa. 5:16); the
wrath of the LORD of hosts (Isa. 13:13); and thus says the LORD of
hosts, ‘Behold, I will refine them and try them (Jer. 9:7). The LORD marshaled all His hosts in judgment.
On the other hand, Haggai, Zechariah and
Malachi wrote after the return from Babylon.
The nation was weak, and submitted to the Persians. In Haggai, even though the new temple seemed
insignificant compared to the one Solomon built, the LORD of hosts promised, I
am with you (2:4) in the work. The
LORD of hosts, promised to shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land, and
… all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will
fill this temple with glory (2:6-7).
The LORD of hosts could do this because His army has no limitations.
This name can encourage our faith any time, especially
when we are overcome by the burdens and hindrances on our path. David’s words should echo in our hearts, as
he stood before Goliath: You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with
a javelin. But I come to you in the name
of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Praise the name of the LORD of hosts!
No comments:
Post a Comment