JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH

Jehovah Tsebaoth describes God as the Lord of Hosts or God of battles.  The word Tsebaoth comes from the Hebrew word tsaba and can be used as a verb or a noun.  As a verb it means to wage war or to render service to God. As a noun, tsaba refers to multitudes, hosts, or armies.  It expresses a VAST army made up of different components which are under God’s command.

When we think of an army we picture a large group of men ready to fight.  As a child of God, we are members of the army of the Lord. Another name for an army is host and may refer to angelic hosts (angels), heavenly hosts (stars and planets), or  hosts of animals. Whatever kind of host or army the bible is speaking about, God, Jehovah Tsebaoth, is the Head.

As Head of the army, God protects and defends us.  He fights or battles against those obstacles in our life which attempt to defeat us.  Joel 2:11 describes God’s power, “And the Lord utters His voice before His army, for His host is very great, and [they are] strong and powerful who execute [God’s] word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can endure it?"

Let’s look at some examples of Jehovah Tsebaoth in the bible.

In Joshua 5, God was preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.  As they waited for God’s direction,  He revealed Himself to Joshua.  “ and it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man (God) stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’  So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’  Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped Him”  (Joshua 5:13-14). Joshua had come face to face with Jehovah Tsebaoth and knew that God was with them and would lead them to victory.

First Samuel 17 depicts David’s battle with Goliath.  Despite the fact that Goliath was huge and was fully equipped with armour and weapons, David had no fear of him because his trust was in God.  Even as Goliath mocked him, David responded with faith and confidence. “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”. (1 Samuel 17:45)

Both Joshua and David knew and trusted God as Jehova Tsebaoth, their protector and defender.  Their confidence was not in themselves or in their circumstances. Psalms 24:8 tells us, “Who is the King of glory? The Lord STRONG AND MIGHTY, the Lord MIGHTY IN BATTLE”.   If you are facing a battle in your life, let God fight for you.  No matter what you may be encountering, God is BIGGER.

Father, You are mighty, strong, and powerful.  I thank You that You are fighting for us. Open the eyes of our understanding to this facet of Your character.

KNOWING GOD

God desires for His creation to have an intimate, personal relationship with Him.  In John 17:3 Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.”   

Eternal life is more than living forever.  It is a life that is defined by knowing God and experiencing all Who God is.

God tells us in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not the wise man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches.  Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me, and understand that I am the Lord of justice and of righteousness whose love is steadfast”.

There are several commands in God’s Word that revolve around or are contingent upon our knowing God.  

Proverbs 3:5 tells us, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.”  

Luke 10:27 commands, ”You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

How do we reach a point in our lives where we completely trust and love God?  We must come to know His heart and His attributes. The names of God are a manifestation (evidence, example) of His character and reveal to us Who He is.

Approximately one year ago God instructed me to begin writing a blog describing His many names.   It is my desire to help the readers of these articles, along with myself, discover Who God truly is and become intimately acquainted with Him.

Father, I pray Your Word over each person who reads this.  As we “Move our heart closer and closer to God, He will come even closer to you. (James 4:8)

I thank You for Your  promise and I thank You that You are faithful to Your Word.  Open our hearts to all that You are.