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.