Assisted by John Pence Wilhelm III
THE NAMES OF GOD – THE BEST FOR LAST Part 3
5. Jehovah Sabaoh
The Lord of Hosts. “Host” could refer to either an army or a great number or multitude. The first time it appears in the Bible is right at the beginning, in the creation account: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the HOST of them.” (Genesis 2:1). I learned from a rabbi that this could mean that all of the atoms, all of the molecules in the entire universe, the vast array of them, were working together… all assembled and acting towards a purpose.
When we call our Heavenly Father the “Lord of Hosts”, there is so much in that name. Yes, there are the myriad armies of angels at His disposal, and yes, He is a warrior, mighty in battle, but He is also the conductor of the beautiful orchestra that is the entirety of all creation. Every atom, every molecule, moves in accordance with His purposes and at His command. He sustains everything by His powerful Word.
In the past year or two I had a beautiful revelation of what this most glorious Name of our God means so I saved the best for last. I am smiling even as I write this.
When Jesus came into the world, His appearance was made known by a mighty chorus of the angelic heavenly host singing “Glory to God in the Highest.” (Luke 2:13-14). We’re so accustomed to this “little scene” that we might make the error of gliding right past it; so let’s pause for a while, shall we. Have you ever wondered how many were in that heavenly host?
Verse 13. – With the angel a multitude of the heavenly host. One of the glorious titles by which the eternal King was known among the chosen people was “Lord of sabaoh” equivalent to “Lord of Hosts.” In several passages of the Scriptures is the enormous multitude of these heavenly beings noticed…where the Hebrew is much more expressive than the English rendering as in Daniel 7:10, “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/2-13.htm
If you literally multiply ten thousand times ten thousand, you arrive at a staggering figure: one hundred million!! Yet, look below at the commentary on Revelation 5:11-12:
ten thousand times ten thousand] Lit. myriads of myriads, the Greek (and Hebrew) language having a single word for the number 10,000: so that the effect is as if we should say “millions of millions and thousands of thousands” (in Genesis 24:60 words equivalent to these are translated “thousands of millions.”) In Daniel 7:10 the order is the reverse, “thousand thousands … and ten thousand times ten thousand,” with the obvious motive of a climax: here the effect is, “there were hundreds of millions massed together, and if you counted those in the mass, the numbers you would leave over would be millions still”…” “their number was infinite, not to be numbered. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/5-11.htm (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges and Matthew Poole’s Commentary on Revelation 5: 11-12)
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Just think, one day, one glorious day, when time is no more, we will join this celestial choir in all praise and honor to His Name ! What will we sing? Perhaps the following…
HANDEL’S THE MESSIAH:THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS
When the music for this biblical passage began, King George, I believe, made a statement about royal authority and honor:
[He said] The Christian King of England is not the Supreme Authority, but he is one under authority and must show honor and respect to his Supreme Lord, the King of Kings.
Just as people rise to show honor and respect in the presence of their English Royals, King George could do no less, as one under Authority.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
Forever and ever, forever and ever,
King George was a Christian king, head of the English Church, and would have been knowledgeable of the Scriptures. He knew, from the moment the choir began singing that passage, that it was referring to his Lord, to a King greater than himself.
For that reason, we all should stand whenever the King of kings and Lord of lords, our God’s Messiah’s presence is announced.
We would have no life without Him, no peace, no joy, no love. He’s everything that our hearts ever longed for. Everything He promised He would be and yet so much more. He’s the healer of our deepest wounds; our everlasting comfort; He’s truly our All in All. He walks beside us and is always our friend. Because He lives we can always face tomorrow for He knows the future with as much certainty as if it were already past. He is our love and our eternal life. He is so very Worthy of all praise and adoring worship. Who is like unto Thee, Oh Lord among the gods, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. There is none who is like unto Thee. He is our Savior, our King, our Good Shepherd, our Jesus, our God, our Abba Father. We are unworthy of anything we receive from Him. He, on the other hand, is worthy of everything we can give. Such is worship. It is not enough.
More Than Wonderful: https://youtu.be/Vm3pcE-yx_I
You are God Alone: https://youtu.be/OICArFHAa9c
King of Kings https://youtu.be/BTqziQqlyzg
The Bible says the name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous can run to it and be saved. In a world that often feels chaotic and fear-filled, His name is the one to hold close, forever and ever.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES
Isaiah 14:24-27 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought and planned, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand—
26 This is the [Lord’s] purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth [regarded as conquered and put under tribute by Assyria]; and this is [His omnipotent] hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
We have just discovered the mind-blowing number and vastness of our Lord of Host’s massive angelic army – their number was infinite, not to be numbered. The beginning verses in Isaiah 14 have Satan proudly boasting his magnificent power.
Ah, but then we read on to verses 12-15:
How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground—mighty though you were against the nations of the world. 13 For you said to yourself, “I will ascend to heaven and rule the angels.I will take the highest throne. I will preside on the Mount of Assembly far away in the north.* 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.” 15 But instead, you will be brought down to the pit of hell, down to its lowest depths.
Four times Lucifer boasts of his seemingly perfect plans. But there’s a slight hitch – he forgot that the position of the Most High is already taken and all the infinite amount of angels already belong to HIM Who is Yahweh, Elohim, El Elyon ((God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Yahweh Yireh (God WillProvide), Yahweh Nissi (God is my Banner ), Jehovah Rapha and our Abba, Daddy. Aren’t you glad you are a child of this King of Glory?💗💗
Image borrowed from bible.com
Holding His Word Higher 