The Names Of God Series - Jehovah Sabaoth

Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts

In the book of 2 Samuel we come across a beautiful name for God. Before the temple was built, people would go to Shiloh to worship Jehovah Sabaoth. It is a name that will be used of God 284 more times in scripture.

In English, Sabaoth looks a lot like the word Sabbath, but they are not the same in Hebrew. While Sabbath means to rest, Sabaoth means a host or an army. The name Jehovah Sabaoth tells us that God is a leader and protector of His people.

Where does such a name come from? What host is God leading? One of my favorite Bible stories occurs in 2 Kings 6. The king of Aram was frustrated because every time he attempted to attack Israel, they knew his plans in advance. Elisha the prophet knew what was going on so he would warn Israel. So, the Aramean king, learning that Elisha was thwarting his plans, sent an army to capture him.

2 Kings 6:14

“He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.”

In the morning, Elisha’s servant went outside and he saw the Aramean army surrounding them. He panicked and cried out to Elisha. But, Elisha knew something that he did not.

2 Kings 6:16-17

“So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

There was an entire army surrounding Elisha the whole time but no one knew it was there except for Elisha! God delivered him that day.

When you are up against the wall and it seems that there is no hope, just remember that the power of God is usually not something that we see and touch. It is rarely visible but it is always there. God is always with us. If The Lord Of Hosts is with us, who can be against us?