Jehovah-Sabaoth
By: Lexie Cassidy
Do you ever feel like your sin is going to win the war? Sometimes it’s really hard for me to believe that sin doesn’t have power over me. If it doesn’t, why do I keep sinning?! It sounds simplistic but I am just so sick of choosing sin.
I was reading to my kids out of God’s Names* by Sally Michaels in which the author introduces kids to several of the names ascribed to God in the Bible. In this particular entry, we were learning about Jehovah-Sabaoth which translates to “The LORD of Hosts”. I had never really thought of what this name means despite hearing it sporadically during my upbringing. The author shows us examples from scripture that “hosts” in this instance refers to armies of Angels. They work for the Triune God and are at his disposal to do His will in any situation.
In 2 Kings 6, God was using the prophet Elisha to help the people of Israel stay safe from the king of Syria (v. 8-10). The Syrian king didn’t take kindly to this and he wanted Elisha out of the way, “So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city” (v. 11-14).
Elisha’s servant wakes up the next morning, walks out the city gate or maybe looks out his window, and freaks out. They’re surrounded by the Syrian army. So he rushes to Elisha and asks him what to do. (v. 15) Elisha seems so chill - he tells his servant, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (v.16) The servant is thinking of this in human terms, counting man for man. The servant is doing the math and knows this isn’t true what Elisha is saying. So Elisha prays to God, the LORD God of hosts, Jehovah-Sabaoth. He asks Him to open the eyes of the servant. And I just get so amped with what happens next:
“So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
The servant thought this was a normal war. He either didn’t know or he forgot that God had more than just the Israelite army on his side. And then God showed him a behind-the-scenes peek into the supernatural war that was being waged. In reading this account from the Bible, I know this was a literal battle, and the Israelites needed physical protection to continue as a people but I couldn’t stop thinking about the spiritual war that I live every day.
Ephesians 6:12 says “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” I feel this so keenly in my own life. The world actively seeks to pull our hearts away from Christ and so does my own flesh. Every day I find my heart seeking to kick God off the throne and establish myself as ruler and lord. The world can be so convincing, tricking my heart into loving and desiring things like a trendy house, luxurious vacations, and well-behaved kids. There are no neutral hearts. We are loving something - is it Christ?
This passage gives me such hope and encouragement that sin will not win. My hope is not in God’s angels, it is in Christ alone, but the truth that my God is so big that he has armies of angels to do His bidding gives me strength in the knowledge of his power. He is a huge God. My sin seems so big like the Syrian army seemed to that servant. I look at it and I freak out. But may God give us eyes to see how big He truly is. May the Spirit cause us to remember that sin doesn’t get the final say.
There is a hymn that uses this name, Jehovah-Sabaoth. “A Mighty Fortress” was written by Martin Luther in the 16th century. The first verse speaks of God being a fortress and helper, never failing us regardless of the deceitful schemes of Satan. The second verse reminds us of our inability to save ourselves, but rather, Christ will win the battle. The hymn ends with the truth that nothing can thwart God’s will. No one can wrest a single soul from his care. His kingdom and truth are forever. Let us sing this song to each other and ourselves and remember that God is sovereign and ultimate and there is nothing that can prevail over him.
**”1A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!”
*Michaels, Sally. “God’s Names.” 2011.
**Luther, Martin. “A mighty fortress is our God” 1852
