This is the most common name found in the Old Testament. Sabaoth (Tsah-bah-oath) is derived from the word tsaba (tsah-bah) a military term which means, army, war, warfare. Jehovah Sabaoth is similar to El Shaddai and Jehovah Shammah as it denotes Him being all powerful and being ever present with His people. The first occurrence is not in a military context though, but in desperation, prayer, and hoping in Him; in 1 Samuel 1:11, “Making a vow, she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”” Hannah was childless and was tormented for being barren. Instead of complaining to others, she went to the one person who could help, God. She prayed using this name showing that He is the almighty who can do anything; all things are possible with God. He was there with Hannah in her anguish; “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) She poured her heart out to God, and offered to devote her son to God’s work. And He answered her.
Sabaoth, militarily, describes the limitless power at El Shaddai’s disposal. “For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord? God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround him. Lord God of Armies, who is strong like you, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you.” (Psalm 89:6-8) He is the divine warrior that led the Israelites to victory in their conquests. The Old Testament contains plenty of examples of God leading the Israelites as their commander to war and victory. However, keeping with 1 Samuel, “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel—you have defied him.” (1 Samuel 17:45) David spoke this to Goliath. Of course, we all know what happened next. Goliath had ridiculed Israel and blasphemed the Lord. And David came to rectify. He wanted Goliath, all the Philistines and the entire world to know that the god that Israel worshiped was the one true God above all. While physically, this was a fight between two men. Spiritually it was a fight between the true Living God, and the false idols worshiped by the Philistines, and all false idols among all the nations.
This demonstrates a key truth that Jehovah Sabaoth represents: “He is to say to them, ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’” (Deuteronomy 20:4) God does and will fight for us. Going back to Jehovah Shammah, He either rescues us from our troubles, or He is there with us, fighting for us through our troubles.
“The Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer; The Lord of Armies is his name.” (Isaiah 47:4) God is the Lord of Hosts, and our redeemer who died in our place. Besides healing the sick, expelling demons, and raising the dead, He also controls the weather. “On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”” (Mark 4:35-41) His resources are limitless. His power, unmatched.
And it’s really the image of Him in Revelation that displays, like El Shaddai, His power, His glory, and His majesty. “Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:12-18) When the people see this image, there’s no doubt that, “…every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
I’ll touch on these verses later, but I want to highlight them. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies.” (Isaiah 6:1-5) This is a peculiar experience, but it demonstrates the majesty of God. This incident is similar to what John saw in Revelation. Jehovah Sabaoth created the universe; and it, especially the whole earth, is filled with His glory. The scene signifies a being entirely separate from the rest of creation, a being entirely limitless, superior, and holy compared to all else. Complete perfection–and that aspect will be discussed later.
Psalms 24 and 46 elegantly demonstrate Jehovah Sabaoth:
“The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who inquire of him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord of Armies, he is the King of glory. Selah” (Psalm 24)
“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its water roars and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
There is a river—its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice. The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze. “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah” (Psalm 46)
“I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.” (2 Corinthians 13:13)
314Apologia 