Biblical Reflections · Christian Living

The Lord of Hosts?

7 min read, approximately

Psalms 27:3
“Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.”

Most nations have armed forces which, whether divided into land, naval, or air forces, have the primary purpose of defending sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, protecting the population and constitutional order, and thus contributing to peace and security that safeguard the nation’s order. Who does not feel peace and security knowing there is an armed force to defend us?

We Have a Great, Strong, Courageous, and Victorious God!

“Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. [Selah” (Psalms 24:8-10) 

The King of glory, the Lord of hosts… inspires tremendous awe and respect, yet also great comfort, encouragement, and peace for everyone who does his will.

“And [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.” (1 Kings 22:19)

And beyond that, he has a heavenly army:

“As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.” (Jeremiah 33:22)

It cannot be counted!

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
(1 Samuel 17:45)

“And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah of hosts was with him.” (1 Chronicles 11:9)

How Could We Not Trust Him?

“I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalms 91:2-11)

Thoughts

Perhaps we will say: “But Lord, I see wickedness; I see people rising up to harm others. They are relentless and abuse society”…

“Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision. Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure: Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.” (Psalms 2:1-7)

“You will break them with an iron rod; you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel. Now, kings, be wise; accept correction, judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Honor the Son, lest he become angry and you perish along the way, for his anger flares quickly. Blessed are all who trust in him.” (Psalms 2:9-12)

Indeed:

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose as his own inheritance.“ (Psalms 33:12)

Belonging to This Nation

Every army protects its nation… But wait! How can we become part of this nation and receive these benefits?

“But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

How Do We Receive Him? How Do We Do That?

“because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:” (Romans 10:9)

And now? Well…

“… You are no longer foreigners or strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s family, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in him you too are being built together into a dwelling for God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Members of the Royal Family

So, now that we belong to the royal family, the Lord of hosts tells us:

“But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God’s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)

Therefore:

“fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that are incensed against thee shall be put to shame and confounded: they that strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:10-13)

What Do You Think?

“The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: They sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:9-11)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?” (Romans 8:31)

”Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

If someone does not know the Lord of hosts, today is a good day to share this message with them. What do you say?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!