The Lord of hosts

The term “Lord of hosts” seem to have such a different meaning among scholars. I must admit, the rendition in English is confusing but in French, the connotation has to do with God being the one that battles for you, He is the “Lord of armies” literally speaking. Another connotation that name has is the sense that God is over all the earth and works everything according to His purposes. I have noticed, reading the prophets lately that this name “Lord of hosts” is one that is far too common in the books of Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Amos and the Psalms. In these books, the God of Israel, is often referred to as the “Lord of hosts” and He too refers to Himself in that manner. I have not done much research on the etymology of that name or what it means beyond what I have gleaned from the bible, however, here is what I have noticed about the Lord when He expresses Himself by that name.

Whenever God has said the “Lord of hosts” declares this, or will do that, it is always in relation to a judgement. In Isaiah, God declares judgement on Israel, Judah and other nations by this using the name the Lord of Hosts (Isaiah10:16). It seems therefore, that whenever God is about to enact His judgement, He takes on that name. Judgement is God’s way of punishing evil and restoring justice, bringing about the right order to His world. Usually it is declared when there has been grave injustice towards God. As a just God, Eternal from ages to ages, injustice is something God has repeatedly told His people that He hates. Therefore, any form of injustice in this world as we see is first and foremost injustice against the Lord of Hosts, the Eternal God. That is why, as a just God, He must bring justice to pass. His justice is often intertwined with judgement because one party has to be avenged and the other condemned. In the book of Hosea, we see the Lord of Hosts, declaring to bring judgement to his people Israel for their prostitution. That judgement takes many forms including going into exile and being captured and enslaved by foreign nations they were meant to always dominate.

Similarly, God’s judgement can also take the form of the defender, where God brings his judgement to fight for you. For example, in chapter 37 of Isaiah, we are told of an envoy from the king of Assyria who came to send a word to Hezekiah king of Judah. Now, remember, Hezekiah was a good king who did what was pleasing in God’s sight (2 Kings 18:3). The message that king Hezekiah received was not the type of message any king or anyone would like to receive. The king of Assyria basically mocked him and told him he would be coming to take over the kingdom of Judah. Not only that, Hezekiah, according to the king of Assyria was not to count on the Lord his God because He would not be able to save him from his hands. What you need to understand is that, humanly speaking, the king of Assyria was more powerful. Like we would normally say, on paper, his speech made a lot of sense because he reminded Hezekiah of his pedigree and his legacy in terms of winning wars and destroying nations. So, in all fairness, Hezekiah was right to be afraid. In fact, the tone that is used to convey the message is meant to instill that fear in Judah. Upon hearing the menace from the king of Assyria, king Hezekiah tore his clothes and put on sackcloth, humbled himself before his God and went into the temple of the Lord. After that, Hezekiah summoned men to get Isaiah the prophet and inquire of him what the Lord would have to say. God, who is always listening to the prayers of the righteous and answering them already had a word for Hezekiah which he told Isaiah. So, when the men king Hezekiah summoned met with Isaiah and told him the king’s request, Isaiah gave them a message from the Lord for king Hezekiah. In that message, the Lord told Hezekiah to not fret, to not worry about the sayings of the king of Assyria because the Lord God would thwart his plans (Isaiah 37:6-7). But this was not the end of it, because although the Lord thwarted the plans of the king of Assyria at that moment, the king of Assyria still had plans to go against Judah. So, he sent a letter this time to Hezekiah telling him that He should not count on the Lord his God because his God cannot save him from his (king Assyria) hands. He went as far as to say that the God of Hezekiah would deceive him, and that Hezekiah should surrender now before it is too late. That letter shook Hezekiah and so he went to his God again and spread the letter before Him and as he was praying and pleading, he referred to God as the Lord of Hosts, the one who knows all things and by whom all things work and function. That prayer gets answered wonderfully, because in His answer, the Lord takes on the meaning of Lord of Hosts, telling Hezekiah that He will save Him because His own name was maligned and insulted. Moreover, the Lord tells Hezekiah that He is above the king of Assyria and, the victories the king of Assyria has had until now had been planned long ago (verse 26). In other words, the king of Assyria was never responsible for those victories he prided himself on in the first place. And now, the Lord was ready to bring his judgement to this king that raged against Him, the Holy One of Israel. It is never a good thing to go against the Lord and take the glory where glory is due elsewhere. Well, the king of Assyria definitely saw the hand of God, Hezekiah did not even fight (it would have been a lost battle from the get-go plus it wasn’t his battle), but the Lord sent his angel and more than a hundred thousand soldiers fell from the Assyrian army! This is very powerful; God showed who He really is and how small man is. In everything, the Lord avenged Judah, but more importantly upheld His name, His mighty name. He made sure that no one equates Him with other gods and that He got the glory.

I don’t know about you but the fact that the “Lord of hosts” brings this idea of God as a judgement God and God as an avenger brings me hope. As a child of God, I know that I am taken care of and that He Himself will fight for me and ensure He is glorified. I do not need to do the fighting, nor do I need to be afraid. Therefore, I will work out my salvation with fear and trembling so that I am ready for the judgement day which is a day of rejoicing for those in Christ.