Hello Beloved,

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season as we approach the celebration of Jesus’ birth. The name of God that centers our focus this month is Yahweh-Saboath. This name is a combination of Yahweh, the covenant and personal name of God which He gave to His people, and “saboath,” which means “to assemble or mass together.” The inference related to this type of assembly is that of warfare. “Saboath” would be used when a general would assemble an army together for battle, and God has His armies or “hosts” that He assembles to protect His people. Most literally, the word “saboath” can be used in reference to human, non-human, or heavenly hosts. In Deuteronomy 4:19, Moses uses the concept in relation to a host of stars. In Exodus 12:41, Moses uses the concept to speak of God’s people or a host of people as they exit the land of Egypt. However, the use of “saboath” for angels can be seen in many peculiar incidents. In a vision that was given to the prophet Micaiah, he claims to see the “hosts” or assemblies of angels beside the Lord in heaven. (1 Kings 22:19). Consider the description of the Psalmist as he praises the Lord, “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!” Psalm 103:20-21 (ESV) The hosts of heaven expresses both the heavenly and earthly hosts of the Lord which are organized and placed under God’s sovereign command. Therefore, Yahweh-Saboath means the Lord of hosts.

Though the name “Lord of hosts” specifically conjures up thoughts of God’s control over angel armies, it also emphasizes His supreme control and power over everything both in the material and immaterial universe whether visible or invisible. Further, the name encourages God’s children by reminding them that God has the power and ability to meet their needs beyond anything they could comprehend. For instance, if there is a need for deliverance, then the Lord of hosts, YahwehSaboath, will bring it to pass. If there is a battle with the enemy, Yahweh-Saboath will win the victory. The Lord of hosts is the source of comfort and blessing for His people. When the Bible uses the phrase, “thus says the Lord of hosts,” it is communicating that God’s commands, actions, judgments, and blessings are based on His authority, sovereignty, and power behind His being “the Lord of hosts.” Consider the praise of the seraphim as Isaiah witnessed them praising God, crying to one another “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:3 (ESV) Or consider David’s cry before Goliath. The Philistine giant represented the power, might, ingenuity, and strength of worldly type forces, but David in facing Goliath cried out, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV) During this Christmas season, let us remember the angels who appeared before the Shepherds as Luke states, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)Finally,I leave you now with the last words of one of my favorite Psalms, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:11 (ESV)

Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

* Resources are from the notes of Jim Smith, professor of Brookes Bible College.