“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:7
Most Christians are probably aware and cognizant of God's constant presence in our lives. It's even likely that a lot of us have become accustomed to this truth to the point where we no longer give it the respect and wonder it merits. The psalmist refers to the God who is constantly with him in Psalm 46:7 as “The LORD of hosts.” By addressing God as Jehovah Sabaoth, which means “LORD of hosts” in Hebrew, the psalmist is giving God honor, might, and grandeur.
According to the prophet Amos, he writes, “For, lo, He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is His thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, the LORD, the God of hosts, is His name.”.(Amos 4:13). One also reads in Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of hosts; . . .” The most commonly used compound term for God is “LORD of hosts”, which occurs over 270 times in the Old Testament. The prophetic writings include the majority of these uses. It is obvious that God wants His people to know His miraculous, omnipresent power, especially in times of need.
In the Old Testament, Israel had begun to fall apart at the time of the prophets. After dividing the country, Assyria and Babylon took control of it. Israel’s children were taken prisoner and banished. It was during these turbulent, painful, and heartbreaking years that God constantly emphasized His name to His children. Israel’s Warrior God, the LORD of hosts, reassured them that the struggle was still theirs even when all hope had vanished and loss was imminent.
According to AW Tozer, “To regain her lost power, the church must see heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God.” God is so much more than “the man upstairs.” Seeking God in His majesty is what we must do. He is the sole intelligent God, God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the world. Who can be against us if He is for us?
We can summon the LORD of hosts when we are at our wits' end. He is in charge of all the heavenly hosts and commands an army of angels. He will defend us while we are helpless. The psalmist stated, God is always there to aid regardless of the options. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please make it easy for me to understand Your majesty and strength. I am grateful You have fought for me, kept me safe, and helped me overcome sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
