God is SO Amazing!!! At times it’s as though I am being taken by the hand and lead along a way that only afterward do I get a glimpse that it was happening that way. This morning was one of those days.
A couple days ago at the end of the post about “What’s In A Name” I mentioned that in John chapter 17, Jesus said that He had “revealed” the Name of God to us and that meant the “Essence” of that person. The sum of ALL the attributes of God’s character. Now fast forward to this morning,
The 1st scripture of the day I read was,
Psalm 33:6 KJV
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
https://tbibl.es/8wec
Lately when reading in the bible when the word “host” appeared I’d think, “I need to study that word.” So today seemed like a good day to do that. The most familiar way I’d think of “host” being used in the bible is “the Lord of Hosts.” Some translations say, “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
I use a KJV Bible app with a built in concordance so I went to Psalm 33:6 and clicked to bring up Strong’s definition for “host” in it. It’s Strong’s H6635 – appointed {time} (+) {army} (+) {battle} {company} {host} {service} {soldiers} waiting {upon} war (-fare)
So I thought, “Google Lord of Host” and to my amazement I found out that the very first person in the Bible to use the phrase “Lord of Hosts” was Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11.
11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
Even more to my amazement is it was in the devotional reading that I read yesterday.
DailyPlan : #Bible https://www.mydailybible.org/dp/esv/one-year-tract/2019-08-11.htm
The 1st article I found explained it this way,
Adonai Tzva’ot, the “Lord of Hosts” is one of the names of God, used 235 times in the Bible. The first time it appears is in the story of Hannah and her husband Elkanah, in Hannah’s struggle with barrenness. Hannah is the first person to call God by this name. The literal meaning in Hebrew is “Lord of armies”
The word צבא is frequently translated as “host” rather than army, in most of our Bibles. “Host” could refer to either an army or a great number or multitude. The first time it appears in the Bible is right at the beginning, in the creation account: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the HOST of them.” (Genesis 2:1).
My Note- This verse from Genesis is pointing to the verse of the day that got the “hosts” idea in my head started, Psalm 33:6
I learned from a rabbi that this could mean that all of the atoms, all of the molecules, the vast array of them, were working together… all assembled and acting towards a purpose. Like an army. Not like a machine, but like an army. That was an amazing thought to me.
So it is no surprise then, that it is Hannah, a barren woman, who calls upon this aspect of God’s personhood. She cries out to the one who is able to create ex-nihilo, from nothing, to whom every cell and atom are called to attention. She knows that her hope lies only with the one whose voice the whole host of heavens and earth must obey. She understands that the command of the Lord of Armies will and must be executed. And it was.
When we call our Heavenly Father the “Lord of Hosts”, there is so much in that name. Yes, there are the myriad armies of angels at his disposal, and yes, he is a warrior, mighty in battle, but he is also the conductor of the beautiful orchestra that is the entirety of all creation. Every atom, every molecule, moves in accordance with his purposes and at his command. He sustains everything by his powerful word.
So as amazing as that article described what and how we can call upon the “Lord of Hosts” is I wanted to get a 2nd opinion.
2 Corinthians 13:1 …. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
The next thing I Googled for conformation was “Adonai Tzva’ot in Hebrew” and this came up as the 1st result,
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-name-of-god
Please note: This page contains the Name of God. If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.
The Significance of Names
In Jewish thought, a name is not merely an arbitrary designation, a random combination of sounds. The name conveys the nature and essence of the thing named. It represents the history and reputation of the being named.
This is not as strange or unfamiliar a concept as it may seem at first glance. In English, we often refer to a person’s reputation as his “good name.” When a company is sold, one thing that may be sold is the company’s “good will,” that is, the right to use the company’s name. The Hebrew concept of a name is very similar to these ideas.
This part of the article reminded me of when I owned my shrimp boat and it was my entire source of income. In the closed season, January – April, usually little or no money was coming in. Some years I had to go to the local branch of my bank to make a loan to carry us over until the shrimp season would open, usually in May. For many years I could walk into the bank and tell the loan officer how much money I needed. He would quickly draw up some paperwork along the lines that if I didn’t pay it within 90 days I’d come back in to set up a payment schedule. It was all done in less than half an hour. I’d walked out with about 4 thousand dollars in my bank account. I didn’t have to put up ANYthing for collateral. It was known as a “signature loan” meaning my “name” was collateral enough. I don’t think they do that very much any more.
The article continued,
Because a name represents the reputation of the thing named, a name should be treated with the same respect as the thing’s reputation. For this reason, God’s Names, in all of their forms, are treated with enormous respect and reverence in Judaism.
Another significant Name of God is YHVH Tzva’ot. This Name is normally translated as “Lord of Hosts.” The word “tzva’ot” means “hosts” in the sense of a military grouping or an organized array. The Name refers to God’s leadership and sovereignty. Interestingly, this Name is rarely used in scripture. It never appears in the Torah(i.e., the first five books). It appears primarily in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, as well as many times in the Psalms.
WOW!!! Not only did it confirm that Hannah was the 1st person to call on the “Lord of Hosts” but it confirmed that the “essence” of a person or thing is in the sum of it’s character and history of that character. Not something I had studied but what felt lead to write. God doesn’t Change!!! What He’s Done Before, He Can Do Again!!!
Can I be honest for a minute. I’m NOT a theologian or a writer which I’m sure “real writers” can notice in what I write. My Disclaimer goes into more detail about that. I pray often for God to lead me in the things He desires me to write about. It’s only after the fact I get a glimpse it’s happening that way through some confirmation, usually soon after what I’ve written. With that said, you who is reading this, still has to be a “Good Berean” and search the scriptures for yourself to see and understand it for yourself. God will bring discernment, understanding and revelation to you if you have a sincere heart and desire for truth, no matter where it leads. Sometimes God’s Truth goes against the grain of what is taught in some churches. Again, do you want Truth or Tradition?
Father God answers prayers and one that I’ve prayed and listened to countless times is Psalm 119, yeah it’s long, about 16 minutes. It’s in an acrostic pattern and is actually a mediation of the beauty of God, his Word and the Hebrew alphabet, all 22 of them. The reason it’s that long is because each letter has 8 verses (8×22=176). The first word of each 8 verses begins with that letter. If you look at the interlinear translation you will see it.
The psalm is remarkable for how often it refers to God’s written revelation, His word. It is referred to in almost every verse. The “Word of God” is mentioned in almost every verse!!!
The 5th letter is He or Hey. The pictograph of that letter is a I YOD “Hand” and a ד DALETH “Door” combined, ה He or Hey. The meaning of Hey is “Look, Behold.” Hey represents “divine breath, revelation and light.” Light is mentioned 5 times in the 1st day of creation. It says this of Jesus in John 20:22, And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: The “Yod” Hand of God joins the Dalet “Door” and “OPENS” Understanding and Revelation. In the Hebrew language, words and even the letters are a very deep well to draw from, almost bottomless.
Most Christians have learned that when God changed the name of Abram and Sarai, He added the “Hey” to their existing names making them Abraham and Sarah, God’s breath or Spirit bringing His life into it and them.
In the praise of the God’s Word and the Hebrew alphabet King David says this of Hey,
ה HE
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 [f]Incline my heart to Your testimonies, (f. cause me to long for)
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in [h]Your way. (h. so with, Your Words)
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
What I’m saying is, I see God answering that part of Psalm 119 in my life.
When we pray according to God’s will and ask Him for the right things for the right reasons He does. We still have to put forth effort to make it come to pass. It’s kind of like with Israel. God gave them ALL the Land flowing with Milk and Honey but they had to put their feet on it and walk it out. God was with them every step of the way as long as they walked in faith and obedience. When they didn’t, God let them go alone, scripture proves that point on many occasions and on those occasions “their army” took a whipping from the enemy.
Just 3 chapters from now in 1 Samuel chapter 4, God will even allow His Presence & The Ark to be taken captive be the Philistines and be exiled from Israel because of their disobedience. God did have fun with them while He was captive though, so much so that they brought back the Ark & God’s Presence when they could take no more.
It’s no different for us today.
א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω
OMG – Bigtime!!! – P.S. The following, written in italics was added on the 13th, the day after posting this on the 12th. The regular text below it was of the original post.
I read my daily devotions and scriptures of the day and then had breakfast. I was about to call and get information about Medicare insurance from Humana. Last night was the first time I ever looked at medicare plans and found any info about them. So I got a notebook and began to write notes before making a call to them. The plan I want to talk to them about has a number in it, H1951. As I wrote it down I’m thinking “that’s a Strong’s Concordance Hebrew number, look it up.
Ready – H1951 – properly to be {naught} that {is}(figuratively) to be (causatively act) light: – be ready
It is used only ONE time in ONE verse of scripture, read the whole chapter for the context.
41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.
42 And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them. Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.
43 So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill.
44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.
45 And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.
א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω
Call on the Lord of Hosts, He commands EVERYTHING, from the Heavens, Mighty Angels to the smallest atomic particle. He will move them for you if you ask for the right reasons and it’s according to His Will and Desire for you. He might even STOP them for you like He did for Joshua,
Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hastened to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded a voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel (Joshua 10:12-14).
O
In The Word 