Lord of Hosts

Concise Bible Dictionary:

We do not meet with this name until 1 Samuel 1:33And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. (1 Samuel 1:3). It came in with prophetic testimony, faith laying hold of Jehovah’s glory when Israel had corrupted themselves, and were in a weak and low estate. Scripture reveals that there is a mighty heavenly host, and principalities and powers in the unseen world. God is the God of them all, as well as God of all the elements of nature, which have often been used by Him to punish His enemies. “The stars in their courses fought against Sisera” (Judg. 5:2020They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. (Judges 5:20)). We read of “the God of hosts” only a few times comparatively; it is mostly “Jehovah of hosts,” and at times “Jehovah God of hosts,” showing that it is in connection with Israel that God revealed Himself under this name. Jehovah of hosts dwelt between the cherubim. From the beginning of 1 Samuel these titles constantly occur to the end of the Old Testament In Psalm 24:1010Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:10) the Lord Jesus is shown to be “Jehovah of hosts: He is the king of glory” (Compare Eph. 1:20-2120Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:20‑21); Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)). The same title occurs in the New Testament as the LORD OF SABAOTH (Rom. 9:2929And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (Romans 9:29), in a quotation from Isa. 1:99Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9), and James 5:44Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. (James 5:4)).