Lord Sabaoth
Scripture — Isaiah 47:4 (NRSV)
Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—
is the Holy One of Israel.
Focus
In Isaiah 47 God is referred to as “Yahweh Sabaoth” in Hebrew, which in English means “the Lord of hosts” or “the Lord of armies.” This phrase signifies and amplifies God’s strength. God is Lord over all, including the armies of earth and heaven. Thus, when we feel overwhelmed by the challenges facing us, we can have confidence that Lord Sabaoth is with us and will fight for us.
Devotion
The bulk of Isaiah 47 consists of God’s taunting condemnation of Babylon. But verse 4 is an interjection by the prophet, speaking on behalf of Israel: “Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.”
The phrase translated here as “LORD of hosts” renders the Hebrew phrase yhwh tzeva’ot. Yhwh is the name of God (Yahweh). Tzeva’ot means “armies.” We know the phrase yhwh tzeva’ot from the second verse of Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress”:
Did we in our strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
“Lord Sabaoth” is a traditional transliteration of yhwh tzeva’ot. If you say _tzeva’ot _out loud, it will sound rather like “Sabaoth.”
What does it mean for God to be the Lord of armies? First of all, in the Old Testament, God is the commander in chief of Israel’s armies. Beyond this, God is also the Lord of the armies of heaven, the angelic forces that do the divine bidding on earth. The name yhwh tzeva’ot conveys God’s authority and might. The Lord is stronger than any other power on earth and has authority to command the very forces of heaven to do the divine will.
Thus, the phrase _yhwh tzeva’ot _reminds us of God’s authority and power. This can be a great encouragement when we feel weak or defeated. Martin Luther was so right when he wrote, “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing.” When we rely solely on ourselves, we will surely fall short of the goal. But when we trust in God’s superlative strength, our striving is not in vain. Thus, whether we’re on an exhausting mission trip, working through a difficult family issue, or dealing with a tricky HR situation at work, the Lord Almighty, the Lord of armies, Lord Sabaoth is with us. We can have confidence in God’s strength and presence. We can trust that God will help us no matter what challenge we are facing.
Reflect
Do you live as if God is truly Lord Sabaoth?
Do you have confidence in God’s power? Why or why not?
When have you experienced God’s strength in a particularly powerful and/or obvious way in your life?
Act
As you confront some difficult problem today, rather than rushing to solve it, take some time to reflect on the fact that God, the Lord Sabaoth, is with you.
Pray
Gracious God, you are indeed yhwh tzeva’ot. Lord Sabaoth is your name. You command the forces of the universe, even the hosts of heaven. You are the Lord Almighty! All praise, glory, and honor be to you.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed are you, Lord Jesus, because you have redeemed us by your strength. Blessed are you, Lord Jesus, because you became weak for our sake. Blessed are you, Lord Jesus, because all authority in heaven and on earth is yours. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: What About All Those Demons? Part 2.
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...