The LORD Of Hosts

Calamity Strikes

They were surrounded.  The servant had gone to sleep peacefully the night before, but the enemy’s forces had crept close during the night.  Now there was no way out; the enemy was too great.

The servant of Elisha, the prophet of the mighty God of Israel, would have hoped that the God His master served would protect them from such an array of chariots and horses and men.  Instead, here they were, completely surrounded, outnumbered by forces eager to annihilate him and his master.

Wars in that region were common. This time it was the king of Syria who “was making war against Israel.” (II Kings 6:8) But Syria’s war efforts had been frustrated.  Every time the king of Syria told his leaders where he would fight next, the king of Israel learned of it.  Who was the traitor?!  The king of Syria was ready to do away with whomever was thwarting his plans!

When the Syrian king learned that Elisha was the one giving information to the king of Israel, Elisha became the new target.  And so it was that, during the night, the Syrian army surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant rested unaware.  Awakening to the view of this close, massive, powerful enemy army, Elisha’s servant cried out, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 

Where Do We Go For Help?

Isn’t this the way we behave?  When disaster, problems, or difficulties surround us, we see the trouble in all its complexity and severity; and we cry out for help from someone.  Family, friends, leaders.  Anyone who can see the problem as real as we see it; someone, anyone, who can hopefully offer aid. 

But what aid was available in this servant’s situation?  In our own calamities, can our friends and family really offer the help that we need? Or is there another source to whom we should look?

What Do We See?

Elisha, being in the same location as the servant, seeing the same enemy army as the servant, wasn’t afraid in the least.  He didn’t panic. He didn’t cry out in fear. He simply told the young man, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (II Kings 6:16) How could Elisha respond that way? What did Elisha know that the young man with him was missing? What did Elisha see that the servant could not see?

“Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’” (II Kings 6:17) And God did.

What a sight!  I would love to see what Elisha saw and what God then allowed Elisha’s servant to see.  “Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (II Kings 6:17) Can you imagine the awe for that young man? Suddenly he saw not only the enemy army, but God’s army, in all its glory, there to protect the servants of the Most High God!

People Who Trust The LORD Of Hosts

Did you know that one of the names of God is the LORD of hosts?  Don’t you just love that?  “Hosts” or “armies” are at His disposal.  He is the God in charge of all.  There is no general higher than He.  There is no king or leader who has control of an army bigger than His.  God, the self-existing One, the Creator of all, leads an army of angels! 

Scripture first mentions this name for God in I Samuel 1:3.  We read that Elkanah would take his wives and children each year and go to Shiloh to “worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts.”  When Hannah, Elkanah’s favorite but barren wife, prayed at Shiloh for God to give her a son, she made her request to the “LORD of hosts.”

When David, the shepherd boy, went out to fight the giant Goliath, he used the same name for God. “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, 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.'” (I Samuel 17:45)

Hannah, who cried out to the LORD of hosts to hear her cry for a son, was granted a child. Samuel grew up to be a great prophet in Israel.

David recognized that the giant was not just taunting the army of Israel. He knew that the enemy was actually defying the LORD of hosts, and it was in the LORD’s name that David met the giant in battle. David killed the Philistine and went on in God’s timing to become God’s chosen king of Israel.

The LORD of Hosts Protects Those Who Are His

Multiple times in Scripture, God is referred to as the LORD of hosts, the LORD of armies.  When we are told in Scripture not to be afraid, not to fear, but to trust in the LORD, can we picture this God?  Will we choose to rest safely in the arms of the One who leads an army that will outshine every army of any enemy?  The LORD of hosts is the One who fights for us now and ultimately will conquer even our greatest enemies of sin and death. He provides victoriously for those who are His.

Many names of God bring hope and peace to our hearts.  This particular name, the LORD of hosts, always reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant surrounded by the Syrian army but protected by the army of God.  The Almighty surrounds his people with His provision; the LORD of hosts is on our side!  

Eyes Of Faith

One question comes to mind as I read this story of Elisha. Why was he able to see the host of angels when the servant wasn’t? Was Elisha fearless because he saw the LORD’s army, or was he able to see the angels surrounding him because he trusted the LORD he knew? Perhaps it’s simply that Elisha walked so closely with the Almighty that He saw with eyes of faith what others could not see. Elisha was not afraid like the servant who only saw the army of the enemy.  Elisha saw God’s provision of grace.

In Scripture, God tells us to ask, and we shall receive.  So let’s ask. Ask God to help us keep our eyes on Him. Ask the LORD to strengthen our faith. Ask the Father to open our ears to hear Him as He speaks peace to our souls. Ask our Creator to allow us to see the unseen.

God tells us over and over in His word not to fear.  Whether we see the LORD’s army with our eyes or not, we have seen His supply for us in the past. We know His word is good, that He is a covenant keeping God. We know that we can trust our Father and our King each day for His care.

Walking in faith daily, let’s ask the LORD to keep our eyes on Him so that we can see our Salvation rather than the enemy who wants us to cower in fear.  Our victory is sure as long as God wants us here on this earth, for the God we serve is not just any god. He is the leader of armies, the King of all kings, the all-powerful, majestic eternal Creator. He is the Ruler of all. He is the LORD of hosts!

(Photos by Carolyn Thigpen, taken on site in Israel)