2. This name  is mostly associated with Israel's  failure and thus is mostly found in the books of the prophets.
          Found almost 80 times in Jeremiah
          Found 14 times in the two short chapters of Haggai
          Found almost 50 times in Zechariah
          Found almost 25 times in the brief book of Malachi

     3. Another interpretation of the name is "God of the Angels"

B. Historical Significance
    1. Speaking generally, each name of God is given to meet a particular need of the children of Israel at a particular time. It is when Israel failed in the Land of Promise that this name is found. When  Israel is divided and in danger of being led into captivity the prophets cry out to God using this name. Though Israel fails, there is help in" The LORD Of Hosts "

     2. First used when Israel failed with the Priests and then with the  judges. Then  the people asked  for a  king.

QUESTION: Why did Israel want a king?

     3. God gave them a king and he, the king. went before Israel  in the war with it's neighbors. They depended on the strength of a king rather than have faith in God. They wanted to have something strong before their eyes. To do the  things that God had promised to do. They wanted someone to take His place as though the LORD was absent from them.  1 Sam. 8:1-12

     4. It is in this situation, with priests like Hophni and Phinehas, (1 Sam. 2) who "make God's people sin", that the  name "LORD Of Hosts" first appears in the Scriptures. It is found  where the armies of Israel is beaten by the Philistines
( 1 Sam. 4:2-4 ). Approx. 4000 men of Israel were killed. The leaders questioned  "Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let  us fetch the Ark of the Covenant of  the LORD out  of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our  enemies." ( 1 Sam. 4:3 ) The people put more trust in a piece of furniture than is God.

QUESTION:  Is it much different today?
                      What or Who do we look to today to be our deliverer in times of trouble?

          The church, rosary beads, the Bible, a cross, friends, fate...They took the ark into battle thinking that they could not lose; but their faith was in the THING and not in the LORD of Hosts. Israel was defeated and the  Ark captured.  Hophni and Phinehas were killed. ( 1 Sam. 4:10,11 )

C. Theological Significance
    1. Old Testament Scripture is full of examples of how 'The LORD of Hosts" uses  His hosts.
            a. Isaiah  cried our to the LORD of Hosts in the time of Ahaz , when Judah was beaten and being led captive
                ( 2 Chron. 28:1-5 )
            b. David, when he stood against Goliath, was alone. No other man stood with him and he called upon The Lord of
                Hosts to be his strength. Later  however, when David had 800,000 men of Israel  and 500,000 of Judah to aid him
                in  his battle, he did not call upon the Lord of Hosts, he  trusted in his own strength. God had an  answer to Davids
                1.3 million strong men with swords.

QUESTION:  What do you think happened?

        -God sent  His Host, an angel of the Lord, destroying men throughout all Israel.  (1 Chron. 21:2-16)
        -Elisha prayed to the lord of Hosts when the king of Syria sent a huge army to take him captive.(2 Kings 6:11-18)
        -When the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh with a great army against  Jerusalem,  Hezekiah, sought the Lord of Hosts.
           ( 2 Kings 18:17, 19:21-33 )
        -When Israel was held captive, unable to help themselves,  the prophets used  this  name to give comfort to His people.
        -Jeremiah especially  uses it over 80 times.
        -The prophet Haggai constantly repeats it in his exhortation to the  small remnant who have gone out of Babylon to
            rebuild the  House of the Lord.( Haggai 2:4-9, 23 )

QUESTION:  From what we just discussed, how does the Lord of Hosts use His host?

          -Correction, Deliverance, Judgment, Strength, Comfort
          -It is the LORD of Hosts who punishes Israel for her  unfaithfulness. ( Isa. 9:13,19 ).
          -It is the LORD of Hosts who, after chastening Israel, smites their  adversary and  brings  them help and full deliverance.
            ( Isa. 10:12, 24-27 )  ( Isa. 31:4,5 ).

QUESTION: What are some ways the heavenly host are used in the NT?

     2. New Testament Scripture is full of examples of the "Heavenly Host" and it's ministry  to God's called. They constantly appear wherever there is a need to be supplied or danger to be averted. In every case the words "fear not" began each statement.
        a. A member of the heavenly host appeared to Joseph ( Matt. 1:20 )
        b. A member of the heavenly host appeared to Zechariah ( Luke 1:13,19 )
        c. A member of the heavenly host appeared to Mary ( Luke 1:26,30 )
        d. A member of the heavenly host appeared to the shepherds ( Luke 2:9,10,13 )
        e. The heavenly host (angels) ministered to Jesus
        f. Guided His steps first to Egypt then to Israel ( Matt. 2:13,19)
        g. Ministered to Him after His temptation ( Matt. 4:11 )
        h. Strengthened Him in the garden ( Luke 22:43 )
        i. Rolled away the stone to His grave and declared that He has risen ( Matt. 28:2,6 )
        j. He could have asked God for and army of heavenly host     ( Matt. 26:53 )
        k. The apostles lives are full of angelic intervention
           -Peter in prison ( Acts 12:8 )
           -Philip being guided into the desert ( Acts 8:26 )
           -Paul in the storm ( Acts 27:23 )
           -John in Patmos ( Rev. 1:1 ) ( Rev. 5:11 )
        l. The book of revelation is full of examples of the Heavenly Host and it's  ministry to both God     and man.
        m. Other ministry of Angels or Hosts
           -Angels transport people into the presence of the Lord at death.   ( Luke 16:22 )
           -Angels protect us from harm. ( Ps. 91:11,12 )

D. Personal Application

QUESTION:  How do you see this name of God as being relevant today?

     1. JEHOVAH Sabaoth brings heavenly power to the aid of His children. The name itself indicates  power with which God can help his children. When Israel came to the promised land, and their leader Joshua approached the city, he wondered how he could take such a city. Joshua saw a stranger standing before him. Joshua  asked him " Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?" the reply came, " Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I come now."  (Josh. 5:13,14)

     2. The LORD will allow His faithless people to be defeated. There are two wrong  ideas that Christians have concerning the problems they face. Being a Christian relieves them from  having problems and attacks. A Christian will have pressures in his life.

ACTION:  Read      James 1:2

      Being a Christian automatically gives them victory over all attacks. This seems to have been the idea of OT Israel. They had the Ark of the Covenant, the very presence of God in their midst.They could not be defeated. ( 1 Sam. 4:3 ) But God is honored by the defeat of His people as judgment against their own sins. God  does not like His people to suffer, but He allows it, because He is a just and holy God.

     3. Therefore, when you are mounting a battle against some sin in your life, don't  go it alone. Ask   JEHOVAH Sabaoth for His help. He will send His army to be by your side.

QUESTION: What do you think about 'Touched By An Angel'?