Jesus: The Lord of Sabaoth/Hosts (Part 2)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah. (Romans 9:29, NKJV)

JESUS: THE LORD OF HOSTS

The prophet Isaiah spoke early and often of this Lord of Hosts. In these prophecies we can see that Jesus, the Messiah, is identified also as “The Lord of Hosts.” He was one who was over the heavenly army. He was the dread of His enemies and a sanctuary for His friends:

“The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many of them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken” (Isaiah 14:13-15). 

This prophecy is very particular to our text in Romans 9. For Israel has been given a spirit of slumber and has been partially hardened. Christ’s “own” who received Him not are those who have been offended by Him. He is to them a Rock of offense but to us who believe He is precious (1 Pet 2:7-8). 

“Many” of Israel have stumbled and have fallen but, as Paul asserts, the Lord of hosts has left a remnant according to the election of grace. Mercy has been shown them by the Lord of Hosts until “the Deliverer will come out of Zion and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom 11:26). Their remains a seed in Israel and upon the provocation of the Gentiles salvation, all of Israel shall be saved. 

To be sure, they must be saved by faith in Him and not by works of the Law. The One who left them a seed is the very One by whom they must be saved. Jesus, afterall, is the reason that this remnant still exists. He is their Savior. But, if the Lord of Sabaoth had not left them a seed, they would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah. For the Jews were guilty of an even more grievous sin than that of Sodom and Gommorah - they rejected the Son of God and even put Him to death. Again, the Lord reasons with His people from this point in history. Upon sending out His disciples, Jesus said,

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! (Mt 10:14-15)

Jesus is the Lord of Sabaoth of which we are speaking. He is the Lord of Hosts and He is over and above all the host of heaven including destructive angels like those that overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as angels that minister to the heirs of salvation, as well as those who will reap the earth. He has the power to save and to destroy. And though He is a “man of war” (Isa 42:13) it is His preference that men might be saved. 

In His coming to earth in the form of a man, He revealed much about His desire and purpose. For once when He visited a village of the Samaritans the people did not receive Him. His disciples asked if this was a time like Sodom and Gomorrah. 

“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”…But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:54-56)

Jesus and His Host. Jesus came into the world with the grand announcement of the heavenly host (Lk 2:13-14). Satan tempted Him to exploit his heavenly host by throwing Himself off of the pinnacle of the temple (Mt 4:6). And upon His refusal, the heavenly host can and ministered to Him (Mt 4:11). When He returned to glory as the king of glory, the Host of heaven received Him (Ps 24). And when He returns He is coming with His mighty angels (2 Th 1:7-8). Jesus has always been the Lord of Hosts.

But perhaps one of the best illustrations of Jesus as the Lord of Hosts when He was arrested in Gethsemane. The soldiers came “with swords and clubs” to arrest Him and Peter even defended Him with a sword, as though Jesus might be overthrown. But, Jesus told Peter to put the sword away, saying, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Mt 26:53). Why? Because they were His hosts! Perhaps the centurion said more than we know when he said “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Mt 8:9) It is no wonder that Christ marveled at his faith. He knew more about Lordship than all of Israel.