The Lord of Hosts is with Us – Part three

In Psalm 46, we are twice assured, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (vs. 7,11). Why are these two particular titles used together here? Of all the divine titles, why use “the LORD of hosts” and why use “the God of Jacob” rather than “the God of Israel” or “the God of Abraham?”

Jacob and God’s host

The answer is suggested by the experience of Jacob as recorded in Genesis 32: “And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is God’s host’…” (vs. 1,2).

Approaching the presence of Esau, who, years earlier, had been intent upon his murder (Gen. 27:41), Jacob was afraid. Surveying his own company, he feared they would be no match for the force his brother could probably muster (Gen. 32:6). Now his eyes are opened to behold the omnipotent army of the Lord (vs. 1-2). Truly, the God of Jacob is the Lord of hosts! As Elisha would observe later, “Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (II Kgs. 6:16 RSV as remaining quotes).

Two hosts

So Jacob “called the name of that place Mahanaim,” signifying “two hosts or two companies” (Gen. 32:2). When he subsequently contrasts the strength of his own company with that of Esau’s, he divides his own host into two companies (v.7). He was saved from harm, not by divine slaughter of Esau’s army but by the fact Esau’s spirit had been softened. Jacob’s company was safe.

“I am with you”

Twenty years earlier, he had been assured of this outcome. “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you” (Gen. 28:15).

Accompanying this promise was a vision of “the angels of God…ascending and descending” upon the ladder that spanned the expanse between earth and heaven (v.12). First they were ascending, not descending. The hosts of the Lord had been with him when he knew it not. The Lord of hosts would continue to be with him.

“The Lord of hosts is with us”

Thus, says the Psalmist, “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:7,11,1). He is our refuge in whom we find safety, solace and security. He is our strength through our reliance which is made perfect in weakness (II Cor. 12:9).

We face a host of powerful enemies, chiefly those evil impulses lurking within our own heart and mind. We are powerless before the forces of sin and death. Our own meager resources are entirely inadequate. We must come to Mahanaim, sharing the prayer of Jacob: “lam not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness which thou hast shown to thy servant…Deliver me, I pray thee…” (Gen. 32:10,11).

“Be still”

Acknowledging our utter dependence, we are then exhorted, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:10). To be still does not always come easily. Faced with problems and difficulties, typically we want to do something! We feel impelled to take action! We have a need to address and remedy the situation.

Our fundamental problems are far too big for us to handle. Not only are we discouraged by the persistence of “the law of sin which dwells in my members” (Rom. 7:23), we are also fearful of the effects of sinfulness in society, and in the creation which is “groaning in travail” (Rom. 8:22).

Faced with distressing turmoil and turbulence wherever we look, we are urged to “be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Indeed, among the exhortations of Psalm 37:3-7 are five that appear to be essentially passive rather than active: “Trust in the LORD,” “take delight in the LORD,” “commit your way to the LORD,” “be still before the LORD” and “wait patiently for him.”

The salvation of the LORD

Like the people of Israel, trapped by the armies of Pharaoh, we are comforted, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today…The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still” (Ex. 14:13,14).

Jesus was still upon the cross. Physically he was immobilized by the Romans. His mind had been stilled in Gethsemane when, “With gentle resignation, still, he yielded to his Father’s will” (Hymn 163). By grace, the victory over the hosts of the evil one was total, for our Lord, and for us. The devil, with his power of death, was destroyed (Heb. 2:14,15). In Jesus, the Christ, we “see the salvation of the LORD.”

“Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult,” for, in Christ, we rejoice that “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psa. 46:2,3,7,11).