The Significance of YHVHs Holy Name Sabaoth

In ancient times a name was expected to describe the character or a particular attribute of the individual as well as acting as a simple label. Moses hesitated to accept a commission from the deity of the fathers because back in Egypt people would ask, What is His name? Moses would then have to identify the god that had spoken to him at the burning bush (Exodus 3). In the ancient world it was important to know the nature of the gods one was dealing with. Unless a deitys name was known, it was believed to be impossible to enter into a relationship with him or her and invoke their aid. As late as the prophetic period, it was believed that every individual walked and acted in the name of their deity, just as Israel walks in the name of YHVH (Micah 4:5). To better understand Moses question, one must understand the use of the proper name. Today names are just used to differentiate one person from another. But in the ancient world a name would be taken very seriously. A persons self was expressed and contained in their name! Nabal (fool) was said of sarcastically, ... for as his name is, so is he. (I Samuel 25:25). Thus when a persons character changed radically, that person was given a new name! Abrams name was changed to Abraham when the blessing was given to him (Genesis 17) and Jacobs name was changed to Israel after his struggle with the deity at the ford of Jabbok (Genesis 32).

Yah Vehs identity is focused in His name. When Israel was promised a guardian angel to lead it on its journey, this act was given special force by Yah Vehs assurance that ... my name is in him, (Exodus 23:21). The statement that Yah Vehs name is jealous (Exodus 34:5) means the Israels god is jealous by nature. Moses request was granted when Yah Veh appeared to him and proclaimed His name (Exodus 33:19 and 34:5). The unique character of God was revealed. Because the divine names disclose Yah Vehs nature, they are laden with the authority, power, and holiness of Yah Veh himself! This accounts for the great reverence which is a hallmark of Israels faith. His name must not be taken in vain (Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11). The prophets are inspired with divine authority when they speak in His name (Deuteronomy 18:19, and Jeremiah 26:20 and 44:16). Blessing and curses in His name are potent (Numbers 23 and 24). Oaths taken in His name are binding (Deuteronomy 6:13). And battles in His name are victorious (Psalms 20:7). Yah Veh Sabaoth has been translated from Hebrew into English as The Lord of Hosts. Immediately, the authority, power, and holiness of Yah Veh is lost! Sabaoth means hosts in the sense of armies or intensely disciplined groups. Furthermore, besides Earthly armies, these hosts incorporated those of the heavens such as angels and other spirits, the moon, sun, and all of the stars! Yah Veh Sabaoth is the warring aspect of God engaged in holy war. This quality of the Lord brought both victory and judgment. It is these qualities that are intimately associated with the Ark of the Covenant (more correctly called the Ark of Yah Veh Sabaoth). The Ark of Yah Veh Sabaoth has a tradition of winning battles. As long as Gods beneficiaries had not provoked Him to anger, the presence of the Ark insured victory. It is no accident that the Song of the Ark is a military hymn. So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once.... So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets... that the wall fell down flat .... (Joshua 6:11 and 20). and when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, 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 hands of our enemies. (I Samuel 4:3). Indeed, it may produce victory, but as the Benjaminites discovered, even the psychological advantage of possessing the Ark did not guarantee victory when Gods laws had been violated and His wrath kindled (Judges 20). Throughout its history, the Ark either provided victory or judgment. The inhabitants of Bethel, Shiloh, Gibeah, and Jerusalem witnessed both great victories and/or cataclysmic judgments (Judges 20:25; Joshua 18:1; II Samuel 6:3, 16-18). It was only when Israel and Judah had spurned His love and tried His patience unto wrath did God allow the Ark inscribed with His name to be lost forever (II Chronicles 36:10).

The Lords name Sabaoth is intimately associated with His Ark. The name is first recorded in I Samuel 1:3 and is associated with the Ark in I Samuel 4:4, and II Samuel 6:2 and 18. The Arks name was the name of Yah Veh Sabaoth, who dwells between the cherubim - for it was Yah Veh Sabaoth that dwelt within the Ark. Because of its inhabitant, the Ark had to be treated with the utmost respect. When Uzziah touched the Ark, he died for his error (II Samuel 6:6-7). But when treated with proper respect, Yah Veh Sabaoth blessed His hosts (II Samuel 6:11). It is Yah Veh Sabaoth that provides victory in battle, both in the physical and spiritual realms. His intervention was sought whether the Ark was available or not (II Samuel 5, Psalms 24, 46, and 84). And as should be expected, Yah Veh Sabaoth enforces the judgment rendered when His people ignore all of His warnings, made through His prophets, or otherwise incur His wrath (Isaiah 6, Romans 9, and James 5). For His prophet, the use of His names is indispensable. In spite of most Christian ministers contention, God is NOT a pacifist! Far too many believers argue that the New Testament has replaced the Old Testaments warrior God with one of peace. Yah Shua (Jesus) said, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; (II Corinthians 10:4). Thou shalt endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3). And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelations 6:2). And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelations 19:19). Yah Shua (Jesus) died to pay our debt to His Father so that Yah Veh Sabaoths judgment would be suspended for a time. He did NOT supplant His Father nor did He alter His Fathers nature. Now, only Yah Shua can intercede with His Father for us. Without His intercession, we are all subject to Yah Veh Sabaoths wrath! All non-believers shall suffer that wrath! Does He have so much power that we should fear His wrath? Nukes are the most powerful military weapons on Earth. But they pale by His awesome power. Supermassive black holes swallow entire star systems by the millions and warp space and time. But they too pale when compared to Yah Veh Sabaoths incredible power! All of the power of the entire Universe is dwarfed by His power - as it should, after all, He created it!

Hallelu Yah Veh Sabaoth! Hallelu Yah Shua HaMashiach! Hallelu Ruach HaKodesh!

Hallelu Yah!