Psalm 84 Bible Study
The big question I wish to address is, “How real is God in your life?”
The main way to a greater reality of God’s presence and goodness in your life comes from the study of God’s Word. I invite you to join me in this pursuit.
I recently preached a sermon on Psalm 84. It ends with the verse, “O Lord of Hosts, how blessed is the one who trusts in You.” I have focused this Winsday Wisdom on the reference to God as the Lord of Hosts. What does that mean? Why can we trust Him? What is the blessing/benefit to us?
FOR GOD’S GLORY AND MY GOOD WILL ALWAYS BE THE THEMATIC THOUGHT APPROPRIATE FOR ANY MOMENT WE STUDY GOD’S WORD.
It is a preeminent teaching throughout the Scriptures. God’s Word is God-centered for our good from its start in Genesis to its conclusion in Revelation and the Psalms in the middle of the book.
From the first chapter in Genesis, “In the beginning God created everything and called it good.” From the Psalms, “Praise the Lord, oh my soul; everything within me, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget His goodness” (Psalm 103:1-2). And in the last verse of Revelation 22:13, “Come Lord Jesus. May the Lord’s grace (God’s goodness) be with us all. Amen.”
YOU FIND GOD’S GREATNESS AND HIS GOODNESS IN HIS WORD.
When I study a passage in God’s Word, I look for repetition and purpose clauses which usually begin with prepositions such as “for” or “therefore” or “so that.”
Psalm 84 begins with, “O Lord of Hosts, my soul longs for You” and concludes with its summary thought, “O Lord of Hosts, how blessed is the one who trusts in You.”
The “Lord of Hosts” is the primary focus, used four times, one time in each section.
This psalm is an expression of God-centered…God-saturated…longing for God.
Another repetitive word is “blessed” (3x), culminating in the favor and goodness and happiness the Lord of Hosts gives to those who trust Him.
That blessing fits right into the main purpose clause in verse eleven, “for…God favors.” God does us good.
That leads us to the next part of the study. What is the significance of describing God as the Lord of Hosts?
THE LORD OF HOSTS REFERS TO ABSOLUTE AND INFINITE AUTHORITY OVER EVERYONE, EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE.
Where did I find that description? God’s Word.
There are almost three hundred references of Lord of Hosts in the Old Testament Hebrew which form the New Testament Greek equivalent—Almighty God.
The Lord of Hosts is a commonly used term to describe God’s control of everything including angels, people, the stars, and all of creation. You have probably heard God described as sovereign. That is a theological term not a Biblical Word. The sovereign Lord of Hosts is a Name for God which reminds us of God’s total control of everyone and everything…everywhere.
“Hosts” is used in English to represent a big number beyond our ability to count, such as myriads of multitudes or ten thousand of ten thousands or infinity plus one. It is all-inclusive of an infinite number.
The Hebrew word is Yahweh Sabaoth. Saba —means armies.…God is the commander of innumerable heavenly armies.
I have always loved the story in Joshua 5 where God through Moses instructed Joshua to take on the Jericho fortress. The Lord suddenly shows up with sword in hand in front of the worried and fearful Joshua. Joshua asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
The response, “I am the Commander of the Lord. I govern this world. I came to take over.” No wonder Joshua would declare, “As for me and my house, we are on the Lord’s side.”
The Lord of hosts is the commander of all the uncountable heavenly armies. But there is even more to this name.
I found it interesting that the first Biblical use of the word, “hosts,” is in Genesis 2:1 which forms the summary verse for the entire first chapter of Genesis. In the beginning, “the heavens and the earth were formed and ALL the HOSTS of them,” all out of nothing. All the elements that make up creation were assembled and activated like an obedient army under the control of the Creator God.
Everything…Everyone…Everywhere…
The Lord of Hosts is the creator, commander, and controller of countless armies of angels mighty in battle, but he is also the conductor of the beautiful orchestra of all the hosts of things which make up this world. Wow!
The Lord of Hosts sustains everything by his powerful word. Every atom, every molecule, every DNA cell moves in accordance with the purposes and command of the Lord of Hosts.
The Lord of Hosts made heaven and earth (Isaiah 37:16).
Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 24:8).
Psalm 103: 19-21 gives further information: “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his mighty angels, Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts..”
God knows and controls every angel and every star and calls them all by name. God knows every grain of sand, every bird, and every person. That is impressive.
I love this illustration about the magnitude of God’s knowledge and control of everything. For example, there are innumerable stars, each known and placed by God. Astronomists have expressed there are more stars than the entire number of words spoken by every individual since those first words spoken by Adam to Eve, “You complete me” and Eve’s response, “You had me at hello.”
The Lord of Hosts. Where was the first place in God’s Word where this phrase was used?
The first persons recorded in the Bible to use the phrase “Lord of Hosts” were Hannah’s husband (1 Samuel 1:3) who worshiped the Lord of Hosts and the childless Hannah who prayed to God the Lord of Hosts for a son (1 Samuel 1:11).
Hannah cried out to the Lord of Hosts who can create something out of nothing. Hannah vowed, “LORD of hosts (almighty sovereign and good God), if you will indeed have FAVOR (grace) and give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” God heard her prayer and gave her a son, Samuel, who grew up in the FAVOR (goodness) of God (I Sam. 2:26).
Wait: There is more
1 Samuel 17 records the encounter of David & Goliath. David shouted to the Philistine champion of the world, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, a javelin, and a big smirk on your ugly face, but I come to you in the Name of the LORD of Hosts. The battle is the Lord’s and He will take you down.”
As the former boxing commentator, Howard Cosell, described it, “Down goes Goliath.”
Isaiah 37:16 records how King Hezekiah prayed to the LORD of Hosts when the Assyrian army unmercifully surrounded the people of God. One angel under the command of the Lord of Hosts took out 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night.
Amos 4:13 describes the Lord of Hosts as sovereign, all-knowing of even our thoughts, and all-powerful creator who governs (commands and controls) this universe.
The LORD OF HOSTS has COMPLETE COMMAND AND COMPLETE CONTROL over everyone, everything, everywhere, every time…This is a God-centered universe.
If you want to run your world, then you better get your own universe because this universe belongs to God. It is God-created, God-centered, God-commanded, God-controlled, and God-conducted for our good.
Isaiah 6:3 may be a familiar verse, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of HOSTS, the whole world is full of His glory.” Favor & Honor, Grace & Glory.
Isaiah 54:5 describes, “Your Maker is the Lord of Hosts. He is your Redeemer. He is the God of the whole earth.”
In Isaiah 47: 4, “Our Redeemer…the Lord of hosts is his name.”
Who is our Redeemer? His name is Jesus. “The name that is above every name in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2: 10-11).
The prophet Jeremiah references the Lord of Hosts seventy-one times. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 50: 33-34).
Haggai was with the returning exiled Israelites who lost their enthusiasm and slowed down in the rebuilding of the Temple. The journey and recovery challenged their hearts and souls. They felt tired, defeated, weak, and very distracted by self-centered interests. Their life journey was hard. We feel the same way.
Listen and apply God’s Word from Haggai 2:4. “Be strong; be strong; be strong, for I am with you declares the Lord of Hosts.” Our study in Psalm 84 refers to the Lord of Hosts who takes us from strength to strength. We find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Preach to yourself to be strong.
God’s Word always connects God’s sovereign Almighty powerful control of everything to OUR GOOD.
Ephesians 1:3 states that God has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING…deciding to do that BEFORE the foundation of the world…to the PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY AND HIS GOODNESS which God has LAVISHED on us… so much that according to Ephesians 2:7, it will take all the endless coming ages for God to show us the IMMEASURABLE RICHES of HIS Grace in kindness to us. WOW!
GOD’S WORD TELLS US THAT JOY IS NOT FOUND IN A LOCATION, BUT IN GOD HIMSELF: “in your presence there is fullness of joy…pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Consider 1 Peter 3:18. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD”. Yes, Jesus Christ died in our place…for our sins…but primarily to allow us access into the presence of our Creator.
GOD’S GRACE IS NOT A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO HEAVEN; IT IS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO GOD.” (REPEAT)
Jesus reveals himself in Revelation 19 as the Lord of Hosts, the Commander returning with the hosts of the heavenly army and …
Look in Revelation 22 where reality meets the end of this earthly road. The dwelling place of God is with us. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He is the Lord of Hosts.
The LORD of HOSTS. That is the NAME of the One who is coming back from the heavens to judge and rule this earth. His name is Jesus.
Jesus is the one who died for you so you can live with Him here and now and into the everlasting heavenly future. Get to know Jesus better. He introduces Himself to us as one who is humble and lowly, kind and gentle, patient and longsuffering. He claims to be the servant of all, especially to the last, the least, and the lonely.
Jesus is good…so good that He promises to never hold back anything that is good for you…so good that He promises to work out all things for your good.
Oh, by the way, if you ever wonder if He can fulfill His promises, Jesus has another name by which all of creation in heaven and earth call Him, the LORD of Hosts!
THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, OVER EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES, IS THE HOPE AND FOUNDATION FOR OUR PRAYERS.
Call on the God who Commands and Controls everyone and everything at every moment in time past, present, and into your future. Know that you are praying to the One who conducts the creation orchestra to line up all things for your good even when it appears to you that the curtain of clouds has fallen for the last time.
Take heart, o my soul and all my friends.
THERE IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS AN ENCORE OF GOD’S GOODNESS! ALWAYS!
In your darkest hour, the almighty Lord of Hosts hears your prayers as if you were the only person on earth needing His attention. Your troubles are never too small for Him to notice nor ever too big for Him to resolve.
The Lord of Hosts is the God of Goodness. Trust His power. Hope in His goodness.
THE SOVEREIGNTY AND GOODNESS OF GOD ARE THE TWIN PILLARS OF MY LIFE. THEY ARE THE STRENGTH FOR TODAY AND THE BRIGHT HOPE OF MY FUTURE.
PREACH THIS TO YOUR SOUL: NO MATTER WHAT IT IS I AM DOING OR WHERE I AM GOING, I WILL TRUST IN GOD.
BIG Q: How do we live in this reality?
The answer, EYES UP and put your heart in God’s Word!
GOD’S GRACE IS NOT A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO HEAVEN; IT IS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO GOD.
In God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
WHEREVER I AM and WHEREVER YOU ARE, even in hard places/circumstances and no matter how much life changes or even when we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we can say,
MY CUP OVERFLOWS WITH GOD’S GOODNESS. (REPEAT)
The Lord of Hosts “pursues me with goodness and mercy all the days of this earthly life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord—forever.” (Psalm 23:6).
MAY THE LORD OF HOSTS BLESS YOU, AND KEEP YOU ON THIS LIFE’S JOURNEY, AND GIVE YOU IMMEASURABLE AND ENDLESS GOODNESS!
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 