A few years ago, my husband and I took our five older grandkids on a road trip to Chattanooga.  I decided we needed a traveling song, so we learned and sang Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear” song.  They liked it so much that we still sing it.  Audrey likes for me to sing it to her before she goes to bed because she tends to be scared of the dark. The chorus goes like this:

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

Chris Tomlin’s song references the “God of angel armies.” The Message uses the term “God-Of-The-Angel-Armies” as the translation of the Hebrew phrase “Jehovah Sabaoth,” which is a common name for God in the Bible.  It is translated as “LORD of Hosts” in the KJV and “LORD Almighty” in the NIV.  (See translations of 1 Samuel 17:45-47 about David and Goliath, for example.) Easton’s Bible Dictionary says “It may designate Jehovah as either (1) God of the armies of earth, or (2) God of the armies of the stars, or (3) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas.”

Can you just picture this? How many times do we casually use the term “heavenly hosts” without really thinking about the magnitude and power that it conveys?

When I hear this song and the reference to “God of Angel Armies,” I call to mind the story in 2 Kings, Chapter 6: 15-17.  The Arameans were at war with Israel, and the King of Aram was trying to capture the King of Israel.  The people of Israel were getting discouraged.

¹⁵“When the servant of the man of God (Elisha) got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked.

¹⁶ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

I get thrills when I picture this!  This is a biblical event that I can call to mind when I feel overwhelmed by the enemy.  When I think I have no other options, I should realize that God and His angel armies are all around me.  Even though I cannot see them, I should realize that God is always protecting me, and if I will let him, He will fight my battles for me, no matter how seemingly impossible.

Whom shall I fear?  No one!

Who is always by my side?  The God of Angel Armies!!

Blessings,

Judy