When Jesus was asked by His disciples how to pray, “He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be Your name.’”” (Luke 11:2)
The third commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai is, “You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain, for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) 
When I read a command that tells me clearly what not to do, I like to focus on the positive and what I should do. The opposite of vain is: important, significant, having value, or sacred. Praising God’s sacred name is the antithesis of taking His sacred name in vain. 
The tongue has tremendous potential for good and ill. Speaking of the tongue, James observes, “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9–10)
I want to esteem God’s name and honor it as sacred and special.
There is only one Yahweh. “God spoke to Moses and said to him, ‘I am Jehovah. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty (El-Shaddai) —but by My name, Jehovah, I did not make Myself known to them.’” (Exodus 6:2-3)
I appreciate the intimacy that God exhibits when revealing His name to His people. The word “Lord” is a title, like Mister or Sir, and can apply to many people. A title implies distance in a relationship, whereas Yahweh or Jehovah is a personal name and fosters a sense of closeness and conveys a desire to be known. 
The personal name for God is used over 6,000 times in the Bible, and that isn’t even counting  the shortened form “Yah”! It is a privilege to know God and be invited to address Him by His personal name and not merely by His title.
Malachi speaks of a group of people who esteem God’s name. God takes note of them and writes their names in a book. “Those who feared Jehovah spoke with one another. Jehovah paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared YHWH and esteemed His name.” (Malachi 3:16) I aspire to be in this book.

Jehovah of Hosts
In this missive let us consider God’s name “Jehovah of Hosts.” In Hebrew this is “Jehovah Tsabaoth” (יְהוָ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת) 
“Jehovah, the God of Hosts, Jehovah is His memorial name.” (Hosea 12:5)
“I am a Great King, says Jehovah of heaven’s armies, and My name will be feared among the nations.” (Malachi 1:14)
Sabaoth means hosts or armies. This name of God is found over 250 times in Scripture. It stems from the root word tsaba צָבָא. The first time “Jehovah of Hosts” or “Yahweh of Heaven’s Armies” is found in the Bible is 1 Samuel. Hannah used this appellation in her prayer for a son who would become one of the mightiest prophets in Israel. Samuel was the last of the judges and ushered in the age of kings by anointing Saul and David.
“She (Hannah) vowed a vow and said, ‘O Jehovah of Hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to Jehovah all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.’” (1 Samuel 1:11)
When David assailed Goliath, he did so in the name of Jehovah of Hosts. “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
“David became greater and greater, for Jehovah of Hosts was with him.” (1 Chr. 11:9)
David refers to God by this title many times in the Psalms.
“Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of Hosts, He is the King of glory!” (Psalm 24:10)
“Jehovah of heaven’s armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:7)
“O Jehovah of Armies, blessed is the one who trusts in You!” (Psalm 84:12 )
“How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Jehovah of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the Living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Your altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise!” (Psalm 84:1-4)
Isaiah magnifies God as Jehovah of Hosts several times.
“Therefore the Lord declares, Jehovah of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: ‘Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes.’” (Isaiah 1:24)
“Jehovah of Hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:16)
‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
“Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:7)
“Our Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts is His name, is the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 47:4)

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
Jehovah of Hosts may also be thought of as the Lord, or God, of Heaven’s Armies. Joshua and Zerubbabel received strong encouragement from this mighty name for God as they led the people of God back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple after the captivity in Babylon.
“Be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares Jehovah. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares Jehovah. Work, for I am with you, declares Jehovah of heaven’s armies.” (Haggai 2:4) 
“This is what Jehovah says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says Jehovah of Heaven’s Armies.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Heaven’s Armies 
We are given glimpses of these God’s armies in the ministry of Elisha, from the vision of Micaiah, during the crucifixion of Jesus, and at the return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 
“When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Jehovah, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17)
“Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside Him on His right hand and on His left.” (1 Kings 22:19)
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. 
“And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Praising Jehovah Tsabaoth,
Steve

Podcasts
I commend the new series on Christ our Rock. I believe you will be edified and challenged in seeing Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.
464    The Lord is our Shepherd
465    The Rock was Christ
466    More than a Rock
467    The Living Stone
468    This Stone shall be Witness
469    The Stone that Crushes

Upcoming Event
For those in the Northeast, consider joining me in Danbury, CT on November 8 for a Men’s Event sponsored by Iron Sharpens Iron. I will be speaking twice that day.