Vessels

The phrase "Lord of Hosts" reverberates throughout the Bible, revealing an essential, hidden truth about the nature of divine and spiritual order. In Hebrew, the term "Lord of Hosts" is rendered as יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (YHWH Tzeva’ot), referring not just to military forces but to the hosts of heaven—a vast array of spiritual energies, angelic beings, and forces that are under God’s command. These hosts are more than mere entities; they are dynamic expressions of God’s presence, each with its purpose, moving according to divine will. Humans, as vessels of these energies, are called to align with the Lord of Hosts. We are temples meant to be filled, not empty chambers left exposed to chaotic influences.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19).

The human being, in this view, is a vessel waiting to be filled, inhabited by a spirit or energy—whether that spirit flows from the divine or from something more chaotic and disorderly. What the Bible urges us to recognize is that we are never neutral. We either align ourselves with the hosts of the divine or we become susceptible to other forces, hosts that do not serve God’s will but thrive on disorder, fear, and indulgence. This is the subtle warning embedded throughout the scriptures: to neglect the temple is to leave it open to invasion.

The Lord of Hosts governs these forces as a divine order that is ready to inhabit us, but not without preparation. The hosts of heaven are precise, moving only into prepared vessels. In this sense, human life becomes an arena of preparation. The mind, body, and spirit must become receptive, cleansed, and focused. When Jesus spoke in parables, He was inviting his listeners into this understanding, teaching them to look beyond what is apparent and prepare the inner temple. The veil must be lifted—not by force, but by a willing heart and focused mind. “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:13). Only those who cultivate a clear and attentive consciousness will see what truly moves through the world and through them.

"As he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7). Our thoughts and intentions act like masks or invitations, drawing energies into us, whether we are conscious of it or not.

We are reminded in scripture that energies seek expression, just as the angels and divine hosts are said to carry out God’s will. Humans, like altars and temples, are not merely passive recipients but participants in the dance of spiritual forces. Just as an artist becomes filled with inspiration, or a priest wearing the mask of Anubis invokes the protective energy of that deity, so too do we invoke and express whatever energy inhabits us. "As he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7). Our thoughts and intentions act like masks or invitations, drawing energies into us, whether we are conscious of it or not. When we align our thoughts with divine truth, we become vessels of love, wisdom, and peace. But if we leave ourselves unguarded, if we allow fear, envy, or anger to reign, we become hosts to other forces—forces that seek expression just as eagerly as those from heaven.

The Lord of Hosts is a ruler of divine order, a commander not only of angelic beings but also of spiritual laws and energies that are waiting to flow through us. To align with these forces requires discipline and preparation. The Bible teaches us that our thoughts, words, and actions shape the kind of hosts we invite. Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:18 offer this insight: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of sobriety, not merely as abstinence from substances, but as clarity and focus of mind—essential conditions for hosting divine presence. Sobriety ensures that the mind remains a temple, not a playground for disordered thoughts.

Each thought must be judged: Does it serve the divine, or does it lead us away from it? If we do not actively command our thoughts, they will command us.

The concept of the Lord of Hosts also implies a hierarchy within us. Just as God commands angelic hosts, so too must we command our inner landscape. The spiritual discipline of aligning thoughts and habits with divine will mirrors the heavenly order. Each thought must be judged: Does it serve the divine, or does it lead us away from it? If we do not actively command our thoughts, they will command us. This is the nature of the struggle between flesh and spirit: “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other.” (Galatians 5:17).

To align with the hosts of heaven is not merely to avoid sin but to actively host divine energies. Every thought that aligns with truth, every act of love or kindness, becomes a gateway for divine expression. In the same way, every indulgence in envy, fear, or resentment opens a door to chaotic forces. "Do not give the devil a foothold." (Ephesians 4:27). The warning here is subtle but profound: the temple must always be filled, for if it is left empty, other forces will rush in to occupy the space.

What we think, we become. What we nurture, we express.

The ancient Egyptian rituals involving masks reflect this same truth. When a priest wore the mask of Anubis, it was not merely a representation—it was an invocation, a way of aligning with the energy of that god for a specific purpose. Similarly, every thought we entertain, every habit we nurture, acts as an invocation of energy. What we think, we become. What we nurture, we express. Just as the Egyptians prepared the dead for the afterlife, ensuring that they would be aligned with the proper energies to transition smoothly, we must prepare ourselves—our minds and spirits—for the energies that flow into and through our lives.

This is what it means to live under the Lord of Hosts. It is not merely about believing in God but about becoming a living temple, a host for divine energies that move in perfect order. Every action, every thought, every word is part of this alignment. To live consciously in this way is to participate in a cosmic order, mirroring the divine hosts that God commands. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.” (Colossians 3:16). When we allow divine truth to inhabit us, we become more than mere vessels—we become expressions of divine will, conduits for the forces that shape the universe.

We are not passive participants but active vessels, always hosting something. The Bible reminds us that the battle between divine and chaotic forces takes place within us, and we are the ones who must prepare the temple, guarding it from disorder and making space for divine presence. What we focus on will find a home within us. And so, each moment, we must choose—will we align with the hosts of heaven, or will we leave our temple unguarded, open to whatever force finds us first?