3.193 They That Be With Us

In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, reminding us that our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and point others to him. This season on Savory Salt, we'll walk through the Old Testament, one verse and one thought each day. Perhaps these moments will add greater savor and brighter light to our lives as we seek to truly live as Savory Salt.

Hello, my friends, it's a new day with new opportunities. Choose ye this day whom you will serve. My friends, I know there are times in the Old Testament where people have been down and out.

And I know there are times in our own modern-day lives where we're down and out as well. But the message that we have today from Elisha is one that I hope you and I can remember forever and ever. We are finishing up our reading of 2 Kings chapters 2 through 7 and inside of it we have miraculous events from Elisha very similar to his mentor Elijah.

And we also have this moment inside of 2 Kings chapter 6 with Elisha and his mentee. What can we learn about him and his experience that he had with his servant? Our verse for today is going to come in 2 Kings chapter 6 but I'm going to put it in the middle of the context of this talk by Elder Jeffrey R.

Holland. So rather than reading it like I typically do, we're just going to include it inside of the quote from him. I came across this, first of all, through the Come, Follow Me studies, but you have to do a couple of extra clicks in the footnotes here and there.

To come across this talk, and then you got to do some more clicks and follow-throughs to find the talk because it's actually from BYU Speeches from 1980. And I am so grateful. I've talked to my family all week about this.

I'm so grateful for what Elder Holland did in his own studies to be an English major. Because the way that he's able to put words together just speaks directly to me, at least personally. And I hope he does to you as well.

So we're inside this experience here. Elisha and his servant are surrounded by the armies of the Syrians. There's this kind of scary moment that's happening.

And this is the quote that comes from Elder Holland inside of this talk. Please take the time to listen to it or read it. It is a long one.

It's about 40-45 minutes or so. It is so powerful. But this is what he says specific to this experience.

Our verse for today being 2 Kings chapter 6, verse 16. In the middle of this quote, Elder Holland says: "If Elisha is looking for a good time to be depressed, this is it. It is one prophet and one lad against the world.

And the boy is petrified. He sees the enemy everywhere. Difficulty and despair and problems and burdens everywhere.

The boy cries, 'Alas, my master, how shall we do?' And Elisha's reply? 'Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.' In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. In disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened, we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see, riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed." My friends, in our days of discouragement, trials, in our days that are overwhelming burdens for us to handle, I hope that you will come back to this verse inside of 2 Kings.

An opportunity for us to remember from an eternal perspective that the Lord is not only on our side but will always, always provide those that we need to pull strength from. Thank you for watching. The Lord has truly sent those horses and chariots riding in reckless speed towards me to help me.

And I know he will do so for you as well. I know it. That's all for today, my friends.

You and I have come here for such a time as this. Step forward in faith and let's be Savory Salt. We will be here tomorrow and we hope you are too.