Day 171-11

2Ki 6:15  And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

host - H2428 - From H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.

• H2342 - A primitive root; properly to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), that is, (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively to wait, to pervert.

Used 248 times in 228 verses - wow...first used in Genesis 34:29 speaking of wealth; also of wealth referring to Boaz; translated as army in Nehemiah 2:9; in Esther refers to the power of Persia; Psalm speaks of it as strength, host, wealth, power, valiantly, riches, and might; in Proverbs of a virtuous woman.

I was chuckling, thinking of how a *host* may have encircled Elisha - but the TRUE HOST was really the one that counted.

2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

Then rather than destroy the host, Elisha counsels the king of Israel to:

2Ki 6:22-23  And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Showing mercy and compassion.

Saviors?

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. 

Plural?

saviors - H3467 - A primitive root; properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor.

Reflecting upon the might deliverance that God gave to Israel in 2 Kings 7 - my note to self:

"Do I doubt the bountiful provision of the Lord."

With all that He has done in and through, for and to me, the valleys to which He has caused me to traverse, great trial and tribulation, not to the point of laying down my life, but still enduring (only by His grace), mountain heights yet to be attained.