![]() Mark 9:49 ESV For everyone will be salted with fire. In the second devotional we listed the New Testament Scriptures on salt and established that salt was used (1) To Season. (2) To Preserve. (3) To Cure. (4) To Create Thirst. Now we want to take this a little deeper over the next few devotionals. There is more to salt than meets the taste buds. Salt has been used in many cultures as a valuable commodity. We work and we earn a salary. Have you ever studied the root of salary to discover where this word came from? The word salary comes from an ancient word meaning “salt-money,” referring to a Roman soldier’s allowance for the purchase of salt. Someone who earns his pay is still said to be “worth his salt.” Salt has also been used to express promises and friendship between people. It was even considered by the Greeks to be divine. Today in many Arab cultures, if two men partake of salt together they are sworn to protect one another, even if they had previously been enemies. In some cultures, people throw salt over their shoulders when they make a promise. Sailors who have spent most of their lives working at sea are called “old salts.” Who knew sodium chloride was so important? In the ancient world, ingesting salt was a way to make an agreement legally binding. If two parties entered into an agreement, they would eat salt together in the presence of witnesses, and that act would bind their contract. King Abijah’s speech in 2 Chron.13:5 mentions just such a salt covenant: Here, Abijah refers to the strong, legally binding promise of God to give Israel to David and his sons forever. 2 Chronicles 13:5 ESV Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt? The Old Testament Law commands the use of salt in all meat offerings and makes clear that the “salt of the covenant” should not be missing from the meat offerings. Leviticus 2:13 ESV You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. Since the Levitical Priests did not have land of their own, God promised to provide for them by way of the sacrifices of the people. He called this promise of provision a “salt covenant.” Numbers 18:19 ESV All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you." Salt has always been known for its preservative properties, and it is also possible that God instructed the use of salt so that the meat would last longer and taste better and thus be of more value to the priests who depended upon it for their daily food.
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![]() Matthew 5:13 ESV "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. Mark 9:49-50 ESV For everyone will be salted with fire. (50) Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Luke 14:34-35 ESV "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (35) It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Colossians 4:6 ESV Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. James 3:12 ESV Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. I listed the New Testament verses concerning salt. As we get into the teaching you will better understand these Scriptures in light of the Old Testament “COVENANT OF SALT.” What is salt? By definition it is: A substance used for seasoning certain kinds of food, for the preservation of meat and fish, and something in which to create thirst. For what purpose was it made? To season: To render palatable, or to give a higher relish to, by the addition or mixture of another substance more pungent or pleasant; as, to season meat with salt. To preserve: To save from decay. Salt is used to preserve meat. To cure: To dry; to prepare for preservation; as, to prepare by salt, or in any manner, so as to prevent speedy purification. To create thirst: Salt makes us thirsty making us desire water. Why is salt important in a Christian's life? The Bible teaches us that we, as Christians, are to be salt in the world. We are to be a seasoning, a preservative, a cure, and create thirst in a world full of sin and hatred toward God and the things of God. Physical characteristics of salt and their spiritual applications: You can't eat salt by itself. Try putting a spoonful in your mouth. You couldn't swallow it. You would choke on it. Salt is not meant to be ingested by itself. You have to put it on something or in something in order for it to be useful. You have to use the right amount; just enough to make what you are eating palatable. Too little salt and it has no effect; too much salt and it spoils the taste. It must be used carefully and in moderation. Debby and I ate at a restaurant that specializes in Buffalo. It was highly recommended because of their buffalo burgers. I could not eat the burger because it was too salty. Now, having said all this about salt, the doctrine of THE COVENANT OF SALT is far more than the characteristics I have listed above. So hold on for this should be an interesting teaching that will bless everyone who has ears to hear and a heart to follow. ![]() Numbers 18:19 ESV All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you." A number of years ago when Bob Dylan was claiming to be a Christian, he wrote a song called “Gotta Serve Somebody.” In this song Dylan mentions all kinds of people walking out life in their lifestyles, and professions. He stated that no matter what your lifestyle or your profession the bottom line for every person, no matter who they are or what they do, is that they must serve somebody. Everyone will either serve Satan, the enemy, or they will serve God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Someone can dress Satan and the doctrines of demons up with all the religious finery they desire but in the end it is still Satan and not the one True God whom is ultimately served. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ESV (4) Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." (5) For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— (6) yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 10:18-23 ESV (18) Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? (19) What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (20) No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (22) Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (23) "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Whom you serve will be seen in your thoughts, words, and actions. I believe this truth is found in the little used Biblical phrase “Covenant of Salt.” Though it is used only three times in Scripture, it has great significance to the believer in our Lord Jesus Christ today. Follow me each day in these devotionals as we journey through the meaning of this phrase “the Covenant of Salt” and explore what it means for us as we seek to serve the Father. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
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