By Sidharth Mohandas
Covenant is a powerful word… In fact, our entire relationship with God is founded on a covenant. In this article I wish to specifically deal with a covenant called the Covenant of Salt.
This covenant as practised by the Jews was a covenant in word. It was something like this…men tied a pouch of salt to their belt, and when ever they made a covenant, they would exchange a pinch of salt, putting grains into each other’s pouch. If one party wanted to break the covenant, then the other would say, “You can break the covenant if you can take back your grains and yours only from my pouch“. Of course, we know that that sounds unreasonable, but that gave them the realization of the importance and gravity of keeping ones word.
There are about three references to this in the Old Testament, of which I have quoted two below to show you the nature of this covenant:
“Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for both you and your offspring.” [Numbers 18:19, NIV]
“Don’t you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? [2 Chronicles 13:5, NIV]
This is the nature of a salt covenant …forever…everlasting. That would signify an irrevocable pledge and loyalty shown by God to His people.
Now, when we come to the Newer Covenant, Jesus tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth…” [Matthew 5:13, KJV]
We live in a day where honesty, integrity and genuiness are no longer standards even among Christians. In fact, it is considered “clever” to be able to deceive and mislead others in order to gain advantages. When Jesus said we were to be “the salt of the earth”, He was telling us that we were to be living examples of the covenant lifestyle.
You and I need to ask ourselves…Are we people who weigh our words? Do we give our word and not keep it? If so, we need to consider Paul’s instruction:
“Let your speech be always with grace, SEASONED WITH SALT, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” [Colossians 4:6, KJV]. Now this is an instruction given to believers at Colosse as to how they were to behave with “those outside” [unbelievers]. Friends, do not forget that you are an ambassador to the kingdom of God. If you’re a person who constantly breaks his word, you are misrepresenting the culture of heaven.
A while back I was told how a certain radio group took my friend’s testimony and added some spice to it to make their show sensational! God never instructed us to season our speech with spices! I encourage you today to rightly represent the lifestyle of the kingdom of God, the lifestyle of the covenant.
Integrity…that’s a good word. Interesting post Sid. I wonder if throwing salt over your shoulder has anything to do with that? Just a thought..
Sid you are a blessing to our generation in Jesus Mighty Name keep hearing from God Amen
Great post! loved every bit of it
GREAT POST, Sidharth! the scripture; “you are the salt of the earth” always intrigued me.
Salt has two properties to it (1) to bring out the hidden flavors; to enhance [or spiritually encourage others] (2) to preserve; stop from decay [to stop others from choosing hells path]
and when I had first read the scripture, it thought of this third meaning, (3) to make thirsty [to live your life under His convenant of righteousness to make others want Him and thirst after Him]
as always, thanks for the post!
-Melanie