2025-02-19A
A. SYMBOLISM OF SALT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Very early in the Old Testament, (Lev 2:13) we read that food offerings to God had to be prepared with salt. By this He wanted to teach man, and especially His priests, that what was offered to Him had to be tasty so that He would enjoy it as we enjoy salted lamb ribs or steak. This of course had a symbolic meaning because God is Spirit and does not partake of food as we do. The ordinance was therefore more for conveying of a spiritual truth.
In 2 Kings 2:20 we find another example of how salt was used symbolically to make brackish water usable. The young men in training as prohets with Elisha asked him if he could not do something for the spring that bubbled up near Jericho because the city was well situated but was experiencing a water shortage. Even the soil around the spring was so affected that nothing would grow there. Elisha ordered that a new bowl full of salt be brought to him. This he then cast into the spring and suddenly the water was wonderfully sweet and drinkable. Again, it was about the symbolic meaning of the salt and not about its chemical properties. Salt was used as a life bringing agent.
B. SYMBOLISM OF SALT IN JESUS’ TEACHING.
In the New Testament we receive further revelation that salt points to Jesus Who brings life into every situation to which He is applied.
Jesus, in turn, used salt as a symbol of the role He wanted His children to play in life.\
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matt 5:13).
Following the Old Testament symbolism of salt, Jesus would have had in mind that the Christian has to fulfill a twofold function: he has to add flavour to life to please both God and man and secondly, to counteract the spoilage and deterioration that occurs everywhere in society.
To fulfill these functions, we must ensure that our lives are filled with heavenly salt and we must place ourselves in the Lord’s hands so that He can use us as He sees fit.
PLEASE ALSO READ THE NEXT STUDY GUIDE OF THIS SERIES
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