Image via Wikipedia Salt was an important element in ancient societies. The Hebrews were required to add salt to all the sacrifices they put on their altars. Salt signified several things: first, salt preserved meat. In the heat of that country meat had a short life, but salted, it could sustain them for a long time.
Salt was a symbol of friendship. If you were invited to eat salt with someone, you were safe from threat or attack. It was also an acceptable gift. Salt, then as now, improved flavor of foods. Salt is necessary for the body, human or animal, and for that reason alone is valuable.
For the Jews and maybe, other people, a covenant of salt marked an unbreakable contract, one that could not be changed. Human beings are changeable and fickle, but God is faithful and constant. Even when we fail to perform according to expectations, God does not change.
I remember when I joined the church. I was nine years old. I solemnly took the vows and promised all kinds of things I didn't even understand, but my intent was to be faithful. Many times I fell far short of Godly standards, but God sustained me and kept his part of the bargain--it was, indeed, a covenant of salt, at least from
God's perspective.
My marriage was a covenant of salt. I find it sad that many people don't consider marriage in that light anymore. Marriage for convenience, or money, or selfish gain cannot approach the commitment needed for a covenant of salt. Maybe I'm the one that is out of step. Consider carefully a contract or a commitment that requires a covenant of salt. It cannot be broken.
No comments:
Post a Comment