AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR JUNE 18
Read 1 Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16
Covenant of Salt! Imperishable! Eternal. A salt covenant is eternal, imperishable, and for King David, his covenant with God is labeled as a salt covenant. MY MAIN POINT, if you read no further is JESUS, the SON OF DAVID is KING FOREVER. GOD is faithful to HIS covenant of salt with David.
Now JESUS says some stuff about salt and fire…and this leads me to my rabbit hole. IT all started with the connections of these verses: Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; Ezekiel 43:24; Mark 9:49. What is the significance of Leviticus 2:13? Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
And what does JOHN MEAN? I [John] baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11
As I was reading and researching there is a symbolism of “salt,”throughout the bible representing the spiritual element that purifies and preserves from taint (see Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34; Colossians 4:6; Leviticus 2:13).
Also “salt,” can symbolize the purifying nature of the Eternal Spirit. WE are to be living sacrifices, (Romans 12:1) and guess what???? YUP, the sacrifice was to be salted. Consider the impact of contact with the HOT HOT HOT infinite Righteousness of GOD, this contact may do its work; you may in that moment of revelation and pure astonishment like PETER cry out depart from me I AM A SINNER, or like Isaiah said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Isaiah 6:5
HOWEVER IT requires something more for completeness, keep reading in Isaiah for further proof. Sin must be removed. And this was done by fire with Isaiah. Furthermore the old testament sacrifice was required to be “salted with salt,” as well as with “fire.” For each of us, there must be the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as well as that of fire (Matthew 3:11). THE GOAL IS IMPERISHABLE PURITY FOR ETERNITY. ANYONE NEED JESUS? Insert hand raised emoji! This is where the HOLY SPIRIT comes in. HE gives you the spirit of JESUS and STILL there is more. It’s a baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT and fire. I’m trying to say the last part gentle and such, without caps.
Peter too is trying to get us to NOT BE SURPRISED by suffering. 1 Peter 4:12-14 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Everyone will be salted with fire. Everyone will be put into the process to purify! He sits as a refiner.(Malachi 3:3) Suffering is for the purpose of glory. Consider the glory on Isaiah’s life, and Peter’s life, for thousands of years men have studied their lives, their words, and read how each one proclaimed JESUS so accurately. Come on really consider it, they suffered and YET there is unmistakeable GLORY on them, not to mention fellowship with JESUS.
And Jesus calls us the salt of the earth. Salt is good, in the same way you and I are to be a preserving flavor in the world! FIRE for example: the fear of God, the trials, and tests, in this life are to preserve you for eternity. Too much is too much, but just enough is a Goldilocks and the Three Bears sort of perfection, JUST RIGHT…like this wedding I was in when it had been raining 🌧️for many hours right before the wedding. We woke up the morning of the wedding and it was a constant downpour. We prayed for it to stop and it did. However everything for this outdoor wedding was drenched. When a groomsman had an idea! There was a flame scorcher, a BTU PROPANE GAS FLAME TOOL, two cans of propane and Leroy who was able to restore the wooden bench seats, to a useful and dry condition for the wedding. HOW? BY FIRE. My point, similarly let your trials restore you, preserve you, purify you, make you useful. Trust the Master Craftsmen! Take his word in Mark seriously. Trust HIS COVENANT to redeem you, to do for YOU what the covenant of Salt did for DAVID, guarantee GOD WILL KEEP HIS WORD. Everyone will go through trials and when you do JER. 29:11 is still true. God’s plan is good, and HE WILL GIVE YOU AND I PEACE. I will leave you with these words of Jesus. I’d rather be scorched a bit and have eternal life than roasted and charred. Is this too frank?
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”” Mark 9:43, 49, 50 NIV
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.””
2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV
LAUREL:
1. I saw a focus on mothers in these passages, which is especially note-able because of the cultural significance of fathers and male descendants. Mothers your work is so beautiful and important, may the Holy Spirit empower you to raise up the next generation of kingdom builders and speak truth and life over your children, whether they are infants or full-blown adults and everything in between. And may they grow into such a faith that they are able to challenge and correct you.
2. I was struck by Asa’s faithfulness in his early years. The strong parallel to the deuteronomic covenant was interesting. With all your heart, soul, and strength. Joyfully and with full shouts, that’s pretty awesome to imagine. What would that look like? What could that look like for me?
3. I was convicted and reminded through Asa’s story that zeal and faithfulness for the Lord in my youth does not guarantee faithfulness and zeal at the end of my life. I can sometimes think that.. and sometimes in a high and mighty prideful way.
Lord, thank you for the encouragement and conviction today. Your word is living and active, I open myself fully for you to transform me more to your character. I pray that you would continuously strengthen and mold my heart for you. That the more I face in the life ahead of me the more my faith and trust in you would grow. That your absence is only felt, you are working powerfully through the places, situations, events, and seasons that feel so dark to us. The darkness is as light to you and you will ALWAYS overcome. Father you are so so good. May we always walk beside you, heeding your voice, and seek you with faithfulness.
