Salt is produced from the combination of two of the most deadly chemicals known to man — sodium, an unstable metal that can burst into flame if exposed to air or water, and chlorine, one of the deadliest gases. When these two deadly chemicals are combined they produce sodium chloride, also known as common table salt. Salt is the only known rock that humans consume.
The word “salt” comes from the Latin word “sal,” which means salt. Salt was once a valuable commodity, and it was used as a currency. The English word “salary” comes from the word salt. It has been said there are more than 14,000 uses for salt. Salt is used for flavoring and preserving food. It also used in tanning, dyeing, and producing soap, pottery, and chlorine. Salt is also used in melting icy roads, and for agricultural uses. Furthermore, salt purifies, heals, and preserves.
The Lord commanded the priests to season the grain offerings with salt: “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt” (Lev. 2:13 NKJV). The Lord didn’t ask for honey or sugar to be added, He insisted on salt. The addition of salt to the grain offering represented an everlasting relationship between God and His people.
In the Ancient Near East salt was exchanged as a symbol when treaties or alliances were made. Salt signified that the relationship or agreement was perpetual. The use of the salt in the sacrifices was a reminder that God’s covenant with Israel indissoluble. We should also note that salt impedes the growth of leaven. Paul said that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal. 5:9). Leaven, as a type of sin, is dangerous. But the use the addition of salt can kill the leavening agent.
When God made a covenant with David, it was said, “The Lord gave the kingdom to David forever by a covenant of salt” (2 Chr. 13:5). The covenant between God and David was everlasting (2 Sam. 7). In light of the covenant of salt, the word of Jesus become more important: “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mk. 9:50). To be salt and light in the world we must be seasoned with salt, which only comes through being united with Jesus Christ in the everlasting covenant of salt.