Covenant Condiment

"...no yeast or honey may be burned as a special gift presented to the LORD...Season all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God's eternal covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings." Leviticus 2:11, 13

For the last seven months we have removed salt from our diet. Following my husband's cardiac arrest, he was placed on a "no to low" sodium restriction until his needed heart surgery can be arranged. With this condiment being found in almost every processed food, meal preparation has become both challenging and bland. Although I have found some tasty alternatives while cooking, I can no longer simply run to the store for a frozen meal or dash to get take-out. If we have dinner guests, I sometimes find myself preparing two meals...seasoned and salt less.

The instructions for grain offerings caught my attention. The Israelites were instructed to burn them without honey but use salt. I had to find out the significance and meaning of these directions.

Honey was a favourite sacrifice to false gods. The LORD did not want any resemblance to pagan practices as a form of worship from His people. Honey is also used as an artificial sweetener. God desires us to come to Him as we are, not with insincere sacrifice. "There is a kind of molasses godliness which I can never stomach." (Spurgeon)

Salt, as well as being a preservative, represents purity and payment. Salt came at an expense. It was costly. A small amount could add incredible flavour. Little details are important to God. I currently could attest to the value of just a pinch of salt in a recipe, and as God repeats this directive three times, we know it's mention is noteworthy.

Salt was also to remind the Israelites of God's covenant with His people. It too was a remaining, refined and rich covenant. It would endure until eternity. This instruction of adding salt to the sacrifice was very purposeful. It represented an everlasting promise from the LORD.

As we consider our worship to the Lord and the sacrifices we bring to Him, are they real? Is there any pretense in our prayers? Do we sugarcoat our lives before God making them appear superficially attractive or acceptable, or do we come in honesty before His throne? Are we walking in obedience to the tiniest request from God? Do our lives reflect purity in a salt less society? How are we sacrificially living so that others "taste and see that the Lord is good"? May we take care to safeguard and preserve lives of surrender and worship so that we will be "a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." (Leviticus 2:9b)