Vayikra (Leviticus) 1:1-5:26

One of the many reasons that I love God’s Word is that the more one reads it, the more one understands the depth and richness of the LORD and His plan.

In this week’s Scripture reading, we find a very interesting verse:

“‘Every grain offering of yours, you shall salt with salt, you shall not omit salt of the covenant of your God from been placed above your grain offering; on all your offerings you shall offer salt.”

Leviticus 2:13

When reading this verse, we see the importance of salt in the offering, and therefore, the necessary question is, “Why is salt so important?” The answer, as it turns out, has to do with the many incredible properties of salt!

God instructed the children of Israel not to eat the blood of an animal: “ For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.” Leviticus 17:14

In the process of making meat kosher, the meat is covered with salt, which draws all the blood out of the meat (the “life” of the flesh) as well as killing all the germs within the meat. Not only that, but salt also can be used to preserve the meat, which is an amazing picture of preserving the everlasting covenant that God speaks of in Leviticus 2:13!

We know that salt can also bring healing and cleansing. In 2 Kings 2:21, Elisha throws salt in the water, purifying and healing it so that it would no longer cause death. Even today, people with various skin diseases come from all over the world to the Dead Sea, which has a very high salt and mineral content, to heal their ailments.

I am reminded by our Messiah’s words to us, His disciples, when He said: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” Matt 5:13

Our job is to be salt on this earth, so that His healing will come to this world. The only way that will happen is if His blood, which was shed for us, replaces the “bad” blood of our sin.

We live in a broken and sick world that is in much need of healing. Are our lives full of the saltiness of the Lord so that we can bring His healing to those around us? Yes, initially the cleansing of the salt burns, but after comes healing, which brings life.

If you are a new creation in Yeshua, you have been cleansed and healed! This does not mean you are perfect and will not struggle with sin. However, it does mean that you have His Spirit within you to bring His healing to others. Let us stop being stuck in our past, and instead walk forward in the healing that He has provided for us.

Shabbat shalom,

Moran