2 Kings 2:19-22Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, inhabiting of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the locality causes miscarriage and barrenness [in all animals].
20 He said, Bring me a new bowl and put salt [the symbol of God’s purifying power] in it. And they brought it to him.
21 Then Elisha went to the spring of the waters and cast the salt in it and said, Thus says the Lord: I [not the salt] have healed these waters; there shall not be any more death, miscarriage or barrenness [and bereavement] because of it.
22 So the waters were healed to this day, as Elisha had said.
What a perfect picture of our country today. Inhabiting it is pleasant, but the water is bad. And I’m not talking about the water coming out of the tap in your kitchen. I’m talking about the spiritual water that people are drinking for satisfaction.
Think about all of the pleasurable things that are polluted and are causing death and fruitlessness. We have music, something God created, and yet the music many people listen to is saturated with filth and vulgarity. The water is bad. We have movie theaters and television, but the films are contaminated with sexuality and curse words. The water is bad. We have something as innocent as dating that’s ripping the purity from our teens on a daily basis. The water is bad. The internet is flooded with pornography. The water is bad. It’s killing people! It’s keeping them from becoming fruitful and it’s causing miscarried dreams and purposes. It’s leaving people barren because they’re drinking from something that has no life giving nutrients that are vital to survival. The poison has worked it’s way into our workplaces and families and churches. It’s in our schools and in our government. The water is bad! It’s all around.
This was the condition of the city of Jericho in this Bible story. Though the place was nice and a great city to live in, the water was bad. Though there was such great potential, the water was bad. So Elisha did something that really made me think. He said, “bring me a new bowl and put salt in it.” Then Elisha went to the spring of the waters and cast the salt in it and said, Thus says the Lord: I [not the salt] have healed these waters; there shall not be any more death, miscarriage or barrenness [and bereavement] because of it.
Notice that it wasn’t the salt itself that healed the waters. It was the Lord that healed the water. His word declared it healed. So why the salt? God could have healed the water with just his word! But he chose to use the salt, accompanied with his word.
Matthew 5:14 tells us that we as believers are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Wow we are the SALT! The water is bad but God has placed us in this polluted and life-choking world so that we can be part of the purifying process. God’s the healer of the water, but he’s chosen us to accompany his word. In fact, we’re the ones who should be declaring the word. How do we do this? I see it all the time. Especially recently with the Christian movie production companies who are bringing clean films to the theaters. They’re placing salt in the water. How about the worship music that is lifting up the name of Jesus? It’s salt in the water. People can enjoy it without the pollution. But how does this apply to you? God wants to use you as the purifying agent in your office, in your school, in your relationships. Salt. Accompanied by his word. When you walk through a puddle of conflict, the area around you should be unable to stay muddy or murky.
Father we see that the land you’ve given us is well situated, but the water is bad. You’ve already placed the salt in the water! It’s us. Help us to fulfill our purpose and use us as you heal this land!