Salt

[farouk]

We need to keep our nose to the map, keep our ears on the word, and keep our eyes on the Lord.
And let Him use our mouth when the time comes.

God Bless
Hugs

@Ziggy Prayer and the Scriptures, right? these are vital elements of the believer's life...

 

[Ziggy]

Why are there innocents, be they what men name lower animals or be they young children who have little understanding or control? Why are there so many seemingly willing to hurt the innocents? Why even among the very closest followers of Jesus did they Not understand what it was that God really wanted from them?

"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt 19:13-14

I can't even go down this path friend,
Sometimes those you trust most are your worst enemy.
All the news about child trafficking happening not around the world in dark obscure places, no..
it's right here. And nobody sees it. Nobody does anything about it.
It's not in the dark anymore. It's coming to light.
A lot of so called priests and pastors have been prosecuted and imprissioned for hurting children.
Right under the parents nose.
And then there is hollywood and the music industry and children's services, and kidnappings...

The depths of Satan run so deep it is incomprehendable.

I have a hard time with animals in Leviticus...
The other.. is an afront to my soul.

Pray for the Children
Always

Hugs
(sorry, hard topic)

 

[Ziggy]

Just remember that the "trampling on those things that go against God" must truly begin in our own 'houses'! Too many people, it seems to me, go forth against the ways of others, when their own houses, to me appear to be still filthy and perhaps getting worse.

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?" Matt 7:3-4

There are Christian soldiers that have washed and been reborn and are trained to handle the Word of God.
They are holding the line. The battle is fierce if one could see that battle for control over the soul waging daily.
We maintain, and stand. We are strong. We have not turned away from our faith.
We have not given our hearts and minds to the rulers of this world.
We hold firm.
Not one is worthy to cast a beam from another's eye. It is the Lord that casts it out through revealing it to others.
It is not an "I'm holier than thou" it is an "I am concerned for you" just as the Lord showed his concern for me, when someone showed me my beam in my eye. Looking in the mirror isn't good enough. We are bias to our own mistakes.
Only when it is pointed out to you, and you take offence to defend yourself, and then are willing to look and see if it is so,
and be honest with yourself to remove it. Or even pray to have the Lord remove it. Because sometimes it is even bigger than we can handle.
We're not perfect. But together with the Lord as our Head, we can be and will be and are being perfected.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't call out evil when we see it.
It needs to be dragged to the light, because it will not willingly admit defeat.
Even though we know that evil has been triumphed over, we still battle the shadow that remains.

Stay true to God
Stay true to yourself
Don't let anyone convince you to take your eyes off the Lord.
Ever.

HUGS

 

[Ziggy]

'All the heave offerings of the holy things,
which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD,
have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever:
it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.'
(Numbers 18:19)

'Ought ye not to know
that the LORD God of Israel
gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever,
even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?'
(2 Chronicles 13:5)

Hi @Ziggy,

In the marginal notes in my Bible, in regard to the words 'covenant of salt', it says (partial quote):-

'Heb. 'covenant' = berith, from barah, [meaning 'to cut'; hence 'to eat']. As salt was scarce and precious, and used with all eating,
so it was put, by a figure for 'eating', just as the breaking of bread was, [See Lamentations 4:4; Ezekiel 18:7].
Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker in food, 'salt' was put (by figure) for wages generally: so that a worker was spoken of as being worth, or not worth, his 'salt'. 'A covenant of salt' was therefore a covenant made by sacrifice, which was first 'cut' in two (Genesis 15:10-18, Jeremiah 34:18-19) and then eaten, thus solemnising an inviolable (ie., 'unbreakable') covenant.'
​

Thank you,
In Christ Jesus
Chris

I had a feeling you would hear that little whisper... somewhere ..
Thank You for sharing :)
Hugs

 

[Ziggy]

We are to be the grace of God to the world in how we speak and act.

I had a phone call from my mother in law tonight. You know she would call right in the middle of Donald Trump's speech tonight at Turning Point.
I like listening to what he has to say.
This isn't a political response...
At first I was a bit impatient because Mum likes to talk.. and talk.. and talk..
maybe a couple years ago I would of found an excuse to call her back or tell her I was in the middle of something.
I shut off the internet, I don't watch tv anyways.. and turned my full attention to this 86 year old woman who lives alone and is going blind, and is telling me she is bored and lonely.
And after almost an hour of just chatting about nothing really, she was tired and was going to go watch something and go to bed.

Sometimes I wonder if that will be the last phonecall. Sometimes I forget
By the Grace of God I didn't forget tonight. And I am thankful for the conversation we had.

Would that be considered being a part of that grace of God we show to the world?
I had to persevere through that, wanting to say I'll call you back later.
I still have a lot of that me me me in me.
And I can see it. And that is an act of Grace right there.
God shows me where I need improvement.
And I can either change or go against against it.

I want to learn to be better, more caring, more understanding, more patient...
I want to be more
salty :)

Thank You
Hugs

 

[Ziggy]

When I think of salt, I do think of savour. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. [15] For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: [16] To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God...
Lot of people in the world spinning scriptures for their own gain. For their own popularism, their own fame.
Movie stars and actors on your sunday morning shows.
Not all, but more than the sincere ones.
I watched a lot of street preachers last summer while watching the riots.
They're out there feeding the hungry, sitting on the benches with the homeless just keeping them company, someone to talk to.
You don't need a building to create a church in your house, or local park.
You bring the church with you wherever you go.
I seen a lot of preachers talk a good talk, and I seen a lot of poor man walk the good walk.

You never know where the Lord will send that piece of bread floating on the waters.
It usually ends up right where it's needed the most.
And to those that are hungry, what a sweet savour it is.

Thank You
Hugs

 

[Ziggy]

@Ziggy Prayer and the Scriptures, right? these are vital elements of the believer's life...

I don't see any other way friend.
HUGS

 

[post]

Because sometimes it is even bigger than we can handle.

Without Him I haven't the strength to lift a mote

 

[post]

The depths of Satan run so deep it is incomprehendable.

Even while Satan is bound for a thousand years, people will hate God, reject Him and seek war against Him.

Satan is finite. Not omniscient, not omnipresent, not omnipotent. He doesn't make everyone do what they do. Humans are wicked, and choose darkness even when they are not deceived.

Salt is opposite that.

 

[Ziggy]

Even while Satan is bound for a thousand years, people will hate God, reject Him and seek war against Him.

Satan is finite. Not omniscient, not omnipresent, not omnipotent. He doesn't make everyone do what they do. Humans are wicked, and choose darkness even when they are not deceived.

Salt is opposite that.

I used to read the Gospels about Jesus and the disciples going around and casting out demons.
A metaphor for an evil person or a person filled with wicked desires. Hurtful, mean, cruel, deceiving.. people.
I'm not so sure any more.
I'm seeing people who don't act human. They have no heart, no empathy, no compassion, EMPTY..
Like looking into a black void in their souls.
I believe you can truly sell your soul to the devil.
knowingly..

I used to think it was just a metaphor..
I'm not so sure anymore..

You think we'll see demons getting cast out ... maybe it happens now, I don't know I never witnessed anything like that.
I don't even know if I want to.
I just like to know it's being done..
by soldiers stronger than I.
Or at least training..

I can see spiritual warfare taking place around me.
I don't think I've had it directed at me..yet..
I know a lot of people are going through a lot of challenges right now.
In their minds and in their hearts.. everyone is being tried to some extant.
There is literally a war on for our minds right now through propaganda all around the world.
As if it was unleashed all of a sudden, the flood gates opened and all we hear are lies and more lies.

Even in the days of Jesus walking in Jerusalem.
There were Saducees on one side and Pharisees on the other.. and the people were confused and just did whatever they was told.
tossed to and fro by divers doctrines..winds..
Today, it is happening with a vengence.
All of it, all of this confusion is to keep your focus on the world on off God.

Demons...
I thought were just a metaphor..

Hugs

 

[farouk]

I used to read the Gospels about Jesus and the disciples going around and casting out demons.
A metaphor for an evil person or a person filled with wicked desires. Hurtful, mean, cruel, deceiving.. people.
I'm not so sure any more.
I'm seeing people who don't act human. They have no heart, no empathy, no compassion, EMPTY..
Like looking into a black void in their souls.
I believe you can truly sell your soul to the devil.
knowingly..

I used to think it was just a metaphor..
I'm not so sure anymore..

You think we'll see demons getting cast out ... maybe it happens now, I don't know I never witnessed anything like that.
I don't even know if I want to.
I just like to know it's being done..
by soldiers stronger than I.
Or at least training..

I can see spiritual warfare taking place around me.
I don't think I've had it directed at me..yet..
I know a lot of people are going through a lot of challenges right now.
In their minds and in their hearts.. everyone is being tried to some extant.
There is literally a war on for our minds right now through propaganda all around the world.
As if it was unleashed all of a sudden, the flood gates opened and all we hear are lies and more lies.

Even in the days of Jesus walking in Jerusalem.
There were Saducees on one side and Pharisees on the other.. and the people were confused and just did whatever they was told.
tossed to and fro by divers doctrines..winds..
Today, it is happening with a vengence.
All of it, all of this confusion is to keep your focus on the world on off God.

Demons...
I thought were just a metaphor..

Hugs

@Ziggy The whole armour of God passage in Ephesians 6 is very relevant! :)

 

[Ferris Bueller]

I shut off the internet, I don't watch tv anyways.. and turned my full attention to this 86 year old woman who lives alone and is going blind, and is telling me she is bored and lonely.
And after almost an hour of just chatting about nothing really, she was tired and was going to go watch something and go to bed.

Sometimes I wonder if that will be the last phonecall. Sometimes I forget
By the Grace of God I didn't forget tonight. And I am thankful for the conversation we had.

Would that be considered being a part of that grace of God we show to the world?

Yes, I'd say so. Living for God and being salt in the world can be so simple sometimes. It's just a matter of being gracious in all our everyday interactions with the people around us.

 

[complete]

Yes, I'd say so. Living for God and being salt in the world can be so simple sometimes. It's just a matter of being gracious in all our everyday interactions with the people around us.

Hello @Ferris Bueller, (& Ziggy & Co.,)

As a child I remember the older members of the family advocating the use of salt water for everything, from a saw throat, open wound or ulcerated leg. Saline is used to bath the eye, and so on. It heals and stops putrefaction, yes? The word of God has the same effect on the mind and heart of man, doesn't it? Salt brings out the flavour in food, and causes the mouth to salivate when the mouth is dry: the word of God also has the ability to quicken the mind and heart and refresh the tired spirit in need of the pure water of the word of God.

When placed on a wound salt stings and hurts initially, as it prevents putrefaction, and the application of God's word sometimes hurts too, for it chastens us for our good, to prevent us from going astray.

Just thoughts
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Robert Gwin]

Yes and what do nurses give in hospitals to replace fluids in the body? Normal Saline...saline means consisting of or containing salt...
So your IV bag is mainly a salt solution....which other meds can be injected through as well.
The human body contains many salts, of which sodium cride (AKA common table salt) is the major one, making up around 0.4 per cent of the body's weight at a concentration pretty well equivalent to that in seawater.

So a 50kg (110 lb) person would contain around 200g of sodium cride - around 40 teaspoons. Since we lose salt whenever we sweat, it has to be continually replaced.

While excessive consumption of it has been linked to high blood pressure and stomach cancer, salt is a vital part of body chemistry, playing a key role in many functions, from the quality of blood to transmission of nerve signals

Like you said maam, excessive. Strange how things necessary for life can become deadly with overindulgence. In 60's language, I dig salt Heart. I use lots of it, which likely contributes to high blood pressure, but tolerable. I tried to cut down on it, but life can be bland without it. Thanks for your comment

 

[amadeus]

I suppose that means, one who is led by the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Rom 8:13-14

Jesus says even in that hour you will be given what to say.
I believe that means will will have our memory jogged for the exact words is written in the bible at the moment that we need them.

Amen!

When we do not receive those "exact words" we may believe we need then perhaps silence or just a "yea" or a "nay" is the best thing. Biting our tongues can be a painful thing when we are pressured by our flesh to act or react more strongly! What is God saying to our hearts?

Just like Jesus quoted the Law to Satan, who knew the law and tried to get Jesus to forget, because of hunger, or pride, or worldly riches.
And each time Jesus came back with the right words to rebuke him.

For us as well it must be first things first! Jesus knew when to open his mouth to speak and what to say when he did. Satan coming against Jesus and trying to tempt may well correspond to us at times when we forge ahead on our own based on even our own Bible knowledge rather than waiting on the Lord. God has shown me some of my errors in this very thing. So what do we do?

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

But God has already supplied the path for us to walk in. And that is His word.
When we stray off that path, then we try to do things our own way.
We don't have those directions in ourselves, those directions are written in His word, like a map.

That's why His sheep hear his voice, because we read the map and follow His voice. But there are so many voices in the world right now, and people are being confused. By their Priests, by their Pastors... they are being led away and taking many with them, because they don't read the map, and they can't hear His voice.

There are those who have in past times heard His voice, but learned to quench the Holy Spirit of God and in their fellowship, prayer and worship [supposedly] meetings and to teach other to also quench rather than follow the Spirit. Too many listen to the wolves in sheep's clothing giving erroneous directions instead of to what thus saith the Lord. Being in a place like that regularly would be hard on someone who knows or has known God. Lot perhaps in Sodom is an example of this.

"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" II Peter 2:6-8

To whom might these words be directed?

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev 18:4

So some people come to forums outside their churches to hear what others are talking about.
And yet they are convinced as most of us are, that they are right and everyone else is wrong.
And they are half right. Because only God is true and everything we have ever been taught has lies in it.

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." Prov 21:2

"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,..." Rom 3:4

That's why we are told to keep the feast with unleavened bread.
But how can you toss out the leaven when you don't know what it looks like?
Everybody has their version, their understanding of what truth is.
And somewhere along the line, we will all know the same truth without any deviance from it.

If according to God we need to know and our hearts remain open. When a person closes his heart and mind, then when Balaam's donkey [or you or me or the other guy] is given by God the words to speak, the person cannot hear or understand!

Right now we are in the middle of an information war. We can't see it, but we can hear it. And it's causing chaos in the sounds and the voices.
How shall they hear...specially when false lies are everywhere... even in the church.

This began about 5 years ago now.. maybe that's a marker of time or event biblically. I don't know..
But everything coming across the "air" started becoming toxic.
Name calling, false accusations, racist attacks, murders and stealing are aired daily on the news.

Perhaps something began 5 years ago or move apparently more out in the open, but I was hearing things long before that. They were chaotic and much of it remains chaotic... but not to God. Can we still hear His voice or do we hear only strangers? Do we have to know all of the details in order to follow and to obey Him?

Has it changed you?
Do you question whether your neighbor is vaxed or not?

I am concerned with whether or not they know Jesus. That should matter for if we are covered by God, what difference can vaccination or the lack thereof matter?

How about the color of their skin?

Are we color blind?

Are you becoming frustrated, angy, confused about your hearing on tv?

How can you hear the Lord, when there is so much noise in the air?

By the Holy Spirit, we can hear the Lord. If, however, we are quenching the Spirit we are confused indeed hearing only nonsense!

We need to keep our nose to the map, keep our ears on the word, and keep our eyes on the Lord.
And let Him use our mouth when the time comes.

God Bless
Hugs

Give God the glory!

 

[amadeus]

I can't even go down this path friend,
Sometimes those you trust most are your worst enemy.
All the news about child trafficking happening not around the world in dark obscure places, no..
it's right here. And nobody sees it. Nobody does anything about it.
It's not in the dark anymore. It's coming to light.
A lot of so called priests and pastors have been prosecuted and imprissioned for hurting children.
Right under the parents nose.
And then there is hollywood and the music industry and children's services, and kidnappings...

The depths of Satan run so deep it is incomprehendable.

I have a hard time with animals in Leviticus...
The other.. is an afront to my soul.

Pray for the Children
Always

Hugs
(sorry, hard topic)

Yes, pray for the children!

 

[Wrangler]

Salt preserves food - and therefore, life.

 

[Taken]

What different meanings does salt have in the Bible?
Or does it?

Why do we have salt?
Why is the sea salty?
what does it mean to be salted?
What does it mean, ye are the salt of the earth?

Open for discussions or thoughts
Hugs

Preserve -

 

[Ziggy]

Some books I just kind of skim over, all the names and cities and tribes get me confused.
Judges is like that.
I'm reading the part about Gideon who has a son by a concubine named Abimelech.
And Abimelech and Shechem don't get along.
I need to keep reading the story because I get lost in it.
But there is one verse:

Jdg 9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Jdg 9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Jdg 9:57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

the curse of Jotham..

sowed the city with salt.

Just tossing this in there.
Jotham is the son of Jerubbaal, Jerubbaal is Gideon.

Gideon did the same thing Aaron did.
He told all the people to give him their jewelry and stuff and made an Ephod? out of it. And they all worshipped it even Gideon and his family.

Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Jdg 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Jdg 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

ʼêphôwd, ay-fode'; rarely אֵפֹד ʼêphôd; probably of foreign derivation a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image:—ephod.

Ephod looks like it could be an interesting study.. everyone making their own costumes.

salted the city..

 

[farouk]

Some books I just kind of skim over, all the names and cities and tribes get me confused.
Judges is like that.
I'm reading the part about Gideon who has a son by a concubine named Abimelech.
And Abimelech and Shechem don't get along.
I need to keep reading the story because I get lost in it.
But there is one verse:

Jdg 9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Jdg 9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Jdg 9:57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

the curse of Jotham..

sowed the city with salt.

Just tossing this in there.
Jotham is the son of Jerubbaal, Jerubbaal is Gideon.

Gideon did the same thing Aaron did.
He told all the people to give him their jewelry and stuff and made an Ephod? out of it. And they all worshipped it even Gideon and his family.

Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Jdg 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Jdg 8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

ʼêphôwd, ay-fode'; rarely אֵפֹד ʼêphôd; probably of foreign derivation a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image:—ephod.

Ephod looks like it could be an interesting study.. everyone making their own costumes.

salted the city..

@Ziggy It was a difficult time for Israel in the time of the Judges...