ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate ‘Epeleli 16, 2023

Sharing Salterio with Jesus  מלח 

‘INASI ‘I HE MASIMA MO KALAISI

LEVITICUS 2:13

"YOU SHALL SEASON ALL YOUR GRAIN OFFERINGS WITH SALT. YOU SHALL NOT LET THE SALT OF THE COVENANT WITH YOUR GOD BE MISSING FROM YOUR GRAIN OFFERING; WITH ALL YOUR OFFERINGS YOU SHALL OFFER SALT."

LEVITIKO 2:13

Pea koe feilaulau-me‘akai kotoa pē ‘oku ke kōpano ‘aki, ‘e fakamāsima; ‘e ‘ikai te ke tuku ke hala ‘i ho‘o feilaulau-me‘akai ‘a e māsima kovinānite ‘a ho ‘Otua: te ke ‘omi ‘a e māsima mo ho‘o ngaahi kōpano kotoa pē.

Since Yahweh was the true owner of the holy land, Israelites "paid rent" to him by offering the fruits and grains from their fields. Part of the grain that was ground into flour was placed on the altar, and the rest given to the priests as part of their paycheck. To this flour was always added melach ("salt"). It's called the "salt of the covenant" because in the ancient world two parties would often "share salt" as a way of concretizing their relationship. Thus the allies of the Persian king Artaxerxes said they ate "the salt of the palace" (Ezra 4:14).

Before Jesus ascended, he shared melach with his followers. Though Acts 1:4 is usually translated, "while [Jesus was] staying with them," the Greek verb (sunalizo) means "sharing salt." Our High Priest was sharing salt with his fellow priests of the new covenant. He was pledging his commitment to them-and to us. We, baptized as priests, dine with the great High Priest around his covenant table. We are thereby sanctified for service in his kingdom as the "salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13).

O Lord, may our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer each person (Col. 4:6).