Elisha and the cruse of Salt.
2 Kings 2:19 “And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is nought, and the ground barren.”
The city of Jericho was situated near the Jordan River; it was a beautiful city, but the spring water that watered the land was bitter and caused the crops to fail.
Jericho was rebuilt under a curse. (Joshua 6:26). I am only mentioning this because the world system we live in, is also under a curse.
One day there will be a new heaven and earth, but now we are called to live here for Christ Jesus.
To “build” here,……as though this was our final home, and not keep our hearts for Heaven,……will cause any Christian to be barren, and not produce the fruit of joy and peace in the soul.
The men of Jericho, hearing that Elisha had been anointed by the Holy Spirit to be prophet after Elijah, came to him, and asked that he would seek God for help, to heal the waters.
2 Kings 2:20 “And he said, Bring me a new cruse (jar) and put salt therein, and they brought it to him.”
Salt, we know is a preservative. It keeps bacteria and decay away.
[We, as Christians, are to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).
We are to “preserve” it…..the part we have influence in…..in our everyday circumstances, by manifesting the Lord Jesus’ character in the world.
We are to honor the Holy Spirit within us, and witness of Christ’s life.]
Elisha had agreed to ask God how He wanted the waters cured.
But the healing of the waters, was not to cost the men of the city, nothing.
They were to buy a new cruse (jar) and the salt, and bring it to him.
It would have cost them little,….but they were to do it,…..willingly being obedient to God’s requirements.
When they did this, Elisha was instructed to:
2 Kings 2:21-22 “And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.”
The salt, itself, was not the healer. Nor was Elisha. But the Lord healed them.
The salt was the means God wanted used, and Elisha was the instrument the Lord used, for that time.
This is a picture of how we, as Christians, can be fruitful in this barren world.
The world looks good, the situation seems “pleasant”…….but without the “living water” of Christ….this world is barren….not bringing forth the fruit unto holiness….but only supplying death.
The Lord requires new, clean vessels;…..by being born again. (John 3:3)
And we need to be salt; the preserving power of the Holy Spirit working through us to a sad world. (Matthew 5:16)
That is simply doing what were told by God, and showing His character to those around us.
Then we can be the means and the instruments for “healing” in this world.
The waters were healed, not just for a day or two….but from then on.
They could have harvests of plenty.
God wants that for each life He saves: To bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit within (to have His joy and peace, even in this world); and to manifest His gospel without.
(Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance….”)
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 