Covenants are very important in the Bible and indeed spiritual life without any kind of covenant is not authentic spiritual life. From Genesis to Revelation we meet a life in Yahweh whose foundation is covenant.

Salt, in particular, is was anciently - and still is - used amongst oriental people for ratifying agreements, so that salt became the symbol of fidelity and constancy. Under the Old Covenant cereal offerings (Lev.2:14), salt was used as a preservative to typify the eternal nature of the B'rit Melah or 'Covenant of Salt' existing between Yahweh and Israel (Num.18:19; 2 Chr.13:5).

"A covenant is an agreement or a contract. Today it is very common for people to enter into agreements by signing what we refer to as a contract. Not so long ago, they did it with a simple hand shake. One of the oldest known covenants in the world is the covenant of salt.

"Salt is a necessity of life. Since ancient times it has been used in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a symbolic part of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification.

"The covenant of salt symbolizes loyalty, honesty, and it represents that which is a lasting or preserved covenant. Some of the Eastern people still use the phrase: “There is salt between us.” In Bible times, they understood that the covenant of salt meant that they would keep their word at all costs" (Mike Verdiccio, The Covenant of Salt)

"The custom of pledging friendship or confirming an agreement or covenant by eating food containing salt is still retained today among some Middle Easterners. The Arabic word for salt and for, an agreement or treaty, is the same word. And so, the most common way of entering into a salt covenant was done by eating food containing salt.

Entering into a covenant of salt was never done lightly or haphazardly. In Bible times, guests would eat their meal while their host stood. If the host ate with his guests, then they would have entered into a salt covenant because the food contained salt" (Ibid).

"In the late 1970’s when Prime Minister Begin of Israel met with President Sadat of Egypt, Begin was greeted as he set foot on Egyptian soil. It was reported that the two men stopped to take bread and salt together.

"To the Western mind, this may seem like an old fashioned custom, and one might think that it was a nice gesture, but it was much more than just a gesture. In their Eastern minds, they entered into a salt covenant. Sadat was communicating through his action that Begin would be safe while visiting Egypt and that he was willing to guarantee that safety with his own life.

"Since ancient times in the Middle East, if you were traveling and needed shelter for the night, you could ask one of the Bedouin for his protection and help by asking if you could partake of salt together. He would ask for all your money and valuables and put them in his pockets. Next, he would feed you and give you a place to sleep. Finally, he would stand guard all night to make sure that no harm came your way.

"In the morning, he would feed you once again, give your valuables back to you, and make sure you were safely on your way. He would never even consider taking any payment for his hospitality, because in the East, it is looked upon as an act of service to God" (Ibid).

Obviously a wise person does not risk his life for nothing or for something unwise.

"Perhaps you have attended weddings where salt was involved in the service. In many of the weddings I have officiated, the couple, understanding the significance of the salt covenant, requested to partake in a salt covenant on their special day.

"Symbolically this puts the marriage into the category of a lifelong, enduring covenant. It is a good custom. It is interesting that at the Last Supper, during a meal that would have included salt, Jesus (Yah'shua) said the words from the wedding ceremony; “I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

"In the lands and times of the Bible, the penalty for breaking the salt covenant was death. One would die before he ever broke the trust of entering into a salt covenant. Perhaps that is why Jesus (Yah'shua), speaking of Judas, said it would have been better if he would have never been born. Judas shared salt with Jesus (Yah'shua) on many occasions, including the Last Supper.

"In some translations, the words that Jesus (Yah'shua) spoke before He ascended into heaven as recorded in the book of Acts indicate that He spoke them after eating with the Apostles. That would then make those words about the coming of the gift of Holy Spirit (Ruach haQodesh) bound by the salt covenant" (Ibid).

"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Master in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Master's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (die). For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Master, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor.11:27-32, NKJV).

When Yah'shua told His talmidim or disciples, "you are the salt of the earth" (Matt.5:13, NKJV), He expected them to be salt-covenant people taking their religion and inter-personal relationships deadly seriously. These days relationships have become more and more casual. Not so anciently, and not so in Yahweh's authentic talmidim. Yahweh has given us a New Covenant as a "covenant of salt" in the same way that He gave the Kingship to David (and finally to Yah'shua/Jesus):

"Should you not know that Yahweh-Elohim of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?" (2 Chron.13:5, NKJV)

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another" (Mark 9:49-50, NKJV).

What, then, does Paul mean by these words?

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Col.4:6, NKJV).

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13, NKJV).

To a liberal who does not believe in covenants or spiritual legalities this will, of course, sound 'ridiculous', 'primitive' and 'mediaeval'. Who, though, is the greater fool when the spiritual reality kicks in? I have seen this in action. I was warned in vision of my wife losing her innocence before I travelled abroad and when I was abroad I learned she had sat down to dinner with a married man without my knowledge and blessing, and therefore without my covering. Without her knowing what had happened, she had entered into a salt covenant with this man, binding her life to his, and had committed spiritual adultery.

The old customs of the orientals are not so foolish after all. It is our modern, liberal promiscuous customs that are the cause of so much trouble. Occultists and satanists know these things and therefore deliberately set up traps for unwary Christians and Messianics. Every father and husband should, upon learning this truth, therefore prayerfully seek Yahweh and renounce all ungodly salt covenants that may have been entered into by his family unawares and instruct his family on the proper behaviour of New Covenant Israelites.

Similarly, believers should renounce all ungodly salt-covenants they have made by partaking of ungodly sacraments, lord's suppers, communions, eucharists and commemorative meals offered by cults where the bread or wafers were made using salt as an ingredient (and even if they didn't use salt). If they do, they will find a tremendous weight lifted from them! They will be closing an access point for demons in their lives. Do this even for non-religious meals for the same reasons. Pray a prayer like this:

"In the Name of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and by the power of His atoning blood, I destroy any salt covenant that was made through any meal I have eaten with enemies of Yahweh, eradicating the deed of agreement, and expell all demons that have had access as a result of this. I close and seal this open door forever, asking forgiveness for this sin. Amen."

Comments from Readers

[1] "It gives a lot more depth to when Paul warns that we should not even eat with someone who claims or calls themselves Christians, but continue in lawlessness: “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person” (1 Corinthians 5:11, NKJV).

As well as:

“Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies” (Psalm 141:3-4, NKJV).

Thank you for pointing out these two passages which I missed in my studies on the subject, though I had heard of both. It does indeed make better sense knowing the grounds behind the ban to eat with immoral people - it's not to spite them or to make a protest but to avoid defilement (CCMW, 17 November 2010).

[2] "When we have standards, the enemy can be exposed. When we don't have standards, the enemy can sit at our love feasts comfortably. In a dream last night we had a group of believers come and visit our home from a Christian missions organisation. We were sitting eating fellowshipping, people went around the room and introduced themselves to us. It became apparent to me that some of the people were not followers of Christ - so I questioned them, and a number of them openly said that they were followers of Satan. I went and told Terry, and said "we cannot have this in our home". We discussed how it would look, inviting people, then asking them to leave. I then lifted a piece of paper, like a contract- and it had written on it that we do not entertain followers of Satan.

"I went to the group of people, all of them, and made an announcement. "It has come to my attention that some of you are not followers of Jesus Christ, but are followers of Satan. We have a policy in our home that we will not entertain followers of Satan, so I will ask that those of you who are followers of Satan - please leave right now."

"Everyone gasped. The Christians' mouths dropped, and they looked at their friends, who started to get angry with me - offended. "How dare you!" they tried to challenge me. I stood my ground and instructed them to leave. Next thing, they started shape-shifting from normal looking Christians, to proper Satanists...one by one. Then, some of them took out ritual daggers and started threatening me. I had to wrestle the knife off one of them. One of them tried to place a fake mark of the beast on me, but I wiped it off. They tried numerous tactics to try and intimidate me, but I just laughed and said - you have no idea who I am, where I have come from, and what I have been delivered out of.

"They gave up and left.

"What was the difference between our family and the visiting Christians who were happy to sit beside followers of Satan? We had a standard. That standard might be awkward at times, it might make people feel uncomfortable, it might make people feel offended, but that standard is there for a reason. There is a reason why we are given a standard in scripture, why we are warned about those who will sit at our love feasts but not be followers of Christ, and these are not things that we as followers of Christ should EVER become lax about. We should NOT be sitting at a table of devils with murderous spirits and the spirit of Satan and Luciferianism. We should not be sharing space with lawlessness - what business does the kingdom of light have with the kingdom of darkness? NONE!

"We will always be a family and a home that practices separation and stands for God's standards of righteousness. We are not 'ecumenical' with satan-following Christians and never will be - so do yourself a favour and don't come to our door for fellowship unless you're living a repentant life and walking in humility. If you're broken and need help, we will be there for you; if you are struggling and weary, we will be there for you...but we will not be a home that breaks bread with people living wilfully in sin and who are partakers of iniquity - we have a contract with God and we will not bring judgement on our heads by breaking this. If we become aware that there is spiritually things not right with people - we will remove people from our home - and we have done so. I am not afraid to confront people in regards to these things. Its our home to guard and protect.

"Also, I'd appeal to anyone reading this who is a leader of a church or organisation - stop sharing your table with people who don't follow Christ and who do not bear good fruit. Just don't. Learn to judge, be judges, we are supposed to judge those inside the church! Stop heaping up iniquity among you. Deal with sin, and don't be afraid to offend people" (SJP, UK, 8 November 2022)