Israel Tasteless Salt

Synopsis     2Kings 25:19-26      10/30/2019 

Nebuchadnezzar was the King of Babylon. He had defeated King Zedekiah of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. After the destruction, his chief general discovered a few survivors from Zedekiah’s court. And so, he brought them to Nebuchadnezzar who was staying in the nearby town of Riblah. Nebuchadnezzar condemned these men to death. 

The Babylonians appointed an Israelite named Gedaliah as the governor of the province. The Judahite officials who lived in the nearby country provinces initially agreed to serve Gedaliah. However, after seven months, one of the provincial leaders led a conspiracy of ten men. The lead conspirator was Ishmael. So, Ishmael led this group and went to Gedaliah. And they killed him.  

After the assassination, most of the remaining Israelites from Judah fled to Egypt because they feared that Nebuchadnezzar might return and seek vengeance for the murder. 

Israel Tasteless Salt 

And so, the Israelite dynastic period ended with political intrigue and assassination. There was no reference to justice under the Law of Moses. And there was no obvious concern for the God who had brought them out of Egypt and delivered them into the promised land.

Instead, the children of Israel had become like any other people.   

Tasteless Salt 

This morning I remember Mother Teresa. It is reported that she once said, “Do not fear to be a contradiction.”  

And I am coming to the realization that this admonition is more than just a suggestion. It is a part of my Christian identity. 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matt 5:13