The Sea is Not "Dead"!

One of the most prolific misnomers of the past several decades, or, perhaps even long is our referral of the Salt Sea as the “Dead Sea.” We talk about the “Dead Sea” scrolls and the fact that the “Dead Sea” is the lowest place on earth as if that given name is an accurate description. I am here to tell you, it is not!

Some quick research reveals that there are three named references to the “Salt Sea” in the Old Testament with none occurring in the New Testament. It was often used as a boundary marker for the land of the Israel and, on one occasion, included in the story of Joshua leading the Hebrews across the Jordan River into the land of Canaan.

The Salt Sea is a desolate place, hearkening to a memory that has seemingly flowed away from civilization, finding rest in the solitude of the surrounding wilderness. Some theologians even claim that it, perhaps, formed when God rained fire and brimstone down on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Calling the Salt Sea by the deceptive name of Dead Sea may seem innocuous to many, but it is something that has bothered me for many years now. You may ask, “What’s the big deal?” You may even ask, “What’s in a name” Don’t they say, ‘A rose by any other name, etc.?’”

Names today, sadly, have little or no meaning. People chose names by trends, sounds, occasionally to honor a family member and even, it often seems, by blindly pulling a handful of letters from a Scrabble game. Many take little or no thought to the meaning of their children’s names at all.

In olden times, especially in the Bible times, people carefully chose the names of their children. Some, it seemed, even felt that their names were God-given or could even affect the course of the child’s life. John’s father was not allowed to speak until his child was born and he fulfilled the angel’s orders by naming his son “John.” Gabriel told Joseph to call the Child of God “Jesus.” meaning, of course, Savior. Jacob, meaning “thief or usurper,” had his name change by the Lord God to Israel, meaning “prince.” Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah.

My point? Names mean things. To change the name of a thing is, at minimum, to change your concept of it. How many Hollywood actors changed their simple names to grandiose ones hoping to garner attention from a fickle public. Their hope was for them to be more memorable.

All right, but what about the “Dead Sea” versus the “Salt Sea”? What is the deal?

Salt, as we know, is something we just can’t live without. Remove the salt from a man‘s life and all the flavor in his life is gone. Not to mention the fact that he will die. Salt is one of the most valuable commodities in history and no less today. The great city of Venice was founded on the salt trade fifteen hundred years ago. Incredibly, the city thrives today.

For millennia, those removed from the Mediterranean Sea, then known as the Great Sea, the Salt Sea was an excellent source of the salt needed to preserve and enhance the food that sustained life. People needed simply to travel to this seeming wasteland and gather it. The occasional tyrant even tried to control its distribution, knowing the value of this divine element. Incidentally, salt was always part of the soldiers’ wages in ancient times.

One thing you have to remember about salt though…you have to fetch it. It will not bring itself to you. There are many ways of getting salt from the sea, from mines or even from the Salt Sea itself, but it never delivers itself to your shaker.

Many people I’ve known are like the Salt Sea. They have much to offer. They are full of the savor of life, but many passing by them may never know it.

The Salt Sea is know for being the lowest point above water on the earth in other words, 1,388 feet below sea level, making it a sort of contradiction in terms. It is dry land below the sea. Yes, you would have to get wet or go underground to find a lower spot on this planet. As one travels by land though the area of Palestine, this naturally occurring body can easily be overlooked.

 Alas, I have known many people in my life who are much like the famous, and infamous, Salt Sea. Their value and even their existence is overlooked and underrated.

My father was much like the Salt Sea. He was a successful minister, stricken with a debilitating illness in his prime, preventing from following his first love. That of pastoring God’s flock. He lived more than two decades thereafter, but it was always obvious to me that, since being forced into retirement, things just weren’t the same. He was typically surrounded by visitors and continued to preach to myself, my brothers and whomever else would sit still long enough to listen. We would spend long hours sitting in the front yard or at the kitchen table delving deeply into the Holy Scriptures of God and the great lessons of His love that enriched our lives. Many, far too many, missed out on the wealth of knowledge that his years of Bible study, prayer and experience could offer. The fact that Dad wasn’t as mobile as he had been in years past, made it necessary to come see him to reap of his wisdom.

I could talk further of my Mom. Soon after Dad’s passing, mom fell and was thereafter unable to drive her car. Regrettably, this rendered her immobile and stopped her from socializing in a way that would have been so beneficial to a lonely widow. She did so love people!

I would ask her ever day when I came to visit her after work, “Did anyone come to see you? Did anyone call?” The answer was almost inevitably, “No.” It made me sad and, I’ll admit, angry, to think of her many kin who would neither call, nor write, or visit. Yes, they were busy, but one day, they’ll be as she was. Don’t doubt it!

I often see my daughter, Natalie, as the Salt Sea. She is a wonderful, talented, beautiful, charming and brilliant child. Sadly, she was diagnosed with epilepsy over ten years ago and she must be watched constantly while about in public areas. There, the traffic and myriad footfalls, things that we overlook, can be a constant hazard. Though some may care, no one understands who hasn’t been there. Alas, the poor little “cripple” girl who can’t keep up is often overlooked and even neglected.

Many cousins and “friends” that she has had have abandoned her once they found newer, more mobile and “interesting” friends. For those who don’t take the time to slow down, stick around and get to know her, they are missing one of the greatest blessings they might chance across in their lives.

I have often times felt like the Salt Sea myself. My job and my circumstances haven’t allowed me to make choice, do things and go places that otherwise I might have. I feel I have much to offer, but often feel overlooked and underappreciated.

The Church is like the Salt Sea. Misunderstood, overlooked and passed over by the world. Yet, it is full of riches for those who listen to the calling of the Holy Spirit. They will find far more value within her chambers than anything this old world has to offer.

We can all relate to these kinds of feelings. We all feel like Charlie Brown occasionally. Overlooked and underappreciated. We all know people like that. The shut-ins, the bereaved, the truly poor and the desolate. Are we or are we not going to reap the benefits that investing time and effort in them will reward us? Will we leave them lonely, forgotten and abandoned? Will we reap what we sow?
Joshua 15:2
And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward: