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. (2 Kings 2:21)
Acting in the name of the Lord, Elisha cast the salt into the spring. By this symbolic action the prophet represented before the people the work that the Lord was to do in the cleansing of the spring. Salt, in order to be effective, must be mingled and closely united with that which it is to preserve. Hence the salt was cast into the spring that it might penetrate and infuse every part that had become defiled. This illustrates that the believer, who is likened to salt (Matt. 5:13), must come into personal contact with those he desires to reach with the gospel.
I have healed.
No doubt was to be left in the minds of the people as to how the waters were healed. This was no magic of man, but the miraculous power of God.