There is a such a beautiful allegory in Scripture about bondservants which I would like to share with you. An allegory is a story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, in this case – a spiritual meaning.
In the Old Testament, there was a law concerning bondservants. If a Hebrew man or woman was a bondservant and served his or her master for at least six years, in the seventh year, the Hebrew master could let the bondservant go free. However, if the bondservant loved his or her master and did not want to leave, the bondservant could choose to stay with his or her master.
And if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you, then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever.
Deuteronomy 15:16-17 NKJV
An awl was a sharp tool used for boring (piercing small holes) into materials such as leather. God instructed the Israelites to take this awl and thrust it through the bondservant’s ear to the door – making a small hole in his ear. The spiritual understanding of this allegory is as follows: When we willingly serve the Lord, He opens our spiritual ears so that we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Being a bondservant of the Lord means that we can hear and recognize the voice of the Lord, so that we can respond to Him in obedience. Being a bondservant of Jesus Christ means that we choose to serve Him in faithfulness because we love Him.
This Scripture also mentions that the awl is thrust through his ear to the door. I believe this door is a reference to Jesus, because in the gospel of John, Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep.”
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”
John 10:7 NKJV
Bondservants – Jesus set the pattern:
The perfect example in Scripture of a bondservant is Jesus. Not only did Jesus come to earth to save us from our sins, but He also came to show us the way. He set the perfect pattern of a bondservant so that we can follow in His footsteps.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
Jesus makes it well known to us that while He was here on earth, He came to serve and not to be served:
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28 NKJV
We know that Jesus lived a pure sinless life, He went about doing good and helping people. He freely gave of Himself for the sake of others, putting their needs before His own. He healed everyone who came to Him, He cast out demons, He set people free from spiritual bondage and oppression, and He taught His disciples how to follow in His footsteps. I believe that Jesus moved in faith, and did everything with a pure heart because of the great love He has for us. We know that Jesus willfully gave His life for us, expecting nothing in return.
Taking on the form of a bondservant meant that Jesus would have also received instruction from His Father through the Holy Spirit. I’d like to show you two examples from Scripture (both were prophecies of Jesus) of how Jesus would have been able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, leading Him and guiding Him each day. Even though these Scriptures were prophecies of Jesus, they are also applicable for us and our journey with the Lord.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:6-8 NKJV
“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned (one who is taught by the Lord), that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned (one who has been taught by the Lord). The Lord GOD has opened My ear.”
Isaiah 50:4-5 NKJV
The purpose of hearing the Lord’s voice is to follow Him in obedience. Like Jesus, we too can go about doing good and helping people. The above-mentioned Scripture also helps us understand that the Lord teaches us from His Word and allows us to hear His voice so that we can speak words of comfort, encouragement and exhortation to those who are weary and struggling.
Being a bondservant of the Lord is something which is available to all of us. If we offer God a willing heart, He will take us up on that offer and give us direction from there. It means that our chains will be in Christ, but it also means that we will become more like our beloved Jesus. God will also use our willingness to further the gospel message and bring glory to His great name. As we study the life of our precious Savior Jesus in His Word and build relationship with Him through prayer and obedience, God will teach us how to love and serve other’s just as Jesus did.
May God give us all a willing heart and mind to serve one another in love, following in our Beloved Jesus footsteps. May He also bless you as you move forward with Him in faith.
Until next time – love to you all in Jesus’ name.