Love Slave

All scripture references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The Hebrew and Greek meaning of the words mentioned are from Strong's Hebrew Greek Dictionary.

The Bible in Exodus 21:1-6 talks about the boughten Hebrew servant who, after six years of service "...in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing." If he came into his servitude with a wife, etc., she would also be free. But if his master had given him a wife and she had children by him, they would still belong to his master and would not be released.  But the Bible says that "if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." This beautiful passage of scripture has been used in many a sermon to illustrate the Christian's desire to serve the Lord Jesus for the rest of their lives.

It is interesting to note that the word for servant in verse 2 in our reading the Hebrew meaning (according to Strong's Hebrew Dictionary) is,
"H5650
עבד
‛ebed
eh'-bed
From H5647; a servant: -  X bondage, bondman, [bond-] servant, (man-) servant."

Note that the above meaning is from another Hebrew word which is as follows;

"H5647

עבד

‛âbad

aw-bad'

A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.: -  X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man), bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper."

Both words are used in verse 2 of our reading while the second word is used in verses 2 and 6. In the one case the Hebrew servant was to serve (‛ebed) until the seventh year and then be set free for nothing. In the second case, either while serving his seven years of bondage, or becoming a perpetually enslaved because of his love for his wife, children and/or his master, the word ‛âbad is used. There is a beautiful song that was  written by Brother Matt Jones, (Sister Jenny Mallory's brother) entitled "In Bonds of Love." It is on a CD called "VISION In Bonds Of Love." You ought to get a copy.

I was reading this scripture in my daily Bible reading the other day and a thought occurred to me. The Bible says in Philippians 2:5-11, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." It has been pointed out that the term servant  doesn't really do justice to the above passage. The meaning of the word servant, in verse 7 above, again, according to Strong's Hebrew Greek Dictionary is;

G1401

δοῦλος

doulos

doo'-los

From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.

Amazing! The Lord Jesus didn't just come to be a servant, but a slave. A bond slave no less! The Bible says that He "...took upon him the form of a servant," a δοῦλος doulos. He did this voluntarily that He might be my Saviour. The Lord Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  I was His enemy, (See Romans 5:10) while He was my friend. (See Proverbs 17:17) When the Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "...not my will, but thine, be done..." (See Luke 22:42), He did so because He loved us. When the Lord Jesus went to the cross, He was effectively allowing His ear to be pierced through with the aul of God because He loved you and I, His Bride.

If you are reading this and have never experienced the Great Love of God for you let me encourage you to understand, the Lord Jesus loves you with a love that brought Him from His throne in glory to become your love slave. Why not love and obey Him today. If you have never truly repented of you sins, do so. Find someone to baptize you in the wonderful name of Jesus for the remissions of sins, and let God fill you with His Holy Spirit.