The Lord’s bondslave

But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your maidservant. (Deut. 15:16-17 NIV)

An Israelite could sell himself as a slave for seven years. At the end of that time the one who purchased him was to release him and give him supplies to start a new life. But sometimes the servant grew to love his master. The security of knowing his needs would always be met, that his wise and caring master would look after him, caused the servant to want to remain a servant.

In those cases they would perform the above ritual. The servant would then be a bondslave for life. The ritual had the master pierce the persons ear lobe into the door. I believe there is great significance in this act. The door is the way to enter and leave the home. The persons blood would be upon the door and a mark would remain where the awl punched the door. It was a visible reminder that the servant had made a commitment.

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The ear was pierced because this was the one member of the body that always had to be open to the master. At anytime the master may call his servant to service.

I hope every reader is the Lord’s bondslave. You realize serving your self will get you nowhere. You love your Lord and your family and know you are better off as the Lord’s slave. You have covenanted with your God as He has covenanted with you. He was pierced and the covenant marks remain. Now your ear is open to the Spirit so that at any moment He may call you to service.

Source: Daily-Devotions