Deuteronomy 15:16–17

In our chapter, then, we have the moral side of this interesting arrangement. The servant loved his master and was happy with him. He chose lifelong slavery, and the mark that went with it, under a master he loved. He preferred that to freedom and a generous portion away from him. This, of course, speaks well for both parties. It is always a good sign for both master and servant when the connection is long-standing. Constant changing may, as a general rule, be taken as proof of moral wrong somewhere.

Compare this passage with Exodus 21:1-6 and a clear difference shows up. It comes, as we might expect, from the distinct character of each book. In Exodus, the picture of Christ stands out; in Deuteronomy, the moral lesson. So here the inspired writer leaves out everything about the wife and the children. That material does not fit his purpose here, though it is essential to the beauty and perfection of the picture in Exodus 21. We note this as one of many striking proofs that Deuteronomy is far from a dull repeat of the books before it.

He was the only grain of choice wheat. Had He not died He would have remained alone, precious in Himself, but He would have borne no fruit. He might have gone out free, but it would have been by Himself. He might have entered into life, but alone. He would not do that. He became obedient to the point of death, so that He might see the fruit of the anguish of His soul, bring many sons to glory, and have His wife and children. This was His own choice. He was free, yet free to serve. He is the One who came and had His ear pierced so that He might serve for ever.

This is nothing like obedience forced by punishment. The slave gladly suffers pain and sheds his blood rather than give up serving. And there is no doubt that the right reading sees this as a picture of the divine Servant. He binds Himself to unending service by His own choice, because of His love to God and to the spiritual Bride. In Psalm 40:6 He says, "You have opened My ears." The same Hebrew word translated "opened" is translated "pierced" in Psalm 22:16 ("my hands and my feet").

Those of us who are masters must ask how far we truly seek the comfort, happiness and solid profit of our servants. We should remember that our servants call for far more thought than the amount of work we can get out of them. Even on the low-level principle of "live and let live," we are bound to seek in every way to make our servants happy and comfortable. We should make them feel that they have a home under our roof. We are not content with the labour of their hands; we want the love of their hearts.

The principle of our service is love to the Master. Paul says, "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all." I may go out free, but I love my master, so I will serve them. It is the service of love, and not obligation... Some people say, Oh, I wish I could serve the Lord more! Well, let your soul enter more deeply into His love, and then you will serve Him. It is impossible to love Him and not to serve Him.

It might be that a slave had such respect for his master that he did not want to go free, but preferred to remain a slave to his master (v.16). If so, the master was told to thrust an awl through the servant's ear into the door (v.17). This was a sign that the servant was given up completely to his master's service. His ear was now committed to hearing only the instruction of his master. The door speaks of his master's glad reception of such service.

If the servant chose to remain with his master forever, his ear was to be bored through as the sign of perpetual servitude. This was a custom in other nations as well and signified that the servant was, as it were, fastened by the awl to the house.

The psalm says, in the Hebrew, "You have dug ears for me." The old Greek translation, the Septuagint, renders it, "You have prepared me a body." These words give the true meaning, and the Holy Spirit uses them. "The ear" is always used as a sign of receiving commands, and of the obligation to obey, or the willingness to do so. "Morning by morning He awakens my ear" (Isa. 50), that is, has made me listen to His will, be obedient to His commands. The ear was bored, or fastened with an awl to the door. This showed that the Israelite belonged to the house as a slave, to obey, for ever. Now in taking a body, the Lord took the form of a servant (Phil. 2). Ears were dug for Him.

The servant loved his master and was happy with him. He could have had freedom and a generous portion away from his master. He preferred lifelong slavery, and the mark of it, with the master he loved. This, of course, would speak well for both parties. It is always a good sign for both master and servant when the connection is a long one.

This is nothing like obedience forced by punishment. The slave willingly suffers pain and sheds his blood rather than not serve. And there is no doubt that this rightly pictures the divine Servant, who willingly bound Himself to perpetual servitude out of His love for God and for the spiritual Bride. In Psalm 40:6 He says that His ears have been opened. The Hebrew word translated "opened" is translated "pierced" in Psalm 22:16 — "they have pierced my hands and feet."

The cross is marvellous — surely the most marvellous thing that could be. Yet we would do Him wrong to think of that prepared body of His as if its only purpose were for Him to go to the cross in it. No, He has taken it to keep it forever and ever. He has taken it as the equivalent of the bored ears of the Hebrew servant. Those ears meant lifelong service, when the servant might have gone out free.

The Hebrew woman is mentioned here. Exodus 21 speaks only of the male slave. But why is it given here again? Is it a mere repetition? It is not.

In Exodus, the picture stands out; in Deuteronomy, the moral lesson. So here the inspired writer leaves out everything about the wife and the children. That detail is foreign to his purpose here, though it is essential to the beauty and perfection of the picture in Exodus 21… There is neither repetition nor contradiction here. Instead there is lovely variety, in perfect agreement with the divine object and scope of each book.

Even on the low-level principle of "live and let live," we are bound to seek in every possible way to make our servants happy and comfortable. We should make them feel that they have a home under our roof. They should know that we are not content with the work of their hands, but that we want the love of their hearts.