Deuteronomy 15:12-18 – To be a bondslave of the Lord

Deuteronomy 15:12-18 described how the law of the release of the Sabbath year was to be applied to a person who sold himself or herself as a slave to a relative. Because of poverty and poor circumstances, an Israelite might have to sell his or her service to a fellow Israelite to see himself or herself through the hard times. The Law of the Sabbath release stipulated that he or she must be discharged of the obligation on the seventh year.  

For the release, a master must not set the slave or maid away empty-handed. He must discharge that person by providing him or her amply from his flock, flour from his produce, and wine from his vat. He must give generously according to all the blessings he had received from God through that slave or maid. He must give generously because in ordinary circumstances to hire a slave or a maid would have cost him much more. Besides, this stipulation was also a reminder to the Israelites that they were once slaves to Pharoah, and it was the Lord who had redeemed them from their bondage. Hence to do so was to emulate the grace and mercy of God.    

In verse 16, God knew that there would be a situation where a slave or maid had no desire to leave. That person had come to love the master and his household and wished to remain to serve the master. In such a situation, that slave’s ear would be pierced with an awl into the door. This was a sign that the slave or maid had chosen to serve the master on his or her own accord. The person would become a bondslave. He or she had chosen the master by a personal and deliberate choice.

In Christ Jesus, we have been redeemed from the bondage to sin. In gratitude, we now choose willingly, personally, and deliberately to serve Him for the rest of our lives. The Christlikeness we allow Him to develop in us is like the awl-pierced ear of the bondslave. That must be the sign that we belong to Him. Our lives must reflect His character. We must choose to give up our rights to ourselves so that we can serve Him wholeheartedly. Unconditional love is the right response to our gracious Lord!