Exodus 21:6
Then his master shall bring him to God,
then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost.
And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl;
and he shall serve him permanently.
Throughout the Old Testament
There were foreshadows and types
And these were instituted
As a means of prophetic foresight.
They all pointed to the one
That would come in the fullness of time
But no type could match this one:
The only one of his kind.
And this brings us to an understanding
Of the Scriptural reference above;
While it may appear to be brutal
It was really an expression of love.
A slave that is entitled to his freedom
Choosing to remain as a slave
And our natural response to this gesture
Would be: what a way to behave!
For, who in his right mind
Would adamantly refuse to be set free
To the extent of a piercing of the ear
And permanent slavery?
But having refused his freedom
He chose the piercing of the awl:
Symbolic of permanent service to his master
Thus, accepting such as his call.
We relentlessly pursue freedom
And agitate for our human rights,
We abhor any type of slavery
And against the likes we fight.
For having been given the choice
Between freedom and slavery,
The former we unhesitatingly chose
And the latter became history.
No refusal of the offer to be free
Or a piercing of the ear with an awl,
I draw your attention to Jesus Christ
And the freedom he offers to all.
The piercing that really matters
Is the piercing of our heart
In accepting the sacrifice of Jesus
And from him never to part.
An indication to the world
That we belong to him
And choose to serve him forever
Having been freed from sin.
Crucified with Jesus Christ
And also resurrected in him
Living a life in the Holy Spirit
And not enslaved to sin.
Not bearing the mark of the devil
But the seal of the Holy Spirit:
That’s the piercing that matters
As shown in Holy Writ.
An heir of the heavenly kingdom
Though a slave of the King,
Forever in eternity
His praises to sing.
Stewart Russell © September 6, 2020
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