Exodus 21:1-6 gives us an explanation of the origins of a bondservant. Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And 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.
John Gill in his commentary on this scripture passage states, " the ear is an hieroglyphic of obedience, and the boring of it through to the doorpost denotes the strict and close obedience of such a servant to his master, and how he is, and ought to be, addicted to his service, and be constantly employed in it, and never stir from it, nor so much as go over the threshold of his master's house".
It is interesting to me that the ear is the symbol of obedience. Almost immediately I remembered the scripture in James that states, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (Jas 1:22) Yes, it is very important that we hear the Word of God, but as committed disciples we must obey as well. 1 Samuel 15:22 says ... Behold to obey is better than sacrifice,...
So when James calls himself a bondservant he is committing to strict and close obedience to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. James is demonstrating by the word bondservant how he is addicted to the Lord's service and will never stir from it.
What an awesome calling.
