If you buy a Hebrew servant – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Exodus 21:2-6 – “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, but on the seventh he shall go free.”
Introduction to Exodus 21:2-6
This statute is aimed at those who buy a servant.
There were various ways of acquiring a servant: by war, by purchase, by marriage, etc.
Development
This word, however, refers to a Hebrew servant, bought by another Hebrew. There were special regulations about this.
It was common for a Hebrew to become so indebted that he couldn’t pay off his debts, so a close relative could redeem (pay off) his debt. In return, the debtor became his servant for six years, but was freed on the seventh.
The prophecy points to our lives, since every man was under a debt that he couldn’t pay. He incurred it when he sinned and the price was death.
The price of sin is death (Deuteronomy 21:22; Romans 5:12 and 6:23).
A close relative paid our debt. The next of kin is Jesus (Leviticus 25:25 and 1 Corinthians 6:20).
Well, the church has existed for approximately two thousand years and man’s lifespan since creation is approximately six thousand years.
The history of the church is divided into seven prophetic times, described in the seven letters of John, in the book of Revelation.
We are living through the last period, just as humanity is living through the end of the sixth millennium or the beginning of the seventh.
Six years he will serve for ransom, but in the seventh year the servant has the right to choose whether he wants to go free or remain with his master.
We are living in a period of definition
It is time for each servant to choose whether or not he wants to remain in the house of his Lord – of his Redeemer and Savior.
If the servant has served up to this point out of obligation, out of imposition, because he had no choice, the time has come to decide. Whoever wants to leave can go, but the wife the Lord has given will stay with Him – the church will not accompany the one who leaves.
The children born during servitude will also remain – the fruits of the Holy Spirit belong to the body – not to the believer. They too will remain with the Lord.
But the one who says:
“I love my Lord (Jesus), my wife (church) and my children (Holy Spirit), I don’t want to go outside…” (verse 5).
His master will bring him to the doorstep, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he will serve him forever (verse 6).
The servant who chose to remain with his master because he loved him could do so.
He was marked – the sign represented that he was a person who had the right to choose to be free, but chose to remain his master’s servant forever.
Conclusion of Exodus 21:2-6
Each servant is at the moment of his choice.
He who loves the Lord will choose to stay.
The one who doesn’t, anxiously desires freedom for a life without God.
But all those who choose to remain in service, out of love, out of gratitude, are marked and will remain with the Lord forever in their eternity.
In choosing to be servants, our God goes far beyond our choice: “I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15
“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have worked for us, and your thoughts cannot be numbered before you; I would like to declare them and make them known, but they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5) (Psalm 40:5) What shall I give to the Lord for all these benefits? (Psalm 116:12) “Sacrifice and offering you did not want; you pierced my ears.” (Psalm 40:6a)
Preaching Outline on Exodus 21:2-6 – “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, but on the seventh he shall go free.”
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