Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 21:1-6.

“Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:

“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years;  but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.  If he comes alone, he shall go out alone;  if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him.  If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone.  But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children;  I will not go out as a free man,’ 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.”  Exodus 21:1-6.

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The slave could go out as a free man.  But, he loved his wife and his children so much, even his master, that he chose slavery for the rest of his life so he could be with them.

What a demonstration of love!  

What a husband!  But, ultimately, we are reminded of Christ!

Like the slave, Christ could have escaped.   

“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”  Matthew 26:53.

But, as the following Scripture states, Christ chose to give Himself up for the church, His bride, and be joined to her.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself;  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.  This mystery is great;  but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”  Ephesians 5:25-32.

And, what is the significance of the the piercing by the awl?

The piercing by the awl is a symbol of the piercing by another sharp instrument.  At the cross, Christ was pierced by a sword.  John 19:34-37.    

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.

In conclusion, as the slave would be with his wife, his children, and his master permanently, Christ is with His bride, the church, permanently.  We are members of His body.  

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”  Ephesians 5:23.

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:25.

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”  Colossians 2:9-10.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39.