Psalm 40: 6
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced…
Deuteronomy15: 16, 17
But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life.
After Israelites entered the Promised Land, God gave them several instructions as to how they should conduct themselves before the Lord and towards their brethren. Right after the instructions about cancelling debt of a fellow Hebrew in the seventh year, God gives this interesting instruction to Israelites about Hebrew slaves working under rich masters. A fellow Hebrew who offers himself or herself as a slave to a rich Hebrew master is permitted to remain a slave for six years and must be allowed to go free in the seventh year. However, if the slave chooses to remain a slave to this kind master, because the slave loves the master, the master must pierce the slave’s ear by pushing an awl through the earlobe into the doorpost. Then the slave will remain with his master for life.
In Psalm 40, King David after experiencing God’s goodness, mercy and love, decided to remain God’s servant for life. His desire was to remain in the house of the Lord forever. He was so confident of his faith and love towards his Master, that he offered his ears to be pierced. We do not know if David literally got his ear pierced on the doorpost of the tabernacle where the Lord dwelt. His heart’s desire was such that he longed to remain a servant or slave to his Master because he loved God, the kind Master and His family. David knew that he would be well off if he remained in God’s house. That is why he is a man after God’s heart.
Are we ready to get our ears pierced? Are we longing to remain in God’s house forever? After witnessing His love, mercy and faithfulness, can we be any complete elsewhere? Do we love our Master enough to remain in His house forever? Do our hearts carry such passion for our kind Master that we are willing to become His servants forever?
God is seeking willing hearts to join His family.

