These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh. (Joshua 12:6)

The Servant Of The Lord

There are only three men in the Bible called “servants of the Lord.” Thousands of men and women were servants of the Lord but only Moses, Joshua, and David bore the name, “servant of the Lord.” Four New Testament writers opened their letters, calling themselves bondservants of Christ following along the same theme as the Holy Spirit inscribed of Moses, Joshua, and David.  Servitude is as old as the earth. It has always been the lot of some men to find themselves enslaved to others whether by war, poverty, or injustice. Slavery is a central theme in the Bible. Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave and rose to second in command of Egypt. The Hebrews were later enslaved by Pharaoh and by the power of God, delivered with great power and signs.

To be a servant is to be enslaved and indebted. The rules of servitude are simple. There is a master and a slave and the slave must be obedient to the master. Not all slavery is evil. Many masters were benevolent to their servants (the parable of the prodigal son). The Law of Moses protected slaves from harsh treatment. Moses was called a servant of the Lord on numerous occasions because his life reflected complete dependence and obedience to the will of the Lord. His heart was willing to follow the word of God as a servant to a master. He was a servant of the Lord in everything he did. Joshua was one of the most diligent servants of the Lord as he trusted in the power of God to defeat the nations of Canaan when Israel rebelled against God. When Israel crossed the Jordan to battle the city of Jericho, Joshua the servant of the Lord followed exactly the commands of the Lord. Joshua would only take seven years to conquer Canaan. His life was a reflection of servitude.

David was a man after God’s own heart and this is where his servitude shone brightest. He trusted in the power of God when he killed Goliath. A servant of the Lord stood in the valley of Elah and slew the giant who defied the army of God. When David became king, he served the will of the Father. Nathan came to David following his infidelity with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, charging David with the wrath of God. The servant heart of David did not oppose the condemnation or try to blame others. David the servant of the Lord said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” What set David apart from others was his willingness to accept the rule of God in his life without exception.

To be a servant of the Lord, one must become a slave. The world has depicted slavery in a very dark and evil manner and there have been injustices of the cruelty of men to others. This same attitude is reflected in the relationship of men who refuse to subject themselves to the will of the Lord. Servitude to God is not a request but a command. If a man is unwilling to submit his whole life to the will of the Lord, there will be no eternal joy. Servitude and slavery are at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has always required and demanded first place and will not accept anything less. Moses was a servant of the Lord through his love for God. The Christian must turn his life completely and fully over to the will of the Lord as a man becomes a slave of another. God is the Master and there can be no other.

It is not possible to be a ‘part-time’ servant of the Lord. Either a man becomes a servant of the Lord or remains a slave of sin. There are infinite rewards and blessings for those who are the servants of the Lord. This life is one of slavery but eternal life is one of family fellowship where the Father brings His servants into His home to dwell with Him. Those who refuse to submit to the will of the Father will be cast into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then they will be enslaved to an eternal hell wishing they had been servants of the Lord in life. Which are you? Have you enslaved your life to Jesus Christ?