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SERVANTS OF GOD

Revelation 1:1–3 (contd)

TWICE, the word servant appears in this passage. God’s revelation was sent to his servants, and it was sent through his servant John. In Greek the word is doulos, and in Hebrew ebedh. Each is difficult to translate fully. The normal translation of doulos is slave. The real servant of God is, in fact, his slave. Those who are in service to others can leave their work when they like; they have stated hours of employment and stated hours of freedom; they work for a wage; they have minds of their own and can bargain as to when and for what they will give their labour. Slaves can do none of these things; they are the absolute possessions of their owners, with neither time nor will of their own. Doulos and ebedh bring out how absolutely we must surrender life to God.

It is of the greatest interest to note to whom these words are applied in Scripture.

Abraham is the servant of God (Genesis 26:24; Psalm 105:26; Daniel 9:11). Jacob is the servant of God (Isaiah 44:1–2, 45:4; Ezekiel 37:25). Caleb and Joshua are the servants of God (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 24:29; Judges 2:8; 2 Chronicles 24:6; Nehemiah 1:7, 10:29; Psalm 105:26; Daniel 9:11). David is second only to Moses as characteristically the servant of God (Psalm 132:10, 144:10; 1 Kings 8:66, 11:36; 2 Kings 19:34, 20:6; 1 Chronicles 17:4; in the titles of Psalms 18 and 36; Psalm 89:3; Ezekiel 34:24). Elijah is the servant of God (2 Kings 9:36, 10:10). Isaiah is the servant of God (Isaiah 20:3). Job is the servant of God (Job 1:8, 42:7). The prophets are the servants of God (2 Kings 21:10; Amos 3:7). The apostles are the servants of God (Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; Jude 1; Romans 1:1; 2 Corinthians 4:5). A man like Epaphras is the servant of God (Colossians 4:12). All Christians are the servants of God (Ephesians 6:6).

Two things emerge from this.

(1) The greatest people regarded as their greatest honour the fact that they were servants of God.

(2) We must note how wide this service is. Moses, the law-giver; Abraham, the adventurous pilgrim; David, shepherd boy, sweet singer of Israel, king of the nation; Caleb and Joshua, soldiers and men of action; Elijah and Isaiah, prophets and men of God; Job, faithful in misfortune; the apostles, who carried the story of Jesus to others; every Christian – all are servants of God. There is not one of us whom God cannot use, if we will submit to his service.