An Open Ear

part four

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 15:12-17; Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-10

              As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Hebrews text and the Psalms text have slightly different wording in one part. Hebrews says, “A body you have prepared for me,” while Psalms reads, “you have given me an open ear.” The Hebrew in Psalm 40 could be translated literally as, “My ears you dug for me.”

              That phrasing has its roots in the law of Deuteronomy. Servitude was often a consequence of debt. A person could put themselves in slavery to someone to whom they were indebted to pay off what they owed. But when the debt was paid and the time of release came, the servant could chose to remain in that position. If, as Deuteronomy says, the slave was to say, “I love my master, I will not go our free,” they could remain as a slave to their master.

              In response, the master would mark this person by piercing the lobe of their ear with an awl. The symbolism of that act is reflected in the language of Psalms when it says, “my ears you dug for me,” or “you have given me an open ear.” It is meant to picture a readiness to listen, but even more, a readiness to obey.

              And this is what Jesus was saying about himself as he was coming into the world. He was ready to listen. He was ready to obey the voice of the Father.