Devotional songs are songs of praise that show our devotion, our dedication, to God. However, there are sometimes references, phrases, and terms in songs of which not everyone knows the meaning. One such song is the devotional song, “Pierce My Ear.”
The main two lines of the song are: “Pierce my ear, O Lord my God. Take me to your door this day. I will serve no other god. Lord, I’m here to stay. For you have paid the price for me, With your blood you ransomed me. I will serve you eternally, A free man I’ll never be.” Some of the words are evident that the singer wants to praise God, thank God, and devote himself to God, but what does that have to do with piercing of the ear? Let’s find out.
Moses wrote during his time the commandments of God concerning the ownership of an Hebrew servant. It was God’s requirement that the Hebrew servant be set free in the seventh year, after six years of service; however, if the servant was provided a wife by his master and she bore him children, the wife and children were to remain with the master when the servant departed in the seventh year (Exodus 21:2–4).
On the other hand, the servant did not have to leave in the seventh year. God commanded Moses, “And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exodus 21:5–6). It is this text that originates our song of devotion, “Pierce My Ear”.
It is truly a song of devotion in which we sing of our devotion to our Master, our God! If we love our Master and our family, like the Hebrew servant, we will devote ourselves to be slaves: slaves of righteousness. Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).
This piercing of the ear of the Hebrew servant was something that was literally done. I am thankful that we do not have to do this, but would we? There is One that has been pierced for us; not in His ear, but in His hands, feet, side, and spiritually His heart! What He has done for us should motivate us to love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15).
Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS.
