Apocalipsis 1:1-3

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 ( Greek #1401 ) and in Hebrew 'ebed ( Hebrew #5650 ). Both are difficult fully to translate. The normal translation of doulos ( Greek #1401 ) is slave. The real servant of God is, in fact, his slave. A servant can leave his service when he likes; he has stated hours of work and stated hours of freedom; he works for a wage; he has a mind of his own and can bargain as to when and for what he will give his labour. A slave can do none of these things; he is the absolute possession of his owner, with neither time nor will of his own. Doulos ( Greek #1401 ) and 'ebed ( Hebrew #5650 ) 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 ; Psalms 105:26 ; Daniel 9:11 ). Jacob is the servant of God ( Isaiah 44:1-2 ; Isaiah 45:4 ; Ezekiel 37:25 ). Caleb and Joshua are the servants of God ( Numbers 14:24 ; Joshua 24:29 ; Judg 6:49; 2 Chronicles 24:6 ; Nehemiah 1:7 ; Nehemiah 10:29 ; Psalms 105:26 ; Daniel 9:11 ). Jacob is the servant of God ( Isaiah 44:1-2 ; Isaiah 45:4 ; Ezekiel 37:25 ). Caleb and Joshua are the servants of God ( Numbers 14:24 ; Joshua 24:29 ; 2:8 ). David is second only to Moses as characteristically the servant of God ( Psalms 132:10 ; Psalms 144:10 ; 1 Kings 8:66 ; 1 Kings 11:36 ; 2 Kings 19:34 ; 2 Kings 20:6 ; 1 Chronicles 17:4 ; in the titles of Psalms 18:1-50 and Psalms 36:1-12 ; Psalms 89:3 ; Ezekiel 34:24 ). Elijah is the servant of God ( 2 Kings 9:36 ; 2 Kings 10:10 ). Isaiah is the servant of God ( Isaiah 20:3 ). Job is the servant of God ( Job 1:8 ; Job 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 1:1 ; 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.

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

(ii) We must note the width of this service. 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 bore to men the story of Jesus; every Christian--all are servants of God. There is none whom God cannot use, if he will submit to his service.