Sons Who Serve

A while back as I was doing my devotions, I came across this verse:

“But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.” – 1 Kings 1:26

(I use the NIV for Bible quotations unless I state otherwise.)

Out of context, it’s kind of confusing. Well, the setting is that the prophet Nathan was warning the aged King David about something. David had planned to install Solomon as his successor, but another son, Adonijah, decided to beat him to it and declared himself king. David then responded by making a public declaration of Solomon as the new king. This, of course, didn’t sit too well with Adonijah. So there was some family tension!

What caught my eye was the fact that Nathan referred to Solomon as David’s servant. His servant? Solomon is his son, and his favored one, at that! Why, then, does Nathan call him a servant?

(And that’s no mistranslation. The Hebrew word, ebed, means slave, servant, or subject.)

The Bible doesn’t give an explanation here, but that verse jogged my memory of another one. Actually, two verses.

Over in Acts 4, the Jewish court had arrested Peter and John. After spending a night in jail, the apostles appeared before the Sanhedrin who ordered them to stop speaking about Jesus. They refused to obey, and while they weren’t punished, they knew things could change in a hurry.

Facing imminent persecution, Peter and John joined with the church to pray about the situation. You can find the account in Acts 4:23-31.

Notice that I didn’t provide a link to the Bible passage; I only referred to it. That’s because of a word Peter uses twice as he’s calling out to God. It describes Jesus.

Bible versions like the King James, Authorized Standard, and Young’s, translate the word as “child.”

But others, such as the English Standard, New American Standard, New International, and New King James, render it as “servant.”

The New Testament Greek word is pais, and it occurs in verses 27 and 30. Here’s the passage in the KJV:

“For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” – Acts 4:27-30

Now here’s the NKJV rendition:

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together ²⁸to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. ²⁹Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” – Acts 4:27-30

Solomon and Jesus seem to be in the same boat–they’re both sons and servants!

Solomon, the chosen son of David, had to serve his father in preparation for receiving the kingdom.

This sheds some light on Christmas, doesn’t it? 

Jesus, the chosen Son of God, came to earth to serve His Father in preparation for receiving the kingdom of God.

Privilege harmonizes with responsibility. Those blessed with the family name must conduct the family business.

By serving David, Solomon learned how to lead the nation. And by serving God, Jesus earned the right to rule the world.

During Advent, consider your spiritual status. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you’re part of God’s household. That’s worth celebrating, but don’t neglect your duties. What’s God calling you to do? How is He preparing you to serve?

This Christmas, do both.

Celebrate and serve!