My Servant

Peter J. Leithart
October 14, 2011
Category: Bible - OT - Kings

Yahweh describes only a handful of people as “My servant” – Abraham, Moses, and David.  In 1-2 Kings, the title is almost exclusively reserved for David, and in almost every case the title is used in places where the Lord is reminding a king that His care for Israel is because of David (1 Kings 11:13, 32, 34, 36) or negatively comparing a king to the faithful David (1 Kings 11:38; 14:8).  Once, toward the end of Kings, MOses is named as “My servant” (2 Kings 21:8).

Jeremiah continues this usage (Jeremiah 33:21, 22, 26).  It’s remarkable, then, when Jeremiah later gives this title to Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6).  Nebuchadnezzar is, in effect, given a Davidic role.


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