Sons who become servants through accepting the yoke
Bechukosai · Servants and Sons · Ol Malchus · Bittul · Avodah
בפסוק כ"ל ב"י עבדים עבדי הם.
On the verse: "For unto Me are Bnei Yisrael servants; they are My servants."
The Sefas Emes opens on the verse declaring that Bnei Yisrael belong to Hashem as His servants.
אף שבנ"י הם בנים.
Even though Bnei Yisrael are sons.
By their essence Bnei Yisrael are beloved children of Hashem, a relationship higher than that of a servant.
צריכין לקבל עליהם עול מלכותו ית' בכלל כל הברואים להיות רצון האדם להיות הוא וכל הברואים כאחד עבדים להש"י.
They must take upon themselves the yoke of His Kingship together with all of creation — so that a person's will should be that he and all of creation as one be servants to Hashem.
Despite being sons, Bnei Yisrael must also accept the ol malchus Shomayim (the yoke of Heaven) as servants, desiring that they and the entire created world together submit as one to Hashem's rule.
ועי"ז זוכין בנ"י אח"כ להיות נק' בפרט עבדי הם.
And through this, Bnei Yisrael afterward merit to be called, in particular, "they are My servants."
By first subordinating themselves alongside all creation, Bnei Yisrael then earn the unique, distinguished title of being Hashem's own special servants.
וז"ש עבדי אתה ישראל א"ב אתפאר.
And this is the meaning of: "You are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I take pride (espa'er)."
The verse expresses that Hashem finds His glory and pride specifically in Yisrael's service of Him.
פי' השי"ת מתפאר בזה שבנ"י מכניסים עצמם לבחי' עבדות כנ"ל:
The meaning is that Hashem takes pride in this — that Bnei Yisrael bring themselves into the aspect of servitude, as above.
Hashem's pride and glory lie in the fact that Bnei Yisrael, though they are His children, willingly lower themselves to become His devoted servants.
Summary: Although Bnei Yisrael are beloved sons of Hashem, they must also accept the yoke of His Kingship as servants, desiring that they and all of creation together submit as one to Him. By embracing this servitude, they merit the distinguished title of being Hashem's special servants — and it is precisely in this willing self-subordination of His children that Hashem takes His pride and glory.