Simeon's Song
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Comforting sights?
The proper response to the incarnation of the messiah is praise & celebration
Mary’s Song, Elizabeth’s exaltation
Zechariahs Prophesy
Angel’s song
Magi’s gifts & worship
Today: Simeon’s Song and
The coming of the messiah was long anticipated, and in God’s plan he had kept a couple people at the temple waiting to see.
Our Salvation is Comfort
Our Salvation is Comfort
Let me set the scene:
Jesus is Born to Mary & Joseph. They are faithful Jews who follow the Law, the Torah.
The Torah had rules about spiritual cleanness - some overlap with physical hygene & health, but not one-to-one
After a time of recovery, women would go to the temple to make a sin offering, a purificiation offering - a lamb. But if you were poor - two doves or pigeons.
Mary offers two doves/pigeons.
This indicates the godliness of Jesus parents, they followed the law, and would teach their child Jesus to do the same.
But this is a special moment, where the annointed miracle child is brought to the temple - to his Father’s house.
Who’s there?
A Bloke named simeon
Righeous & Devout
Lead by the Spirit
Waiting - waiting for the comfort, the consolation of his people.
God had promised that he would get to see the Annionted One - the messiah.
That day Simeon came into the in the spirit
A little comment on being “in the spirit” - sadly too many have taken this and sullied it so that people associate being “in the spirit” with being wipped up into a fenzy, or being in a heightened state of feeling or emotion. They associate being lead by the spirit as certain feelings and superstitions. Please don’t reduce thework of the Living God to vibes and suspicions.
The Holy Spirit convicts, leads and directs. He does do it subtly some times, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because something is uncomfortable it is not of the Spirit, or if it feels good, then it is of the spirit. You ened up making your own personal, subjective feelings the arbiter of God’s will. And that’s idolatry & blasphemy.
It is ruinous to your faith, and i have seen people ignore the direct will of God written down in the scriptures to follow their own selfish desires cloaked in the laguage of “following Jesus”.
If ever in doubt about what the Spirit wants you to do, go back to the basics and mimic Simon & Anna - devout, righteous, patiently waiting on God, going to the place where God’s people gather to worship, fasting, prayer.
Back to the story...
Simeon was lead by the spirit to be in temple in the same time as Jesus, God orechestrating these things soe that he could be there to meet baby Jesus.
What happened?
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
He took up in his arms his saviour - he may not have known it all, but he knew that he had taken up the answer to the needs of Israel.
As an old man, Simeon was now ready to die, but he could die in peace because he had seen God’s promises coming to pass.
What promises?
Promises like those made in Isaiah, and all the other prophets.
Promises like having a Son of David on the throne foerever,
promises like this
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.
Simeon was content to die in peace because he had seen the consolation of Israel - Comfort from God for his people. He would save and restore them
Our Salvation is Comfort
The Lord has not abandoned his people by came to bring them peace.
You too may take great comfort in the Christ, he is the answer to our deepedst needs.
He will free you from death and sin he will restore the glory of humanity as the image bearers of God.
In this world your comfort will be fleeting, but in Christ you may find everlasting comfort.
Our Salvation is Revealed
Our Salvation is Revealed
Simeon’s song continues. He is at peace, he can die knowing God’s comfort has come. He has seen GOd’s salvation coming to pass.
Salvation is a “religeous” word in many ways. Sometimes we use it to refer to story arcs in books & movies where somone makes up for their past misdeeds or finds meaning and purpose.
Salvation through is less about personal fulfilment, and more about deliverance.
If you were pinned down in a foxhole and reinforcements drove off the enemy forces you would say that you had found salvation - they saved you.
If you were broken down at the side of the road out the back of Broken Hill - that tow truck driver is your saviour.
If you were trapped in a burning building and the firfighters came charging in to rescue you - that is your slavation.
Salvation is the deliverance from some state of deep need, ususally something that is beyond your own ability to fix.
Israel was in such a state - they were a people who had continually rebelled against God and were opressed. They were often in situations of deep need, not the least of which was their disconnection from God through sin.
So it is very interesting when Simeon takes up that baby and says:
for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
Simeon saw a baby, and in that baby he saw their salvation.
To See Jesus is to see Salvation Embodied
Our salvation has been revealed to the world
Public events, many witnesses
recorded
Our Salvation Leads to Praise & Proclimation
Our Salvation Leads to Praise & Proclimation
The story of Anna
She was a prophetess - use by God to speak his Word.
Married, her husband died when they were only 7 years married.
But she did not remarry, living the next 60 or so years alone.
How did she spend her time? Worshipping with prayer and fasting at the temple.
At the place where God was, and where God’s people meet to worship
A life given as a sacrifice a whole life.
Waiting for the redemption of Israel.
Then the baby Jesus came to the temple:
She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Asher heard or saw the baby and she responds the way we’ve seen so many others do, with praise and thanks and then proclaiming this Good News.
It is right give thanks - it is what we need!
It is right to proclaim - tell others the Good News!
So What?
So What?
Our Salvation is Comfort
Our Salvation is Revealed
Our Salvation Leads to Praise & Proclimation
