Simeon's Song
Songs About the Son of Man _3
Luke 2:25-35
Anticipation. Waiting for something very special or exciting to occur. We know that many Jews were waiting for the Messiah to appear, and many are still waiting today. How is it that you can with earnest expectation wait for the Messiah and then not know Him when He is born in Bethlehem? Simeon was one that saw Christ for who He was, and recognized the blessings that Jesus would bring.
We are now at about 40 days since the birth of Christ. 7 days unclean. 8th day circumcision and naming. Then there was a period of purification, the amount of time until the mother was allowed to go to the Temple (40 boys, 80 girls). A sacrifice was made for the mother, and she would be restored ceremonially. It was also required that a firstborn son , that was the first born in the family was Holy unto the Lord, and so he would be presented to the Lord. Do you notice how God selects His servants? He does not pick that one that will be slack and unconcerned.
So the family makes the trip from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, and they are met by one called Simeon.
Simeon was not a priest or a Temple attendant. He was just and devout. That means he dealt with men fairly, and was dedicated to God. He was so in tune with God, that the Holy Spirit moved him to go down to the Temple and meet this family from Bethlehem. You see, God had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. He beat them there. Can I hold your baby? Then the words that came off his lips absolutely astounded Joseph and Mary. Let’s look at the words of Simeon’s Song.
Light to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
He had finally seen the salvation that he read about.
Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Let they servant depart in peace. I am ready to go home now. I have seen all that I need to see. We need to get that kind of heart. To realize that when we received Jesus, we received God’s best. Don’t we go through life wanting an desiring more?
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: