Simeon and the Prophets

This month, as we celebrate each Sunday of Advent, we’re going to be considering the people that participated in the first coming of Jesus Christ. We often look at Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds - which we will, but there are some other people that God used. Today, we’re going to consider the prophets and how they prepared the way for Jesus’ coming. In looking at the prophets, we’re going to look at one man in particular, as his story is truly the fulfillment of hundreds of years of anticipation and hope. We’re going to consider the message of the prophets in light of the life of Simeon.

If you have your Bible, open it to Luke 2:25-35

Luke 2:25–35 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 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;

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.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Devotion to God (Luke 2:25-27)

One of the things that we can quickly see about Simeon is that he had a marked devotion to God. The ESV refers to him as being someone who is “righteous” and “devout.”

Luke 2:25–27 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

By being a “righteous” man - Simeon seemed to embody what it means to live his faith. He did what was right (GW) in his personal life and in his religious life.

In addition to having a faith that was lived out, he exuded a reverence toward God - a sort of circumspect outlook.

The Bible doesn’t say whether Simeon was a priest or a Levite - which may indicate that he was neither. His love for righteousness and devotion to God was not because it was his job - rather it seems to indicate a sincere faith.

Dedication to God’s Word (Luke 2:25, 26, 29-32)

Simeon’s dedication to God’s word seems to indicate that he had a knowledge of the prophecies. He knew God’s Word enough to understand that the prophecies foretold of the Messiah - God’s anointed one.

In Simeon’s song - he references several things and seems to refer back to some things that Isaiah proclaims.

First of all - we can see that

God’s word is fulfilled (Luke 2:29)

Luke 2:29 ESV

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

So it appears that Simeon was quite old but had been promised by the Holy Spirit (2:26) that he would see the Messiah - God’s “word” was that still small voice of the Spirit - but also the fulfilled prophecies that told of the Messiah.

I have a couple of resources on my computer that talk about the prophecies about Messiah. When printed out, one prints to just over 2 pages of two columns of prophecies. The other one prints out on six pages. There are way more prophecies than what we can cover today. If you’d like a copy of those documents, send me an email and I’ll be happy to pass those along ([e-mail]).

Here are just a few things that God’s word foretold about the birth of the Messiah:

He would come at a specific time - Gen. 49:10, Daniel 9:24-25

Genesis 49:10 ESV

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Daniel 9:24–25 ESV

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time…”

What I find so interesting about Daniel’s prophecy, is that it marks the general time in which the Messiah would come. It’s quite possible that this is why Simeon knew to look for the consolation or comfort of Israel - the Lord’s Messiah.

He would be born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

When Isaiah shared this prophecy originally, it’s likely that he did not know he was talking about a future fulfillment. One of the things that we get to see in studying prophecy is that there were often near and far term fulfillments. There was a child born shortly after Isaiah spoke this. But the Gospel writers help us to see that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of this prophecy as well (Mt. 1:18; Luke 2:7)

He would be born in Bethlehem - Mic. 5:2

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

He would be a descendant of David - Psalm 132:11, Jer. 23:5

Psalm 132:11 ESV

The Lord swore to David a sure oath

from which he will not turn back:

“One of the sons of your body

I will set on your throne.

Jeremiah 23:5 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

Both of the genealogies in Matthew and in Luke give us insight into Jesus’ Davidic heritage. Whether on Mary’s side or on Joseph’s side - Jesus was a son of David.

He would be called the son of God - Psalm 2:7

Psalm 2:7 ESV

I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

He would be preceded by a prophet (John the Baptist) - Isa 40:3; Mal. 3:1

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Malachi 3:1 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Now, of course, while John is born just a few months before Jesus, this fulfillment didn’t take place until they were both young men. The birth announcement of John, however, gave Zechariah and Elizabeth some insight into just who John would be:

Luke 1:16–17 ESV

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

We could go on and on. The important thing for us to understand is that the birth and the life of the Messiah was foretold by the prophets. Religious leaders and devout followers of God who knew the Word of God were hopeful that Messiah would come.

God’s Word reveals the hope of all the world (Luke 2:30-32)

Luke 2:30–32 ESV

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 reflects on several prophecies and extrapolates the fact that by laying his eyes on Jesus, he has not only seen a beautiful child, but he has seen the one who would bring salvation to all people - a hope for Gentiles and glory for Israel.

Here are some of the prophecies about salvation that Simeon was referencing:

Isaiah 42:6 ESV

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

Isaiah 49:6 ESV

he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 52:10 ESV

The Lord has bared his holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 60:3 ESV

And nations shall come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 46:13 ESV

I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

and my salvation will not delay;

I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.”

It seems that Simeon knew the Word of God. He knew the prophecies would point to the Messiah. He knew that this Messiah and his salvation would not be limited to the people of Israel - it’s a salvation for all of the world. It is a salvation for you and for me - whether Jew or Gentile - in the Jewish mind - there were only two categories - Jew and everyone else (Gentile).

So, we can see that Simeon demonstrated a devotion to God and a dedication to know the word of God. The last thing that I think we get to reflect on this morning is that Simeon...

Determined to hope (Luke 2:25)

Verse 25 says that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The New Living Translation says that he was waiting for “Messiah to come and rescue.”

I don’t know about you but I sometimes find waiting to be difficult business. It’s tough to wait - especially at this time of year. The excitement of the family gatherings, the joy of giving and receiving gifts, and so much more give us reason to hope (or despair if you don’t like all of this).

When we look at the people that fill the pages of the Old Testament, we hear of prophecies that warned people to return to God, but we also hear of the hope that would follow.

In Hebrews 11, the author recounts the faith of so many OT heroes. He extols them and honors them. Look at how the writer closes that chapter:

Hebrews 11:32–40 ESV

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

God had made promises to them. Promises of land - that was fulfilled. Promises of salvation - that was filled at times temporarily. Abraham never got to see the fulfillment of God’s promise to make him into a great nation - and yet he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Rom. 4:3).

Unlike so many of these OT heroes, Simeon had a special grace from God. I think he suspected based on his study of the Word of God that the time was drawing near. In his time with God, the Holy Spirit confirmed that he would get to see the salvation of Israel.

He believed.

He waited.

He hoped.

God fulfilled.

Jesus came.

There are times when God may allow us to get some special glimpse of His plan - some special moment of grace. But if he doesn’t will you and I still hope? Will we still believe?

The prophets foretold that Christ would come. The tell of future events to, when Christ will return. Will we walk by faith - hoping in the fulfillment of the salvation of God. Not wishful thinking, but faith filled hope that is backed up by God’s fulfilled promises in the past.

Closing thoughts.

There are a few people that I would love to be like in scripture. I would love to have David’s passion for God and Moses’ humility. I would love to have Peter’s zeal and Paul’s knowledge. But there are two men that stand out above all others.

Enoch - who’s walk with God was so tender and intimate that God took him.

Simeon - who seems to encompass both the walk with God and knowledge of his word that he couldn’t help but hope in God.

Friend - if you are not yet a follower of Christ - as we look forward to celebrating Christmas - I hope that you’ll see that we celebrate the fulfillment of what was promised. God promised in His word that Christ would come - and He did. He promised in His word that Christ would be the salvation of God to the world - to all who would believe. Will you believe? Put your trust and hope in Him - trust that He has taken the punishment for your sins and has a place for you with Him for eternity. I pray that this advent season would be the fulfillment of your faith.

Beloved - brothers and sisters in Christ - I pray that we, like Simeon would be

• devoted to God - times will change and make that more and more difficult - will you stand with him through the good and the bad.

• dedicated to His Word - that we would make time to regularly read, study, meditate on, and memorize His word.

• determine to hope - that even in the midst of a culture that is in moral decline, as challenging days seem to rob us of hope in the present - that we would hope in the future, hope in the long range plan that God has to make all things new.

In John - on the night before He was crucified - Jesus urged his disciples:

John 14:1–5 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

A couple of years later, the Apostle Paul gave testimony to the hope that he had through Jesus Christ (Acts 24:14b-15):

Acts 24:14b-15:

I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Jesus’ birth was hope fulfilled for Simeon. His life, death, burial, and resurrection is hope experienced for all who believe. His return will be hope fulfilled for the world. Will you hold out hope?

Let’s pray.