Entrusting to the Lord who/what He has entrusted to us - father & mother - Joseph & Mary - waiters, worshippers & prayers - Simeon & Anna
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Entrusting to the Lord who/what He has entrusted to us - father & mother - Joseph & Mary - waiters, worshippers & prayers - Simeon & Anna
Entrusting to the Lord who/what He has entrusted to us - father & mother - Joseph & Mary - waiters, worshippers & prayers - Simeon & Anna
Introduction :
The question, “Whom do you trust?” is most accurately answered not by what we say or profess to know but by what we do.”
This question is especially relevant when many around us have answered that same question is very different and at times contradictory ways.
WITH SUCH DISPARITY IN WHOM PEOPLE TRUST, NOT EVERYONE CAN BE RIGHT. AT SOME POINT THERE MUST BE A CONSENSUS. NEITHER THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT BLACK IS WHITE NOT THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT WHITE IS BLACK CAN BE RIGHT. AND FOR THOSE WHO SUGGEST IT, NOT EVERYTHING IS GREY.
COVID 19 threat level
Masks
Effectiveness of vaccines - cc small pox & polio - MY RIGHT ARM - perfect glumpky
US presidential election
Politicians and used car salesmen - not every used car was owned by an older lady who drove her car only to church and shopping - Jan’s & Dean’s - “Little old lady from Pasedena who drove like she was in the Roman chariot races now.”
The reason that we do well to answer the question is that there is often even more of a significant distance between word and deed.
That discrepancy is not always deliberate. It could be lack of knowledge of expertise.
Lack of quality of concrete in CIS - ratios, incorrect aggregate - too much sand, dirty aggregate, mixed too much, not mixed enough ...
Same true re asphalt - poor road base, poor aggregate, too thin a layer, corruption/greed
The same is true of construction materials - not being able to read English - this side down
By what they did, Zechariah & Elizabeth, Joseph & Mary, clearly demonstrated both whom they trusted and how far they trusted. They - Mary & Joseph — did that by giving to the Lord what He had entrusted to them. They were not alone - Simeon & Anna.
Mary & Joseph trusted the Lord & His word - Lk 2:22-24
The time of purification referred to here, referred to a ceremonial uncleanness as explained in the law of Moses.
A woman who gave birth to a male child was ceremonially unclean for 40 days, twice that if she gave birth to a female child.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.
While she was considered “unclean” the woman could not touch anything sacred or holy. She also could not go to the temple.
Mixed emotions with the arrival of a new life. Jesus spoke of this.
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
Some might comment and wonder if the 40 days and double that for mothers of baby girls was arbitrary discrimination focused on women.
No Scriptural explanation for the 40 and 80 days.
But with every new life, it is reasonable to consider that God wanted His people to remember that life and death were inseparable.
Only by faith in God was there hope and forgiveness - Abrahamic covenant & circumcision
With regard to the baby girls, could it be that God wanted His people to remember the order by which Eve and Adam were deceived by Satan
For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Not to say that anyone of us is greater sinners - all sinners saved only by grace through faith.
WITH THAT IN MIND, ALL OF US NEED TO REMEMBER THAT SALVATION IS NOT JUST A PAST EVENT. THE SCRIPTURE MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. WHEN WE CONFESSED OUR SIN, REPENTED AND BELIEVED IN JESUS, WE WERE SAVED. TODAY AND EVERY DAY UNTIL HE CALLS US HOME, WE ARE BEING SAVED. THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS US AS BELIEVERS AND AND THROUGH THE WORD CONTINUES TO CHANGE US. ALL OF THIS PAILS IN COMPARISON TO THAT DAY WHEN WE ARE FINALLY WITH OUR LORD IN THAT PLACE THAT HE HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE THOSE ARE HIS, WHOM HE HAD BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple with a sacrifice according to what was written in the Law of the Lord.
Luke who was a Gentile was also writing to those who were not necessarily Jewish. For that reason he provided some background.
From the Exodus onwards, every firstborn belonged to the Lord. That could not be forgotten. This was remembering and thanking God for what He had done. Because the firstborn belonged to the Lord, they could be redeemed so to speak with a offering that suited their income.
First born set apart for the Lord, not necessarily priestly service.
The Lord said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”
you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
Pair of turtle doves or pigeons plus a redemption price - did according to the Law of the Lord - 5 shekels of silver - perhaps what a labourer would earn for 20 days work.
And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel. And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting.
Travel to Bethlehem and then to Jerusalem - about 9 km.
All of this time, it would not have been easy for Joseph to earn a regular daily income. For the poor, a pregnant wife and now a baby, this would not have been easy. And although we many suggest Mary rode into Bethlehem on a donkey, we need to remember their very limited resources and Joseph’s need to carry with them the tools if his trade that allowed him to earn a living.
2. Simeon trusted the Holy Spirit & the word of the Lord - Lk 2:25-35
Probably lived in Jerusalem - probably older - vs 26, 29
Righteous & devout
cc - Lk 1:6 walking by faith blamelessly in all of the commandments and statutes of the law.
Righteous - justified by faith = right with God - like Abraham - Gen 15:6
Devout - cautious in classical Greek - in NT used only by Luke describing those who were reverent toward God - God fearing or pious = careful to obey and honour God by leading an exemplary life before others - not in the sense of pride but humility.
Waiting for the consolation of Israel:
Consolation - paraklesis - comfort, encouragement or solace
Messianic title
It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.
“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;
he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;
he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
These have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delights in their abominations;
I also will choose harsh treatment for them
and bring their fears upon them,
because when I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my eyes
and chose that in which I did not delight.”
Hear the word of the Lord,
you who tremble at his word:
“Your brothers who hate you
and cast you out for my name’s sake
have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,
that we may see your joy’;
but it is they who shall be put to shame.
“The sound of an uproar from the city!
A sound from the temple!
The sound of the Lord,
rendering recompense to his enemies!
“Before she was in labor
she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
she delivered a son.
Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For as soon as Zion was in labor
she brought forth her children.
Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”
says the Lord;
“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
says your God.
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her;
Fulfillment of promise deliverance for Israel as per Davidic and Abrahamic covenants.
Deliverance from Gentile oppressors, New Covenant, new cleansed hearts & indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Holy Spirit upon him - revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Christ.
The Lord’s Christ - Gr form of Messiah - embodiment of Israel’s hope and consolation
Rabbis of that day sometimes referred to the Messiah as Menachem - comforter/consolation
Isaiah also spoke of this.
Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
This a repeated truth in Isaiah.
For the Lord comforts Zion;
he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
“I, I am he who comforts you;
who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,
of the son of man who is made like grass,
Break forth together into singing,
you waste places of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her;
that you may nurse and be satisfied
from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
from her glorious abundance.”
For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah also spoke of God comforting His people - Jer 31:13; Ezek 14:22-23; Zech 1:17
Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’ ”
Special revelation to Simeon that dovetailed with what had been revealed to Zechariah, Mary & Joseph, and the shepherds
Pre-Pentecost empowering to serve and speak for God - Ex 31:2-3; Nu 11:25; 27:18; Judges 3:9-10; 1 Sam 16:13; 2 Chron 15:1; Mica 3:8; Zech 7:12
In his lifetime - quiet personal comfort and conviction that it would seem was shared only with Joseph and Mary, and afterward by them.
No indication that Simeon other than a faithful godly man who loved God and His word.
Blessed God rehearsing His word:
According to Your word
Now Lord - Nunc Dimittus - first word in Latin
Song of praise, one of others in Luke - Elizabeth - 1:41-45; Mary 1:46-55; Zechariah 1:67-79; Angels - 2:13-14; Anna - 2:38
Simeon’s blessing song was a blending of several OT portions.
God keeps His word
Salvation prepared in the presence of all the peoples
Salvation involved more than national deliverance
All peoples - Rev 7:9 - Israel and Gentiles -
so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Light for revelation to the Gentiles
Salvation for other than Israel beyond the comprehension of most Israelites. Most of the Jews believed that as those chosen by God to be His covenant people, the promised Messiah was coming to deliver them and only them.
In delivering them, they believed that they would rule with the Lord over Gentiles who were all seen as unbelievers.
That God also cared for the Gentiles was unthinkable. This was inconceivable because of their inaccurate perception of the word of God. THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT THEY WERE RIGHT BUT THEY WERE WRONG.
WE DO THEN TO ASK EACH OTHER BUT MORE SO THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO POINT OUT AND CORRECT OUR INACCURATE UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE WORD OF GOD.
Jesus explained that He was that light.
“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,
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Glory for Your people Israel
In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
shall be justified and shall glory.”
Blessed them and said to Mary about Jesus:
“Bless you” in the name of the Lord, should never be a thoughtless comment made without reference to the source and content of true lasting blessing. Within Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount”, He gave His disciples and us a profoundly deep overview of both of what it means to be blessed by God, and of the heart attitude prerequisites of those whom God will bless. WITHIN THE BEATITUDES THERE IS ALSO THE GENTLE REMINDER THAT GOD’S GREATEST BLESSINGS ARE NOT ONLY NOW AND TEMPORAL BUT ALSO FUTURE AND SPIRITUAL.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
When Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary, we do well to ask what might have settled their hearts and mind? And with that settling of their hearts and minds, if Simeon said nothing more than “Bless you” might that have been other word words of blessing that with that prompt also washed across their hearts? I would suggest that Moses’ words to Aaron with regard to blessing the people provide an excellent template for what crosses our minds when we say, “God bless you.”.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Blessed them:
This child is appointed
Will pierce your soul and the hearts of many
Jesus’ father & mother marvelled at what Simeon said about Jesus - when Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed God, Simeon was thanking God that in Jesus God was keeping His word
Jesus was God’s promised salvation.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Blessed them:
This child is appointed
For the rise and fall of many in Israel
Focusing first on Israel, Simeon explained that how people saw and responded to Jesus would determine their eternal destiny.
The Apostle John made that clear from the outset. Jesus, Peter and Paul echoed that.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
And, for a sign to be opposed
Not only would some Gentiles be saved, but some Jews would stumble over Him in judgment. Isaiah prophesied that, as did others.
But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“ ‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But some will and did believe.
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
A sign to be opposed:
Oppose - antilego - to speak against
Will pierce your soul and the hearts of many
No doubt began when Jesus began to identify no so much as the son of Joseph and Mary but as the Son of God.
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Culminated in pain at the crucifixion.
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
3. Anna trusted God and spoke of Him - Lk 2:36-38
Anna - Gr form of Hebrew - Hanna
Daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher
Indirectly explained what some the 10 tribes that were supposedly lost during the captivity were not lost
So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
Prophetess
In the OT, one who spoke the word of God
3 women in the OT - Miriam - Ex 15:20; Deborah - Judges 4:4; Huldah - 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Ch 34:22
NT - daughters of Philip - Acts 21:9 - as did not preach, probably ministered to individuals
While Simeon’s advanced aged was inferred, Anna’s age was noted.
Lived with her husband from when she was a virgin, after that as a widow for 84 years, meaning that she was over 100 years old
Did not depart from the temple - worshipping with prayer and fasting night and day
Probably lived in a room in the Temple compound - allocated by priests
Ministry to women and couples
At that very hour began to:
Simultaneous to Simeon’s encounter and exchange with Joseph and Mary
Give thanks to God
Praise
To speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel.
Proclamation
While the Advent framing the good news of the birth of a Saviour who is Christ the Lord is fresh in our hearts and minds, we also do well to:
Obey, what the word of God is commanding us to do.
What do we need to give back to Him?
Because God’s gifts to each of us are different individually and collectively the answers will very.
Resources - tithes & offerings
Serve as we are able in an age/health appropriate manner
Time - even with reduced health and mobility we can call, email, encourage each other and PRAY.
Children & grandchildren
Bethel ministry & facility
2. Bless God and those who diligently serve Him
What example do we set & whose example do we emulate?
Attitude of gratitude
Willingness to change and move with the times even as we affirm what cannot change and what can change
Icebox, central heating, AC, ministry methods - lantern slides
As able reaffirm basic needs - fellowship/food, intimacy in ministry, people bubble, value added
3. Renew our personal worship with concerted fasting, prayer, praise & proclamation.
Again, this is health and individually specific
Fasting - What do we give up?
Prayer - Core value of early believers - is it ours
Praise - Do we come together with eager. grateful anticipation to participate and interact?
Proclamation - As we are able and have opportunity do we talk speak of God and Jesus in a way that people can understand?