“Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout [cautiously and carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). And prompted by the [Holy] Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law, [Simeon] took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,”
Luke 2:25-28 AMP
http://bible.com/8/luk.2.25-28.amp
Guess what! It really is still Christmas! To all my Ethiopian family, Melkam Gena!!! Merry Christmas! May you carry Christ in your hearts all year through! This post is my Christmas card for each of you:
THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
Simeon woke up that morning as he has every morning of his life; he walked to his window and scanned the horizon. For as long as he could remember he had been watching and waiting and expecting for the imminent appearing of the Messiah. This one thing was the platform of his life. He had no doubt; he would never waver; on this hope he centered his whole life around the expectancy of Messiah’s appearance. This morning was just like every other morning of his life. He opened the window and looked over this city he loved, Jerusalem. The sun was just peeking above the hills that surrounded the Capitol. How he loved the view, but how he mourned for his people. They had lost their way. In his heart he longed to see God refresh the Jewish nation. He prayed for God to restore their passion for Him once again. He got to his knees as he had for many mornings and he humbled himself in the sight of God. Simeon longed and even panted as the deer pants for water to begin his day in the Presence of God. Long ago during one of his walks with the Lord in the cool of the day, the Presence and Being of God spoke to him; The Holy Spirit of God leaned in close to his ear and whispered a promise to him, “You will not die before you see The Messiah! In the land of the living you will see The Lord’s Christ, The Anointed One of God!” Simeon, living up to the meaning of his name, heard what the Spirit was saying to him in that moment, and he carefully took hold of that promise for all of his days. No matter how long it took, no matter how many years he would wait, this was his life’s platform; to wait for the Consolation and Refreshment of Israel. This was his reason for being. This was his life’s purpose. He had received a promise from God and he knew His God would never fail on any of His Words. So every morning Simeon walked to his window, threw open the shutters and welcomed the new mercy of God. He would look to the rising sun for new rays of sunlight then he would go to his knees to become still and recognize the God who created him. He would listen over and over again for that still small voice he had heard speak The Promise to him. This day was no different. To Simeon, God’s Word was divine, God’s Law was his life, so he set out to study it as he had done for these thousands of days of his life. Simeon was a just and virtuous man and he cautiously poured over every law and every prophecy that spoke of the coming Messiah. He knew the words of the great prophet Isaiah. He had committed to memory the words of Micah. He knew how the Messiah would come. He knew where the Messiah was to be born. When other’s were looking for a conquering king, Simeon was looking for the Suffering Servant. Everyday as he poured over the law and the prophecies The Holy Spirit of God pressed onto him stronger and stronger and heavier and heavier. Now on this day, he even felt the breath of the Spirit blowing across his ears. The hair on the back of his neck bristled. He even felt a push on his shoulder. A gentle nudge lifted him from his kneeling position. It was as if he was being led forward. It stirred deep in his gut. This power was propelling Simeon to go. It was an urge. He knew the source. It was the same Presence that had whispered The Promise to him long ago. In his inner ear he heard, “Go! Go to the temple! Go to the temple and wait and watch!” The whisper floated to his cognitive brain center and propelled him forward. Simeon looked to the south of the city toward Bethlehem. A new light was dawning and coming his way. He hurried along. He followed where he was being led as if a person was urgently pulling on his robe, inciting him to make haste. Simeon spoke to himself, he spoke to the air, and he spoke to any who would listen, “The Lord has come!”
Oh to live like that. Simeon lived everyday looking for the Messiah to come. It was nothing Simeon did, but it was everything the Lord did in Simeon’s life. It was the Lord who gave him His Promise. It was the Holy Spirit of God that helped Simeon hang onto The Promise and it was the Holy Spirit of God that prompted Simeon to get to the temple. All that was required of Simeon was an open heart and a listening ear. Simeon’s name means “one who hears.” You know, Jesus is coming back again. Do I wake up every morning scanning the horizon looking for His imminent return? I do not know the “when” of the word imminent but I do know the “definite” of the word imminent. Jesus has also given us prophecies of His return. Jesus has also given us His promise of His return. Am I pouring through scripture and learning the signs? Am I committing to memory every promise? Do I wake up every morning comforted by God’s new mercies? Oh to live like that!
“Oh Lord make me sensitive to Your Spirit. Oh Lord make me sensitive to Your Promptings. Oh Lord make me sensitive to Your Nudge. In Jesus name I ask this of You. Amen! ”
What I wrote above is just as I see in my mind’s eye of how Simeon lived each day. This came from research I found of his life and character. So I wrote what I saw him doing in my own thoughts. Below is a painting from Ron Dicianni of his thoughts on how Simeon might have received Christ unto himself.
Let’s start scanning the horizon for the return of our Lord. We should each become as burdened as Simeon was over the lostness of our world. We should each start preaching the gospel and representing Our King so that all will be ready for the day when the sky will be rolled back and the trumpet will sound to call all believers home!!!