Simeon: A Call to Wait

God had been silent, sending no more prophets, men who would declare His messages for the people. It had been so long, but finally God started speaking to some who believed what He had promised through the prophets, the Savior who would come. As we read earlier, Unto us a child is born, a Son is given! The Messiah!

For each of those we looked at so far, God sent His message through an angel--Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds. Today, we will see how God gave His call, His announcement of what He was doing, and His invitation to be a part of His work to another man, Simeon.

Luke 2:25–38 NLT

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Let's ask God to speak to us from His Word. Please join me in prayer, praying in your hearts as I pray aloud.

Waiting...

This passage begins and ends with Waiting.

Luke 2:25 - Simeon was 'waiting'. I like the way the New Living Translation has put this into English, saying 'eagerly waiting'.

In Luke 2:38 that same word is translated 'waiting expectantly'.

The passage begins and ends with this concept of waiting. But it is more than just waiting. It is not like the waiting you do in the Dentist office. That is a waiting with dread. That is a waiting for something you do not look forward to.

No, this waiting is very specifically something you look forward to receiving. Not like the gift of underwear you get for Christmas. No, it is like that gift you have been anticipating getting, and must be in that big box under the tree! It is looking forward to something you know is coming, and that is going to be great when you get it!

Simeon was waiting like that. He was likely a small boy when the Jews had won their independence, and reinstituted worship in the temple. Then, he likely saw the Romans under Pompey come and conquer Jerusalem. He lived most of his life under Roman rule, but worshiped in the temple, and heard the promises God made to send the Messiah. The promised One who would be a prophet like Moses who had declared the word of God, and freed Israel in the past. He would be like the High Priest who would cleanse Israel. He would like the Great King David who would rule justly over Israel, removing their enemies. He knew the promises and believed God. He waited eagerly for God to provide this promised One, the Savior.

At some point, Simeon heard the Call of God. This time, God did not send an angel. No, God spoke to him through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Three persons who were the One True God. The One who hovered over the waters when the world was first made and was without shape, and empty of life. The Holy Spirit who had empowered God's chosen men to do great things to deliver His people in the past. The Holy Spirit who now spoke to Simeon's heart and mind. "You will not die until you see the anointed one, God's promised one.

Wow! God was at work! Finally, after all the years of God giving promises, finally, God was sending the Messiah! Can you imagine what it must have been like for Simeon!?! He now not only waited in hope, knowing God fulfills His promises. No, now He waited knowing that God was on the move! God was doing this soon! He was eager to see this!!! He was going to get to see this! So, what did he do? Did he stay home and just go about life? No! He was at the temple, looking, waiting to get his present! That is why it says, 'So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.'

He knew the promise, unto us a child is born! Unto us a Son is given! He knew that God commanded all firstborn sons to be dedicated to the Lord. So he went where he would receive this great gift!

I can only imagine what it was like for Simeon. I doubt he was a wall flower at the temple. I doubt he just sat there, day after day, falling asleep on the bench. NO, I imagine he was like I was as a child at Christmas, or like my kids are. They can hardly hold still. They can hardly stop talking as they wait eagerly for their gifts. They cannot help talking about what they think each gift is, and which they are going to open first. I imagine Simeon couldn't help talking with everyone about God's Call to Wait in anticipation. I imagine everyone knew why he was there day after day, checking out the babies that came in for dedication.

And then, one day, it finally happened! There He was! Simeon couldn't contain himself! He took Jesus in his arms, and said,

Luke 2:29–32 NLT

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

I have seen...!

He had finally seen the greatest gift in the world! He had finally seen the Savior. Not just the savior of Israel, but the savior of the world!! His wait was over! He received in reality what he had received by faith. He saw the Messiah!

It was then that Anna came by. She knew what this meant as well, and what was her response? She couldn't keep it to herself! She had to tell everyone at the temple who had been waiting expectantly for God to save them.

God had been promising a Savior ever since Adam and Eve first sinned. A Savior born of a woman. Those who believed what God said, waited eagerly for this Savior. They waited eagerly because salvation from the weight of sin is the best gift ever! It bring life from death. It brings hope from despair. It brings peace in the midst of strife. It brings forgiveness, releases guilt, removes shame, lifts the downcast and restores the soul! That is what this Savior does! That is why God gave them the call to Wait with anticipation!

Now that wait is over! What is the proper response? Nothing short of praising God as Simeon and Anna did, and making sure everyone knows!

Praise God and Tell Others!

The Savior has come! The wait for Salvation from Sin is over! Receive Him Today!

And yet, the Call to Wait is still ours, isn't it. You see, our Savior Jesus has finished His work of defeating sin, and providing salvation from the penalty and power of sin. But God has called us to wait with anticipation for Him to provide salvation in the deliverance from the presence of sin, when we will be with Him forever! For that we are still called to wait.

But does that call to wait mean we just go about life as normal? No! We should be more like Simeon and Anna! We should be worshiping daily! We should be living in eager anticipation for God to fulfill all His promises! We should be so full of anticipation that we cannot hold still. We cannot be quiet.

Let's Wait like Simeon!

We have to tell others what we are expecting! Would you believe Jesus is coming for me!?! Jesus has prepared a place for me! Jesus wants to take me to be with him! Jesus wants to take you to be with him, too!

We should be like Simeon watching, and telling others about our great expectation of God's fulfillment of all His promises when Jesus comes again!

This Christmas, let's remember God's faithfulness, and His Call to Wait. He is on the move. He is working to save all who will believe. He calls everyone everywhere to repent. He wants to use us, like He used Simeon to let them know. Let's be so eager in anticipation that we cannot help but tell them of the God who loved them enough to come, to die in their place, to forgive them and cleanse them of their sin when they believe in Him, and who is coming to take us all home to be with Him!

Let's Wait with eager anticipation!

Prayer.

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