Luke 2v22to38 the song of Simeon

I)       “The Song of Simeon”

A)    File:  Luke 2v22to30 the song of Simeon.doc

B)    Audio:  The Song of Simeon

C)    Series:  Christmas

D)    Preached:  December 23, 2007

II)    Introduction:  Christmas songs.

A)    Where did we get the idea?

B)    There are five in the Bible:

1)      Elizabeth, 1:42–45; Mary, 1:46–56; Zacharias, 1:67–79; the angels, 2:13–14; Simeon Luke 2:29-32;

III) A song of Upreach.  Worshiping God for

A)    keeping His promise

1)      v25 – waiting for the consolation of Israel.  Personal

2)      v38 – not the only one, Anna sings to “all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel.”

3)      Luke 23:51, Mark 15:43, Joseph of Arimathea

4)      It’s a characteristic of all the faithful remnant of God:  Consistent throughout the Bible – tracking God’s promises, waiting expectantly, and praising Him when He delivers.

5)      Gen. 49:18, Jacob says, “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.”

6)      Psalm 27:14, David writes, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

7)      Isa. 25:9, “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.””

8)      Waiting expectantly for God – seeing Him keep His promises – is a primary characteristic of the faithful.

9)      What promise is He keeping? 

(a)    Gen. 3:17 – the seed of the woman to crush the head of the serpent.

(b)   Gen. 12, 15, 17, etc. the promise of Abraham to make his offspring a great nation – to bless all nations.

(c)    2 Sam. 23, David – he would forever have a descendant on the throne.

(d)   Israel – through the prophets – Messiah brings salvation.

(e)    The entire Law and Prophets is fulfilled in Christ. (Matt. 5:17)

10)  What is the nature of the promise kept?

B)    bringing the consolation of Israel

1)      Consolation, comfort, encouragement,  calling alongside – picture the universal sign of putting an arm around someone and pulling them close.

2)      Beatitudes:  Matt. 5:4.  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” verb form

(a)    Our study on the Sermon on the Mount – Salvation.

3)      Isa. 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

(a)    Septuagint verb form.  A command to be comforted  : 

(b)   66 39/27.   

(c)    It continues.  “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned,” See, consolation is all about salvation from sin!

4)      Indeed the consolation of Israel – but v32 shows also for the Gentiles:

(a)    Therefore, it is significant to the world.

5)      Simeon recognized that the coming of Christ was significant to Israel – even the whole world!

C)    For allowing Simeon to witness the coming of Christ

1)      Part of this is personal to Simeon – V26 it had been revealed that He would see Christ!

(a)    Part of the promise kept was personal to Simeon.

2)      Simeon recognized that the coming of Christ was significant to himself – it was personal!

3)      v30:  “MY eyes have seen your salvation.”  A dream of the faithful:

(a)    Psalm 119:123, “My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.”

(b)   Isa. 52:10, “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.”

4)      Simeon recognized his incredible privilege.

(a)    How many people held the God-man in their arms?  Imagine Simeon’s thoughts, tears.

(i)     He had waited his life for this.

(ii)   But Simeon knew there was another step.

(b)   Likewise, WE are in a special time and a special place.

(i)     After the cross:  John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people unto myself.”  We are in the age of the revelation of the cross.  He has been lifted up!

(ii)   Heb. 1:2, “in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.”  Not just prophets, but God Himself!

5)      Simeon understood this was the advent of the Christ – but he also understood that there were more steps in God’s plans

(a)    v34 – the fall and rising of many in Israel

(b)   a sign that is opposed

(c)    Mary – a sword will pierce through your own soul also

6)      Like Simeon knew there was a next step, we have a special revelation to look forward to.

IV) A song of Outreach

A)    vv30-32 One theme of Simeon’s song – salvation is prepared for all peoples – He emphasizes gentiles.

1)      He understood that the Messiah was not just for Israel.

2)      Like Isa. 49:6, “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.”

B)    Anna – another faithful waiting in the temple that day.

1)      Came up at that very hour.

2)      Gave thanks to God

3)      Spoke of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

C)    Anna announces the good news to Jews waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

D)    Simeon sang to God about announcing the good news to gentiles

E)     And God preserved this word to be preached to you today thereby announcing the good news to you.

V)    How to have this attitude in the Christmas season:

A)    Be a servant

1)      lit. bondservant

2)      like Mary

3)      Like Zechariah and Elizabeth

B)    Be holy

1)      found in the temple – keeping the Law of Moses

(a)    Simeon

(b)   Anna

2)      As He is holy

C)    Be expectant

1)      Expect God to show up

D)    Share the news – Like Anna.

1)      Read the Christmas story.

2)      Rejoice in what this season means.

3)      Sing praises to God.

E)     Begin – by understanding that He has come as personally to you as to Simeon.

1)      The Spirit led him to the temple that very day.

2)      The Spirit led you here this very day.

3)      The Spirit leads you now to respond.

VI) Invitation

A)    Maybe you have not had the Christmas Spirit

B)    Pray for the consolation that God gives

C)    Maybe this is the time to sing/to commit.

VII)          Notes:

A)    Looking for the Messiah

1)      in the Holy Place

(a)    Possible they knew to look for a child!

(i)     69 weeks

(ii)   normal for priests to start at age 30

(iii) prophecies

(b)   They knew to look in the temple

(i)     Messiah would surely follow the law

2)      in the Law of Moses:  redemption of the first-born by a lamb

(a)    Ex. 13. – the reason for the first-born sacrifice

(i)     The Lord requires the life of the first-born male from the womb

(ii)   Redeemed by the blood of the lamb

(b)   Lev. 12. – law concerning this

3)      in the Prophets:  predictions of Him

B)    Looking for Him in you

1)      in the Holy Place

C)    One day I would like to ask

1)      Simeon, what was it like to hold the savior in your arms?

2)       

December 23, 2007,

“The Song of Simeon, Luke 2:22-38”

Simeon’s song is a song of

I)       __________________.  Worshiping God for:

A)    keeping His ____________________ (waiting:  V25, 29, 38; Luke 23:51; Mark 15:43; Gen. 49:18; Psalm 27:14; Isa. 25:9.  promise:  Gen. 3:17, 12, 15, 17;  2 Sam. 23; Matt. 5:17.)

B)    bringing the ____________________ of Israel (Matt. 5:4, Isa. 40:1)

C)    allowing Simeon to ____________________ the coming of Christ. (vv. 26, 29-30; Psa. 119:123; Isa. 52:10; John 12:32; Heb. 1:2)[1]

II)    __________________.  Announcing the good news to

A)    _________________

B)    _________________

C)    _________________[2]

The Christmas story:

Luke 1:26-38, an angel visits Mary.

Matthew 1:18-25, an angel visits Joseph.

Luke 2:1-7, the birth of Jesus.

Luke 2:8-20, shepherds and angels.

Luke 2:21-38, Jesus at the temple at 8 days (21) and 40 days old (22+).

Matthew 2:1-12, wise men (magi) visit.  (Jesus is 1-2 yrs. old.)

Read the Christmas story this holiday with your family!

Luke 2:22-38 Word Find

Think about it:  Why did Joseph and Mary offer a dove (pigeon) instead of a lamb?  Read Leviticus 12 for help.

----

[1] I) Upreach; A) Promise; B) Consolation; C) witness;

[2] II) Outreach; A) Jews; B) Gentiles; C) Me;