God Speaks to the Heart of Simeon: Luke 2:25-35

How long did Simeon wait for the Lord to fulfill the word spoken to him? We know that he was a righteous and devout man, like Zechariah, and we know the Spirit was on him. This terminology was used with Moses and David as well, ‘the Spirit was on him’. The Spirit moved him to go to the temple that day and he was obedient to go. Finally, the Word of the Lord to him was fulfilled.

The Word was fulfilled

I suppose there is some implication that Simeon was an older man, since the Holy spirit had revealed to him ‘that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah,’ Matthew 2:26). That was such exciting news. I wonder how he took it at first, was he anxious and visited the temple daily or did he pour over scripture to learn more? Did he go about his business and daily devotion as before, thinking of nothing but serving the Lord, knowing he would see the Messiah and that was satisfaction enough?

Hearts revealed in the waiting

Simeon says that ‘the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, (verse 35)’ and it begins with his. I suspect, in his shoes, I may have grown weary waiting and become bitter in it. “Here is the promise, Lord when, when will it be?”, I can hear myself asking. That is how it is now with things in my life: salvation of loved ones, healing, direction. Simeon however is a model of peace and expectation without the weariness. The word hope in Hebrew and Greek both are often closely related to hope, the joyful anticipation. Simeon must have joyfully anticipated this revelation yet did not dwell on it, he apparently wasn’t always in the temple waiting for this sighting. He was confident he would not miss it, but that God would lead him to the Messiah. His joy overflows in these praises to God and he was a conduit for blessings and a messenger to the Messiah’s family. He was open to God, he followed the movement of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word did not return empty (Isaiah 55:11).

Equipped in the waiting

When (not if) God speaks to us, we will be equipped through our relationship with Him to respond appropriately. Simeon does not seem to have made any preparations or let the thoughts of the coming Messiah drive his life. He waited for the Lord to direct him and discerned the Spirit when it was time to go and when he laid eyes upon the Lord. I might consider that I don’t know when the Messiah is coming and go check every day at the temple or in the courts, inquiring who had come that day. I would doubt myself ‘knowing’ when the Messiah had come. Instead, Simeon had no doubt in his ability to recognize what to do and when to do it because his security and hope was in the Lord instructing him on fulfilling the promise. We don’t have to know; we don’t have to put it on ourselves to carry out God’s promises. We have to lean on God and listen to Him for the time to act. In the waiting, we can become bitter in expectation or joyful in the daily choices to become more like Jesus. In the waiting, we have the joy of knowing our Lord more deeply as He prepares us for the promises to be fulfilled.