[Faith-talk] Last Good Night Message for Monday, December 31, 2012

[Paul]

Yes, this is the last good night message for the year.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that these messages since some time in April have been a blessing to you, as they have been a joy to send them your way.

To complete our post-Christmas articles, Pastor Robert Rathbun, editor of "The Gospel Messenger," the official publication of the Gospel Association for the Blind, several years ago wrote an article entitled "Little Known Heroes of Faith, Simeon," rendered as follows:

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, Then took He him up in his arms and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.  And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold the Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul, also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:25-35).

And this is all that the Bible has to say about Simeon, but for a brief moment God pulls the curtain back to let us see this godly man of faith.  He lived in Jerusalem, the political and religious center of Israel.  He was a good man and a religious man; "just and devout" the Bible says of him.  But perhaps the outstanding characteristic of this man for his deep longing for Messiah to come: "waiting for the consolation of Israel." As Christians today long for the coming of Christ to rapture His bride the church, even so, devout Jews of Simeon's day looked for the coming of Messiah to bring in the kingdom of heaven.  Perhaps the presence of the Roman military in Jerusalem intensified this longing.  In any event he did anticipate with great joy the coming of Messiah.

And then something wonderful happened! The Holy Spirit conveyed to him that he would see the Messiah before he died.  That message must have stirred and excited Simeon beyond measure.  Imagine! Messiah would actually come to this earth before Simeon died.  We are not told Simeon's age, but it would appear that he was an older man.  The fact that he blessed Joseph and Mary would indicate this.  And Messiah would come before Simeon died! I do not know if he expected Messiah to be full grown or to be a baby.  He must have looked at folks in a new light wondering, Is this Messiah?

The Holy Spirit led Simeon into the temple the very day that Jesus' parents were bringing Him to the temple.  God's timing is wonderful! And so, when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus entered the temple at Jerusalem, Simeon was there to greet them.  He took the Child up in his arms and said, Now, Lord, I can die, for I have seen the Messiah.  How did this man know that the baby he was holding was Messiah? We are not told, but it is reasonable to assume that the same Holy Spirit Who had told him of Messiah's coming and Who had led Simeon into the temple on the right day would also let him know when Messiah entered the temple.  He called Jesus God's salvation, a Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of God's people, Israel.  This Messiah would be a blessing to Jew and Gentile alike.  Again, this had to be the Holy Spirit filling his mouth, for the Jews would not think of Messiah lighting the Gentiles.  Simeon's heart's desire had been realized; he had seen the Messiah.  In fact, amazingly enough, there he was, holding Messiah in his arms.  This young Child that he was holding would one day rule Israel.  Truly amazing!

And then he turned to Mary, and again the Spirit of God filled his mouth.  He said, This Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; that the hearts of many may be revealed.  Not that the fall comes before the rising again; the humbling comes before the exaltation.  And so it is with every Christian: we must confess ourselves sinners deserving of judgment before He will save us and declare us to be His holy people.  First comes the humiliation and then the exaltation.  He also told Mary that a sword would pass through her own soul.  As Mary stood at the cross, she saw her Son dying a hideous death, and her own soul was pierced.  But how did Simeon know these things? Doubtless through the Holy Spirit.  The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit was upon him.  Old Testament saints were not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but rather, the Holy Spirit would come upon them during a particular time of ministry or need and depart wen that time had passed.  The Holy Spirit seems to have been upon Simeon from the day he was told of Messiah's coming to the day he held Messiah in the temple.

But was Simeon a man of faith? Yes, indeed! Remember what he said: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." God had spoken to him, and he had believed what was said.  Clearly, he believed he would not die till he had seen the Messiah.  It is also clear that, now having seen Messiah, he was ready to die whenever that would please the Lord.  God spoke; Simeon believed; and it came to pass.  May we, like Simeon, believe all that God tells us in His word, for "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17).

And there you have it for today.  Until next year, at least for us in North America, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  Your friend and brother in Christ, Paul