Luk 2:27-30 | KingComments | STEP | After doing to the Lord Jesus what had to be done according to the law, the words “and there was“ direct our gaze to “a man in Jerusalem”. He is one of the many men in Jerusalem, but he is a man with special characteristics. His name is “Simeon”, which means “hear”. He has learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. This can also be seen in his life. He is “righteous” to other people and “devout” Godward. He lives with a view to the honor of God. That is why he also has love for God’s people, who are in so terrible a condition. He is also a man with expectations for the future. He is “looking for the consolation of Israel“, which he knows will come. He knows that from the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit likes to connect Himself with such a person. In Simeon we see the God-fearing remnant that recognizes the Lord as the Coming One according to what the Spirit works in them. Among the remnant are those who are aware of the misery and decay of Israel, but who at the same time are waiting for the God of Israel in faith for His unshakable faithfulness for the consolation of His people. They keep crying: “How long?” ( ). We see still more in Simeon. We see in him the Spirit of sonship. He who possesses the Spirit of sonship and is guided by Him is someone with whom God can have fellowship and share His thoughts. God can make His thoughts known to Simeon. Simeon expects the consolation of Israel and the first to be consoled is he himself. He believes all God’s promises with a view to the consolation of Israel. He also believes the promise of God for him personally. It must have been a great encouragement for him to hear that he will see the Christ of the LORD, Yahweh , with his own eyes. Simeon comes into the temple, not by a star or by a dream or by an angel, but by the Holy Spirit Who is upon him. He is led by the “Spirit of sonship” ( ). A man like Simeon who is so guided by the Spirit comes into the temple at the right time. He comes into the temple and there walk Joseph and Mary with the Child Jesus. He does not need to ask whether the Child that this couple has with them is the Christ of the Lord. The Spirit makes this clear to him. The shepherds have seen the angel and bow down before the Child. The wise men have seen the star and bow down before the Child. Simeon takes the Child into his arms. He embraces Him and encloses Him in His Heart. In his arms lies the salvation of the world and peace for the earth. In fact, whoever encloses the Child in his heart has the salvation and peace already in his heart, while there is no peace on earth yet. If you have Christ in your arms, you can only praise God.

‏ Luke 2:27-30

Simeon Takes the Child Into His Arms

After doing to the Lord Jesus what had to be done according to the law, the words “and there was“ direct our gaze to “a man in Jerusalem”. He is one of the many men in Jerusalem, but he is a man with special characteristics. His name is “Simeon”, which means “hear”. He has learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. This can also be seen in his life. He is “righteous” to other people and “devout” Godward. He lives with a view to the honor of God. That is why he also has love for God’s people, who are in so terrible a condition. He is also a man with expectations for the future. He is “looking for the consolation of Israel“, which he knows will come. He knows that from the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit likes to connect Himself with such a person.

In Simeon we see the God-fearing remnant that recognizes the Lord as the Coming One according to what the Spirit works in them. Among the remnant are those who are aware of the misery and decay of Israel, but who at the same time are waiting for the God of Israel in faith for His unshakable faithfulness for the consolation of His people. They keep crying: “How long?” (Psa 6:3 ; Psa 13:2 ; Psa 35:17 ; Psa 79:5 ; Psa 89:46 ; Psa 90:13 ; Psa 94:3).

We see still more in Simeon. We see in him the Spirit of sonship. He who possesses the Spirit of sonship and is guided by Him is someone with whom God can have fellowship and share His thoughts. God can make His thoughts known to Simeon. Simeon expects the consolation of Israel and the first to be consoled is he himself. He believes all God’s promises with a view to the consolation of Israel. He also believes the promise of God for him personally. It must have been a great encouragement for him to hear that he will see the Christ of the LORD, Yahweh, with his own eyes.

Simeon comes into the temple, not by a star or by a dream or by an angel, but by the Holy Spirit Who is upon him. He is led by the “Spirit of sonship” (Rom 8:15). A man like Simeon who is so guided by the Spirit comes into the temple at the right time. He comes into the temple and there walk Joseph and Mary with the Child Jesus.

He does not need to ask whether the Child that this couple has with them is the Christ of the Lord. The Spirit makes this clear to him. The shepherds have seen the angel and bow down before the Child. The wise men have seen the star and bow down before the Child. Simeon takes the Child into his arms. He embraces Him and encloses Him in His Heart. In his arms lies the salvation of the world and peace for the earth. In fact, whoever encloses the Child in his heart has the salvation and peace already in his heart, while there is no peace on earth yet. If you have Christ in your arms, you can only praise God.

The Song of Praise of Simeon

When Simeon has the Child in his arms, he praises his Lord, his Master, of Whom he is a bond-servant. The Lord has fulfilled His word to him. He can now depart in peace. The law of Moses was never able to allow a sinful man to depart in peace. Simeon can depart in peace based on what his Master has said. It is not an imagination, but sober faith. It is “according to Your word”. It is not just a passionate desire or an optimistic hope, but complete certainty. There is nothing more certain than the testimonies of God and His Word. Now he has seen with his own eyes the fulfillment of what God has said to him. For it has been revealed to Simeon by God that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. It was promised to him and now he sees Him!

The peace in which he may depart according to the Word of the Lord, is not a matter for him alone. The salvation that is the ground of peace is also meant for others who will not see the Child, but believe in Him. For Paul writes: “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11). About this salvation as a matter for all nations and not only for Israel, we have not heard in a previous song of praise. That is why Simeon goes further than the others.

He speaks about how the nations lived in the darkness during the time God acknowledged Israel as His people. For the Gentiles these were “the times of ignorance” (Acts 17:30). At that time God did not punish their sinful deeds and made them go on their own ways (Acts 14:16) without interfering. But now, says the apostle, “God is … declaring to men that all [people] everywhere should repent“ (Acts 17:30). The apology for ignorance no longer applies. The light shines, the true light. Christ is that light and He is a light of revelation to the Gentiles. It is now the time of blindness for Israel, while the Gentiles who have been in the dark for so long are now being revealed. They emerge from their humiliating position.

Moreover, when God has accomplished His work among the Gentiles, this will also become true: “And the glory of Your people Israel.” The important Lk 2:32 shows us the consequences of Israel rejecting the Messiah. It also shows what will happen in the future before they reach the place God has purposed for them. This is not the order we find in the prophets, where the Lord is seen as the glory of Israel Who also blesses the Gentiles, but where the Gentiles are subordinate to the chosen people. In this Lk 2:32, the order is reversed and very telling: “A light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.”

Luke speaks of the present dispensation. The state of affairs predicted by the prophets follows this extraordinary period – that is, the time in which we live – in which the Gentiles have been revealed. Then He will raise Israel to the highest earthly glory above all other nations. Thus it is guaranteed in the wisdom of God that His goodness will always apply to the nations and that He also fulfills His old and special promises to Israel. During the present dispensation, these two things are necessarily separated.