This Christmas meditation is centred around the story in Luke 2:25-34 of the meeting of Simeon with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple. In particular our thoughts are triggered by the prayer of Simeon in v29-30: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you know dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation….’
His prayer is addressed to the Sovereign Lord, and we have seen in the first posting something of what that means. Now we think briefly about the ascription that Simeon gives to himself as the servant.
Simeon is described as a man of simple background, an ordinary person, perhaps getting on in years, but not one of the religious hierarchy – he is neither priest nor prophet in any official sense. This however does not prevent him from being a man of God, and neither should the fact that a person is not in ‘full-time’ ministry prevent them from being significantly used by God. His greatest moment comes at the end of his life, so there is never a time when God stops using us.
Simeon is a man of sound character, described as being both righteous and devout (v25). ‘Righteous’ refers to his outer life, where he was careful to live in accordance with God’s law; ‘devout’ refers to his inner life, where he is careful to maintain a living relationship with the living God. It is always important that we keep our outer life sustained by our inner life of devotion, and that our inner life finds expression in an outer life characterised by godly living and compassionate activity. This is what we mean by the word ‘integrity’: the integration of faith to daily life.
Simeon appears as a man of strong faith. He is ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel’ (v25). Remember it has been almost 400 years since God last spoke to Israel, and many had forgotten the covenant promises, but not the godly remnant. Simeon was amongst that small band who had not lost hope, but who eagerly awaited the coming of the Christ. Faith, remember is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Such faith is well pleasing to God, and we too are called to walk by faith rather than by sight (2Corinthiams 5:7) he exhibited a ‘passionate patience’ as he waited for the Messiah.
Simeon is clearly a man of spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit is upon him (v25), and he is hearing the voice of God through the Spirit. He is the recipient of a very special promise: that he will not die until he has seen the Christ. This is what motivates him and strengthens him. Furthermore he is sensitive to the Spirit, recognising his prompting and responding in obedience to the divine nudge to move into the Temple courts. Thus he arrives at exactly the right moment for a God arranged encounter with the young couple. How blessed we are to live in the dispensation of the Spirit, to know him as our Counsellor and Helper, to be led and guided by him! Do you long for a greater sensitivity to his workings? I know I do.
Simeon’s life seems to have been lived under the governance of God. The metaphor by which he lives is that of the servant, whose only desire is to please his Master. His whole life is at the disposal of the Sovereign Lord. He even sees the end of his life as being for God to decide. Perhaps he desires to be released from the trials of old age, but he knows he must be faithful to the end. ‘Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace.’ (v29) There is no fear of death for those whose lives are lived solely with a view to God’s glory.
What a wonderful example Simeon sets for us. And remember, he was living under the Old Covenant! We are living under the New with so much more spiritual resource available to us, and so many more reasons to offer ourselves fully to God.
Perhaps this Christmas, as we encounter the self-giving love of God afresh, we can be moved to offer ourselves again to him in radical, sacrificial obedience? Perhaps we can decide to live, not for the blessing we can receive so much as for the blessing we can be to other people – sound in character, strong in faith and spiritually mature? Then God will be able to use us to speak words of life to those we meet, as Simeon did to Mary and Joseph.
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