Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke 2:25
παράκλησις
paraklēsis
consolation
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a calling near, summons, (esp. for help)
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importation, supplication, entreaty
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exhortation, admonition, encouragement
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consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment [thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)]
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persuasive discourse, stirring address [instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse]
Simeon was waiting for the Consoler, the Messiah. The Holy Spirit was upon him.
Oh, Father, I praise You for giving this man the testament of Your Holy Spirit. He knew Your will for his life and waited. Waited! He knew the gift that You were giving to this world in Your Son. He let the Holy Spirit lead him into the temple at that very moment. He knew. He waited. Hallelujah!
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant Greek bondservant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” Luke 2:26-32
Simeon prayed. Simeon was so attuned to God that he believed that God was delivering His Messiah as promised to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. He knew. He believed. He had read the Word and knew God’s promises.
Simeon called Jesus “Your salvation.” He is.
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. Isaiah 52:10
Simeon called Jesus “a light for revelation.” He is.
He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6
Simeon said Jesus was “for glory to Your people Israel.” He is (although not very many have seen Him…yet).
“In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall be justified and shall glory.” Isaiah 45:25
The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19
Father, I praise You. You have shown us Simeon in Your Word. He loved You and spent his days in prayer, seeking Your face. He came face-to-face with You, by Your Son, Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Consoler. He knew that this Child was You. He knew because He walked with You and fed upon Your Word, upon You. Oh, LORD, I am so filled with gratitude that You showed me this about Simeon this week. May I seek Your face each and every day. May my walk be as You design it, and not in my way. May light shine upon me from the Sun of Righteousness, revealing Your Truth in and through me. I thank You, Abba Father, for the most beautiful Gift possible, Your Consolation to me. You have reminded me that I am to continue to be ‘expectant’ for You to show up in my life at any time, at all times. In His Name, I pray. Amen.
“‘…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:6
Painting–Simeon’s Song of Praise by Aert de Gelder, 1700-1710/Public Domain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_dimittis#/media/File:Aert_de_Gelder_-_Het_loflied_van_Simeon.jpg
Being Woven 