Luke 2:22 When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to Adonai 23 (as it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to Adonai”[Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2, 12, 15]) 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons,[Luke 2:24 Leviticus 12:8 ] as required by the Torah of Adonai.
25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said,
29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word,
your servant is at peace as you let him go;
30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah,
31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples —
32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim
and glory to your people Isra’el.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
Simeon had waited a very long time to see God move in the world and take away the “sorrow of Israel.” The Scripture passage notes that he was filled with the Spirit. Simeon was a faithful follower of God. Yet, Simeon waited, and waited, and waited for this to take place.
I know my children think waiting can take an extraordinary amount of time. The Christmas season is a prime example: for a child it is one of the longest times of the year. As a parent, this season passes in an instant.
Simeon, during his wait, was promised one thing: he would not die before he saw the Christ. What an assurance! And yet, he was not promised to see the change that the Messiah was to bring (that which Simeon most anticipated). God promised Simeon a glimpse of the unfolding of the story.
Sometimes our waiting does not reveal everything we want it to. We may have to wait beyond this life to see the fullness of God’s work made complete. Thankfully, God does not abandon us. God gives us the Spirit to guide and comfort along the way.
Hymn for Today: "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny J. Crosby.
Simeon had waited a very long time to see God move in the world and take away the “sorrow of Israel.” The Scripture passage notes that he was filled with the Spirit. Simeon was a faithful follower of God. Yet, Simeon waited, and waited, and waited for this to take place.
I know my children think waiting can take an extraordinary amount of time. The Christmas season is a prime example: for a child it is one of the longest times of the year. As a parent, this season passes in an instant.
Simeon, during his wait, was promised one thing: he would not die before he saw the Christ. What an assurance! And yet, he was not promised to see the change that the Messiah was to bring (that which Simeon most anticipated). God promised Simeon a glimpse of the unfolding of the story.
Sometimes our waiting does not reveal everything we want it to. We may have to wait beyond this life to see the fullness of God’s work made complete. Thankfully, God does not abandon us. God gives us the Spirit to guide and comfort along the way.
Hymn for Today: "Blessed Assurance" by Fanny J. Crosby.
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
and he will raise you up to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. (Psalm 37:34).
Please pray: That many people in Chile will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
No comments:
Post a Comment