Imagine there is this long anticipated event; an event that will be nothing less than God breaking into our reality; an event that will change everything. Ages have come and gone as the people wait. All manner of theories have arisen. Some people have stopped waiting; becoming comfortable in the now. And what if God told you that you would not die until the event happened? Does this fill you with amazement? Do you sit back and do nothing or do you face every day with anticipation? Do you serve God with every ounce of your being as you wait? Do you feel honored to be singled out? Do you? I think Simeon was a watchman. I think God honored him because he faithfully stayed up in the watchtower fully expecting God to send his Messiah any moment.
We know nothing about Simeon except that he had a very common Jewish name. Oh, and we know he lived in Jerusalem and that he was righteous and devout and that he was looking for the comfort or encouragement of Jerusalem. I’m pretty sure that this was an active looking. As opposed to a passive sitting on your easy chair expecting something to happen, or not, or whatever. This is evident in that he was righteous and devoted. He also had the Holy Spirit upon him, which is often used in the Old Testament to describe a prophet who is about to deliver a God-message. The message he received was that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ; the Anointed One; the Messiah. The coming of the Messiah was God breaking into our reality in a big way; it was a game changer in which the wrongs would be made right. It was the most significant moment in history.
One day, urged by the Spirit, Simeon came to the temple. Coincidently, this was the day that Joseph and Mary just happened to bring Jesus to the temple to, you know, make sure custom was fulfilled. Simeon took the baby in his arms and blessed God. This seems to be a priestly act. So, not only is Simeon like a prophet of old, he is acting as a priest as well. We have no evidence that Simeon was even a Levite. We only know that he was righteous and devout and the Spirit of God was upon him. And hey, that may be all we need to know.
Then Simeon burst out in song, which seems to be the thing to do when confronted with the realization of Jesus. First, he praises God for releasing him to depart in peace. Because of the mention of death in verse 26 many assume that Simeon must mean, by this phrase, death here as well. But the word releasing is used of cavalrymen being released from duty. Simeon has been a faithful slave (bond-servant) who has kept watch and he is now being released from that duty. The promise of God was not that he would see the Messiah and then immediately keel over. The promise was that he would see the Christ before he died. And now, having seen the Christ – God’s salvation – he is being released. He can now climb down off of the watchtower.
This salvation – the Christ – has been prepared by God before all peoples. The word “prepared” often refers to God’s creative work. This salvation, like a banquet, had to be made ready. God didn’t just throw something together in the last minute. Interestingly, Simeon sees this salvation as being a light of revelation to the Gentiles. That the Christ would be the glory of God’s people is totally expected. But a light to the Gentiles? In Isaiah 60:1-3 God’s glory has risen upon the people (Israel) and will be a light to nations. Not completely unexpected. I wonder how the religious elite interpreted that passage. Probably differently than Simeon. After the hymn session, the parents of Jesus are amazed. I mean, people keep praising God around their baby. Then Simeon gives a more personal prophesy. The Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many. Some will believe and rise and others will disbelieve and fall. He is a sign to be opposed. Oh, and Mary a sword will pierce your own soul. Scholars may struggle with the meaning behind this, but it seems clear. The opposition to Jesus, in its climax, will pierce Mary through the soul.
The coming of Jesus brings a situation of allegiance. The religious elite were comfortable in their eliteness. Simeon, however, was a watcher, eagerly seeking and serving in anticipation of what God would do through his Messiah. And because he was a slave, he was rewarded with holding the salvation of mankind in his arms. And today, there is still a question of allegiance. Will you believe and rise up or will you disbelieve and fall? I suggest to you that believing and rising is better. Rise up watchers. Believe.