Life Ministries

“Simeon’s Song”
Luke 2:21-40

    Most of us are familiar with the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and sometime during this season you will find yourself singing… “Five golden rings…four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree”. Well, I heard another song called “Twelve Days After Christmas” where on the first day the singer and her true love had a big fight…The pear tree was chopped down, the seven swans drowned, the five golden rings were fake and turned her fingers green, and the French hens became chicken soup!

    Most everyone is very familiar also with the Christmas story of the angels, the shepherds, the babe in the manger, and the wise men who came bearing gifts…but, this morning we are going to take a look at what happened about 40 days after the birth of Christ. This has become known as Simeon’s song of praise.
    The little town of Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph went to register for the tax census, was not very far away from Jerusalem and the Temple. (Only about 5 miles.) As we know, the Temple would play a very important part in the life of Jesus and his parents.
    Before we get too far, let’s do a little history on verses 21-24…The Law of Moses placed four requirements on Mary and Joseph when their baby Jesus was born; The first is in verse 21 – “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named “Jesus”. Now, we already know that this was his name because the angel had told Mary and Joseph “you shall name him Jesus;” ”Jeshua” in Hebrew; which means “He is.” He is the one who would save his people from their sins! He is the only Son of God; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to God except through Jesus; He is the Bread of Life; He is the light of the world; He is the Messiah; the Christ; He is God with us – Emmanuel; and later in this part of the story we find that Simeon takes this child in his arms and says “He is – the one that God promised!”
    Then in verses 22 and 23 we find two more requirements; “When the time of purification had been completed”- which according to the Law in Leviticus 12:1-8 was 40 days after the birth of a male child – “she took him to the Temple to present him to the Lord.” (As it is written, every first-born male is to be consecrated to the Lord.)
    Then, there was also to be a sacrifice made for her purification. This required two sacrifices; a lamb offered as a burnt offering, and a dove or a pigeon as a sin offering. We get some insight as to the financial state of Joseph and Mary as it infers that their offering was “a pair of doves or two young pigeons” which was allowed if you were too poor to buy or provide a “temple” lamb that was “without blemish”…and I’m sure “not cheap!”  When the offering was made, and the fellowship with God restored, Mary and Joseph were now ready to present their first born to the Lord.
    This goes to the deepest roots of Israel’s history, back to the Passover when the “first-born” sons of Israel were saved from the angel of death. Because God had delivered them with such a dramatic display of power, He claimed the first born son in any family as his own. However, God allowed the families to redeem their sons - after presenting them to the Priest – symbolically giving them to the Lord – and praising God for their precious gift – they could pay the required redemptive price of five shekels, and the child was entrusted to the parents. It sounds a lot like our baptism or dedication of babies today; except for the five shekels!
    Just as they come into the courtyard and were approaching the priest, something totally unexpected happens. An old man named Simeon steps out from the crowd and takes Jesus into his arms. We are not told a lot about Simeon, except that he was “righteous and devout” and that he was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”  meaning he was waiting for God’s promised Messiah, God’s salvation for His people and “a light unto the Gentiles” which the Holy Spirit had told him he would see before he died.
    Can you imagine how Simeon must have felt as he entered the Temple court and saw this couple, with this particular child, and the Holy Spirit whispered “That’s the one Simeon!” This baby is the promised one!”
    Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms, praise springs forth from his lips, and Luke records his words “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised!”…God remembers His promise.
    Don’t miss those next glorious words this Christmas – “You now dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation.” I pray that you can say that today. “I can die in peace, no matter when that time comes, because my eyes have seen God’s salvation!”
    As Simeon completes his song, the Spirit gives him the insight to see just a flash of the future; He sees that God has prepared his salvation with all people in mind. “This child will bring glory to your people Israel, but will also be a light of revelation to the Gentiles.” That was a radical thought in those days, which is probably why it says that Mary and Joseph “marveled at what was said about Jesus.”
    Simeon and Anna are minor characters in the Christmas story, yet they stand as reminders to us – living some 2000 years later – that God remembers His promise!
    Your Christian commitment, your trust in Jesus, your obedience to God’s Word will not gain the world’s applause, but I say it again, with great expectation and anticipation, keep trusting; keep watching; keep waiting; because He will come again…God remembers His promise!