Simeon

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (Leviticus 12:1-4 KJV)

Millennia after Moses delivered God’s law, Mary followed the law, circumcising her son on the eighth day.  On the fortieth, she approached the temple with her husband and her son.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  (Luke 2:22 KJV)

Mary and Joseph listened to angels tell of Jesus’ birth. So did shepherds.  Magi followed a star. Now we meet someone who heard the Holy Spirit:

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (Luke 2:25 KJV)

Perhaps Simeon was familiar with Isaiah’s fortieth chapter:

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (Isaiah 40:1 KJV)

Whatever he read, whatever he heard, when he saw the child, he burst into praise:

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32 KJV)

People used to say, “I could’ve just died!” when exclaiming over something that gave them pleasure.  Simeon’s wait was over, he was ready to leave this world, having seen with his own eyes God’s salvation.  We aren’t told how long he had waited for God’s promise. The Bible doesn’t give his age or his health, but he was ready to “depart in peace.”

What faith!!! He’s holding a month-old baby and he has faith that God’s promise will be fulfilled. We have the story of His life, the testimony of eye witnesses, over two thousand years of continued witnesses, and we lack this old man’s faith.

Did you notice his “light to lighten the Gentiles” as he held the baby who would preach:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

There would come a time when He wasn’t here:

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5 KJV)

At that point, His light shone through others:

Ye are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14a KJV)

After the apostles, most of those with His light shining through are gentiles, yet it is to “the glory of thy people Israel.” We can see that through Simeon’s eyes.