Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!
Luke 2:29-32 (NLT)
Simeon had the inside scoop; the Spirit of God revealed to him that he would not die without beholding the Messiah. Whether Simeon had prayed towards that end or God saw fit to bless Simeon in this special way is uncertain. What we do know is that after the Spirit’s revelation, Simeon watched and waited with anticipation for The Consolation of Israel to come.
Watching and waiting – it’s hard to do in a society that promotes immediate gratification. We are led to believe that faster is better, climbing the corporate ladder is key to success, and the hamster wheel of life is the norm. Next-day delivery is available for those who can’t wait for the regular five to seven business days. Patience and persistence are sacrificed to the gods of haste and impulsiveness.
I am so thankful God is never in a hurry. “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son…” (Galatians 4:4). When he looked into the face of that tiny child, Simeon knew he had finally found the One he’d been waiting for – Jesus, the salvation of Israel.
Are you watching, waiting for God to answer your prayers? Be patient. Hang on to His promises. Don’t give up. God is never late. He will answer according to His will and His perfect timing.
Thought: “If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people.” – Charles Spurgeon
For further reading:
- John 3:16
- Luke 2:36-38
- Psalm 5:3
- Psalm 27:14