Let’s step back into yesterday’s story, in the waiting, Joseph, Mary and Jesus arrive at the temple.

Luke 2:25-35- 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There is much richness in this passage, the power of waiting and the power of perseverance despite circumstances. Because Simeon gives encouragement and warning to Joseph and Mary. Essentially saying, “this is a great blessing which comes with great anguish as well. Mary, you will love your son, Jesus deeply, but you will also see the great cost he will bear.”

Let me go back to the question I asked earlier and apply it to Simeon. How was Simeon obedient and faithful in the waiting? Because it is very clear that he was waiting, there was a promise given that he would not die until he saw this promise. To answer the question of how he was obedient and faithful in his waiting, we can observe three things that will apply to our life.

Who was he? What was he waiting for? What sustained him in his waiting?

Who was Simeon? Simeon was righteous and devout. He lived in right relationships with others and had intimacy with God, he was devout to God, he was obviously attuned to the Holy Spirit, because there are three references to him in the first two verses. Simeon represents what it meant to be a wise person, walking with God, righteous and devout.

What was Simeon waiting for? Consolation of Israel. That Greek word is paraklesis, which means comfort. Will get to more in a second on that bridge word. Simeon was holding onto the promise of comfort from Isaiah 40, the fulfillment of how the Savior was to come.

Which when he takes baby Jesus and holds him, makes the declaration of what he was waiting for. 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” It wasn’t just salvation for Israel, but for all people, light has come in revelation and glory for ALL people.

Then finally, in the midst of who Simeon was, in what he was waiting for, what sustained him in his waiting? As mentioned, the Holy Spirit and the trust that God was going to do what he said he was going to do. Holy Spirit, in the Greek is paraklete, sound familiar to comfort.

Correct, in the midst of waiting for comfort for Israel he was given comfort by the Holy Spirit. He was dependent upon the Holy Spirit and trusted that God is faithful to what he promises.

Friends, waiting can be a gift. Waiting can help us slow down and become aware, what ARE we waiting for? Who are we becoming in the waiting? What sustains us in the waiting?
Many times, we often associate waiting with being a very passive thing, a kind of hopelessness. A state where circumstances are completely out of our hands and there’s nothing we can do about it. Even though we try and make waiting active by controlling the situation or sitting in worry or anxiety.

My encouragement and challenge today is to see that waiting is a gift when we are active, but active in a healthy way. Because as Lysa Terkeurst says, “whenever we are waiting on  God, we are actually waiting with God.” What a beautiful statement and a power application to actively wait.

Within Simeon’s life, what are some things that get your attention in the way that he waited?

What does it mean for you to wait with God?

In the Waiting by Gateway