The Song of Simeon

As Christmas is upon us in this a most unique of years I find myself identifying with a old man who said he had heard from God. We have read and re-read the accounts in both Matthew and Luke about the events that surrounded Jesus' birth. We know of Magi and Shepherds. Of Stars and Angelic visitations. We sing songs about the faith of a teenage mother and her kind but unaware husband to be. But all too often we gloss over a simple man - described simply as "righteous and devout" (Luke 2:25) - who believed he had heard from God.

Simeon had been given a Word of Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8) that he would see the Messiah before he died. This verse is easy enough to comprehend as we look at it after knowing the whole story - God told a man that he would see the Christ before he died - but it takes an entirely different meaning when we consider the context in which he lived and how long it may have taken to be fulfilled.

A Massive Let Down

Political disappointments are difficult to endure. If there is anything that we know in this season it is that both sides on the political spectrum have had their share of disappointment from the political system. Simeon was no stranger to this - in fact it could be argued that political disappointment played a big part in shaping his inner life.

Israel had been trampled upon and ruled by foreign leaders starting with the captivity of Babylon. After Babylon they were permitted back into their land and were even allowed to re-build the Temple but they were still ruled by Persia. After Persia came Greece. Greece then divided into 4 nations - one of which held its dominion over the holy land.

Then after a glorious struggle through the heroics of Judas Macabees Israel regained is sovereignity. Israel was ruled by one of its own again. No longer forced under the will of Gentile men but free to govern the nation and worship the Lord truly as they saw fit. It was truly a wonderful time.

But there was turmoil in the land. The Jewish leaders started acting like Greeks and embracing Greek culture, the Law wasn't fully being followed by the leadership in the land and there was in fighting between two rival heirs to the throne. Both sides appealed to Rome and Rome came. But not to bolster up one side against the other but rather to take over. And take over they did. And ever since Pompey entered Jerusalem in 63 BC Israel had been under Roman rule.

One can only imagine the collective let down felt by the Jewish people. They had finally gotten back what they had hoped, endured and fought for with all their hearts only to have it squandered by 2 rival rulers who didn't really appreciate the Divine destiny of their nation.

In short politics had failed them. Leaders had failed them. They were now in a system that could not be trusted.

The Right Way to Respond to Disappointment

Its likely that Simeon was alive when this took place and if Luke 2:29 is any indication of his age then he may have been old enough to have known a free Israel. One speculates how disappointment led to brokenness. And the brokeness that remained carved out in him an impoverished heart.

Let downs like this are often faith-killers. We pray and fast for something, we push and endure, we press and fight - only to see it not happen. Disappointment for many is a grave yard for faith. So dire in fact is this reality that some allow it to morph their understanding of who God is so that He better fits in the box of what is probable. Others still depart from the faith all together.

But Simeon - like many of the other greats in Scripture - chose a third path. Rather than allowing disappointment to negatively color or be the end of his relationship with God he instead chose to let the brokenness within him be the engine that thrust him deeper into the Spirit. His pain and frustration, his very hopelessness - became the fodder that gave him that deep resounding cry that pierced through into Heaven. His response formed a heart that was able to clearly hear from God.

We know this because rather than being jaded or cynical - as many of us get as disappointment shapes our heart - he was looking for the Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). And instead of letting the steady flow of bad news cause him only to see despair - he was leaning into the Spirit and looking for the Messiah.

Blessed indeed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3). And blessed was Simeon, a man who's broken soul gave him the humility to hear a Word from Heaven.