The three churches in the Wiltshire village of Dilton Marsh where I was pastoring an Evangelical church, enjoyed regular fellowship as we met quarterly for prayer and bible study. Easter was approaching and it was my turn to bring a study at our pre-Easter fellowship which was to take place in the Anglican church. I felt the Spirit leading me to consider the practice of Lent. The following two part study is the result.
Please read Exodus 34:10-35, Leviticus 16:29-31 & 23:27-32, and Numbers 29:7.
Lent, is traditionally a time when people give up some of the luxuries of life in the pious hope of gaining some spiritual benefit. In the Church of Rome it is regarded as a time of penance, of forgiving others, a time of self-denial in favour of those in need thus it becomes works of mercy. Sadly Lent has become a ritualised precursor to Easter. But should it be like this?
Well for the more spiritually minded it is period of self-denial, fasting and prayer for a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. A time for reflection, for remembering our baptismal promises; a time to rededicate our lives to Christ and His cause, anew. It is a time for contemplation on the temptations of Jesus and His fasting in the desert over a period of 40 days and nights. A time when we are to afflict our souls (Leviticus 16:29) or put to death the flesh 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live.' (Romans 8:13) as we seek to live a more holy life. But is that all?
First we must ask, why was Lent instituted?
Lent was instituted by the Early church fathers Circa 345 AD - because the primitive church did not retain its perfection unbroken - it’s apostolic fervour declined post Pentecost, and that rapidly. The case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) shows how quickly the principle of having all things common lapsed. Selfish thoughts began to make inroads into the faith. The early fathers alarmed at how quickly believers lapsed into sin and half-hearted service of the Lord concluded that ‘of a truth sin cannot exercise dominion over those who live faithfully under the liberty of grace.’ So it seemed good to the clergy to institute a fast whereby men could be recalled to their pious duties of faithful living. Now that is a very laudable aim. It is one we readily identify with today in these days of spiritual apathy and decline in the church. However the problem here is that the fast itself soon became a duty, and thus part of the ritual of the Church which is seldom performed heartily as unto the Lord. So, although Lent is still observed, we have lost sight of its true purpose as its keeping has become a matter of individual choice. True times of prayer and fasting, times of solemn assembly, have become extremely rare, but have been attended by great blessing as in the 1845 Welsh revival under Daniel Rowlands.
However it was in (AD 350) St. Cyril the then bishop of Jerusalem began to use military terms in his traditional Lenten call for baptismal candidates, as a call to service. This is a concept I want to explore today, linking it to the biblical teaching on prayer and fasting.
So let us explore this concept of Lent as a call to service.
The primary role model is of course the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry / service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days and nights in fasting, prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1).
We could also look at Moses, forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, before presenting and implementing God’s law in the newly constituted nation. We might also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.
Thus self mortification, fasting, periods of intense spiritual exercises, communion with God, may be seen as preparation for service. It is not merely a pious way of increasing our standing in righteousness, its purpose is to enable us to serve God more fully.
Who should prepare for this service, and how? When Israel assembled before God on the Day of Atonement they were instructed, by God, to afflict your souls (Leviticus 16:29,31 & 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7).
What does it mean to afflict ones soul? John Gill puts it thus - abstaining from eating and from drinking, and from the use of baths, and from anointing, and from the use of shoes, and of the marriage bed; thus we see it is a means to deny ourselves those things which bring us personal comfort.
Now those who were required to afflict their souls were those whom God called ‘My People’ - Israel, and who in obedience to Him brought and made a sin offering. Thus they would be reckoned by God as righteous children called to His service. Today they would be those who are born again and in a right relationship with God. JOHN 3 tells how when Jesus was baptised in Jordan, heaven opened and acknowledged Him as the Son with whom God was well pleased, and upon whom the Spirit rested. Clearly Jesus was in a right relationship with God.
Jesus here of course typifies every baptised believer in whom God’s spirit dwells. Thus we can say only true believers benefit from this service of prayer and fasting (Lent). Only those who know God in this way will truly be blessed by this fast, for others it will be nothing more than a ritual of works.
What is true of the body of God's people is also true for individuals called to particular service. Here we consider the OT example of Moses, he was very evidently called by God even from birth, remember the burning bush experience of God. But his calling and burning bush experience is not sufficient for the task ahead. He needs to afflict his soul and mortify the flesh to equip him for the kind of service God had in store for him. Only a man fully and humbly committed to the Lord could spend forty days and nights there with the Lord (Exodus 34:24). From that experience Moses emerged arguably the greatest leader Israel ever knew. Furthermore his encounter with God was evident to all as the glory of God shone in his face. Oh that we might emerge from our meeting with God the stronger and more fruitful in ministry and service of Him.
Sadly what had been designated as a means of blessing quickly fell into disrepute as men presumed upon the blessing of God. Little wonder that God through His prophets warned Israel time and again that their service was unacceptable, and rejected their fasts because they were not done for Me - for Me (Zechariah 7:3-7). Jesus criticised the Pharisees for fasting in order to be seen by men (Matthew 6:16) and for boasting about the frequency of their fasting (Luke 18:12). But He told us how to fast v18 - without show (even to disguise the fact) - secretly. He would then reward openly.
There lies before us, the Church, a great task. The task of serving the Lord and representing Him in the community. For that great task we must prepare ourselves as Ezra prepared that little band of exiles returning to Jerusalem - by prayer and fasting to seek from God the right way for us our little ones and all our possessions.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
New Horizons
Joshua 3:4 - ‘for you have not passed this way before’
Israel are about to pass through the river Jordan, to enter and possess the land God had promised them. Moses their leader for the past forty years is dead, Joshua is his successor. The Ark of the Presence of God has been set in order and will lead the people into Canaan. Israel will follow at a set distance, so they can easily see and follow the Ark. Israel are about to embark on the greatest venture of all time, for any nation, any people. Neither they, nor anyone else for that matter, had been this way before.
A New Year lies before us, so in a very real sense we can say we have not been this way before. Sure some of us have celebrated many previous New Years, but none have repeated exactly the preceding year. It is new territory for us as it was for Israel under their new leader Joshua. So how should we move forward? Can the Bible offer any help? Perhaps we can learn something from Israel’s preparation to enter Canaan.
The key lies in the way Moses prepared Israel for her momentous moment in history. We must step back a little in time. First we note that Israel was encamped on the border of Canaan. They had in fact been there nearly forty years earlier, but because of unbelief God caused them to wander in the wilderness, but now once more they stand at the threshold of Canaan. It is here Moses rehearses their history of the last forty years in their hearing, commands the public reading of the law every seventh year, and teaches them a song to remind them of the greatness of their God and of their unique relationship to God.
He encouraged obedience to the word of God as the means of blessing both temporal and spiritual. In the closing words of the song the concept of God providing ‘atonement’ is introduced. A blessing that would extend far beyond Israel’s borders.
John Gill summarises ‘thus ends this most excellent and wonderful song, which is of such a large extent and compass, as to reach from the beginning of the Jewish nation, and before it, to the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; an history of more than four thousand years already; and how long more is yet to come before all in it is fulfilled no man call say.
Moses reminded them of their failure to enter into Canaan the first time was because of their rebellion against God, (Deuteronomy 1), followed by the wasted years, wandering in the wilderness, (Deuteronomy 2&3).
Moses commands obedience to the Law of God reiterating The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy ch.5). Perhaps they expected some great oration, some new directive or standard, but Moses took them back to the Word of God - and reminded them of their responsibility before God as His people.
Then followed the great commandment ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus would later underline the importance of this commandment when challenged by the Pharisees (Matthew 22:37). Saying that on this commandment (and the second) hang the law and prophets. He reminded them of their standing with God ‘You are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.’ (Deuteronomy 7:6) and that they were loved by God.
Then he reminded them of their proneness to sin, to rebel, against God, (Deuteronomy 9). The next 18 chapters are a distillation of nearly forty years of Moses teaching on the Law of God. Blessing on obedience and cursing / judgement on disobedience, chaps. 28-30. Finally He commanded that the Law of God be read, in public, every seventh year (Deuteronomy 31).
So having instructed them on the importance of the Law of God, and their responsibility towards God as His special people, Moses gave them a song to sing (Deuteronomy 32) which would remind them of these great truths, as they sang about the greatness of God (vv 1-4). Acknowledged their sinfulness. (vv 5-6). Sang of God’s mercy (vv 7-14). Their sin in scorning the God of their salvation vv 15-18. How mournful that song was at times when God hid His face from them (vv 19-35). However The Lord is compassionate (vv 36-43), and will ultimately provide atonement (v43).
Clearly Israel had much to be thankful for, much to sing about, and much to encourage her as she faced the unknown. We, too, have much to praise God for, both individually and collectively. We who once were bound in sin have been gloriously set free. We have been made partakers in the atonement promised to Israel, thus knowing personal salvation. We have been adopted into the family of God - thus we are chosen in a very real and special sense.
We are assured of God’s love for us - in that He gave His Son, the incarnate Word, to die for us, and that Jesus is coming back to take us to be with Him. So whatever the future holds for us - we have confidence in Him. Knowing that ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us.’ The God who has led us thus far will not suddenly abandon us, leaving us to the mercy of the enemy of our soul.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
That soul though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
We have noted how Moses prepared Israel for her future by anchoring it to total obedience to Law of God. So without equivocation we say with Moses - obedience to the Word of God is the key to our future in the New Year ahead, both individually and collectively. That is the Word of God in its entirety, even the bits we do not like.
We must set our hearts upon the Word, the Word must be the motivation for seeking, serving, and loving the Lord. We must apply our minds, our thinking, our knowledge to knowing and obeying the Word of God. We must be resolved, determined, ever inclining towards the practice of the word. We must ensure our children are taught not just the word, but obedience to the word.
Now in the eyes of the world such things are futile, but for the true child of God, they are vital to life (eternal) which is his inheritance and possession in Christ. As John reminds us, ‘Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city’ (Revelation 22:14).
Thus the final blessing of obedience to the Word of God is full atonement realised in life eternal, and entrance into heaven itself.
Israel are about to pass through the river Jordan, to enter and possess the land God had promised them. Moses their leader for the past forty years is dead, Joshua is his successor. The Ark of the Presence of God has been set in order and will lead the people into Canaan. Israel will follow at a set distance, so they can easily see and follow the Ark. Israel are about to embark on the greatest venture of all time, for any nation, any people. Neither they, nor anyone else for that matter, had been this way before.
A New Year lies before us, so in a very real sense we can say we have not been this way before. Sure some of us have celebrated many previous New Years, but none have repeated exactly the preceding year. It is new territory for us as it was for Israel under their new leader Joshua. So how should we move forward? Can the Bible offer any help? Perhaps we can learn something from Israel’s preparation to enter Canaan.
The key lies in the way Moses prepared Israel for her momentous moment in history. We must step back a little in time. First we note that Israel was encamped on the border of Canaan. They had in fact been there nearly forty years earlier, but because of unbelief God caused them to wander in the wilderness, but now once more they stand at the threshold of Canaan. It is here Moses rehearses their history of the last forty years in their hearing, commands the public reading of the law every seventh year, and teaches them a song to remind them of the greatness of their God and of their unique relationship to God.
He encouraged obedience to the word of God as the means of blessing both temporal and spiritual. In the closing words of the song the concept of God providing ‘atonement’ is introduced. A blessing that would extend far beyond Israel’s borders.
John Gill summarises ‘thus ends this most excellent and wonderful song, which is of such a large extent and compass, as to reach from the beginning of the Jewish nation, and before it, to the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; an history of more than four thousand years already; and how long more is yet to come before all in it is fulfilled no man call say.
Moses reminded them of their failure to enter into Canaan the first time was because of their rebellion against God, (Deuteronomy 1), followed by the wasted years, wandering in the wilderness, (Deuteronomy 2&3).
Moses commands obedience to the Law of God reiterating The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy ch.5). Perhaps they expected some great oration, some new directive or standard, but Moses took them back to the Word of God - and reminded them of their responsibility before God as His people.
Then followed the great commandment ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus would later underline the importance of this commandment when challenged by the Pharisees (Matthew 22:37). Saying that on this commandment (and the second) hang the law and prophets. He reminded them of their standing with God ‘You are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.’ (Deuteronomy 7:6) and that they were loved by God.
Then he reminded them of their proneness to sin, to rebel, against God, (Deuteronomy 9). The next 18 chapters are a distillation of nearly forty years of Moses teaching on the Law of God. Blessing on obedience and cursing / judgement on disobedience, chaps. 28-30. Finally He commanded that the Law of God be read, in public, every seventh year (Deuteronomy 31).
So having instructed them on the importance of the Law of God, and their responsibility towards God as His special people, Moses gave them a song to sing (Deuteronomy 32) which would remind them of these great truths, as they sang about the greatness of God (vv 1-4). Acknowledged their sinfulness. (vv 5-6). Sang of God’s mercy (vv 7-14). Their sin in scorning the God of their salvation vv 15-18. How mournful that song was at times when God hid His face from them (vv 19-35). However The Lord is compassionate (vv 36-43), and will ultimately provide atonement (v43).
Clearly Israel had much to be thankful for, much to sing about, and much to encourage her as she faced the unknown. We, too, have much to praise God for, both individually and collectively. We who once were bound in sin have been gloriously set free. We have been made partakers in the atonement promised to Israel, thus knowing personal salvation. We have been adopted into the family of God - thus we are chosen in a very real and special sense.
We are assured of God’s love for us - in that He gave His Son, the incarnate Word, to die for us, and that Jesus is coming back to take us to be with Him. So whatever the future holds for us - we have confidence in Him. Knowing that ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us.’ The God who has led us thus far will not suddenly abandon us, leaving us to the mercy of the enemy of our soul.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
That soul though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
We have noted how Moses prepared Israel for her future by anchoring it to total obedience to Law of God. So without equivocation we say with Moses - obedience to the Word of God is the key to our future in the New Year ahead, both individually and collectively. That is the Word of God in its entirety, even the bits we do not like.
We must set our hearts upon the Word, the Word must be the motivation for seeking, serving, and loving the Lord. We must apply our minds, our thinking, our knowledge to knowing and obeying the Word of God. We must be resolved, determined, ever inclining towards the practice of the word. We must ensure our children are taught not just the word, but obedience to the word.
Now in the eyes of the world such things are futile, but for the true child of God, they are vital to life (eternal) which is his inheritance and possession in Christ. As John reminds us, ‘Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city’ (Revelation 22:14).
Thus the final blessing of obedience to the Word of God is full atonement realised in life eternal, and entrance into heaven itself.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Revival - Part 1: What is Revival?
“Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence”. (Isaiah 64:1)
“Will thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6
These verses contain the very essence of revival, God does wonderful things, and as he draws near to his people they rejoice in his presence. However, there is no neat definition of revival that enables us to state simply what it is or what it is not, and the best that can be done is to describe it as it has appeared down through the centuries.
However, it is first of all necessary to clear up some misunderstandings about revival that have given it something of a bad name in some quarters. Revival is not something that can be organised by a church on a particular date. However successful such meetings may be they have little impact on the outside world. In revival whole towns, cities and countries are affected.
Revival is not a successful campaign involving mass advertising, huge choirs and a famous evangelist. When George Whitefield preached in 1739 at Kennington Common, during the Great Evangelical Revival, over 30,000 people gathered without the use of such means.
Revival is to be distinguished from so called "phenomena" that have sometimes been associated with it. These have included fainting, excitement, visions, and reported miracles. These things have caused divisions and bitter debate among Christians both at the time of revival and later. John Wesley believed that they were the marks of a work of the Holy Spirit. Charles Wesley disapproved of such matters and discouraged them in his meetings. Jonathan Edwards apologised for them. A feature of revivals is their great variety, some being completely free from phenomena, others being famous because of them. Whatever these strange things may be they are not essential to revival.
Finally, revival is not a short cut to a successful church or an excuse to opt out of the means that God expects us to use day by day to take the message of the Gospel to the lost. Revival is unusual and special, a glorious work of God alone that is additional to the ordinary means that he uses to refresh his people and gather the church.
“Will thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6
These verses contain the very essence of revival, God does wonderful things, and as he draws near to his people they rejoice in his presence. However, there is no neat definition of revival that enables us to state simply what it is or what it is not, and the best that can be done is to describe it as it has appeared down through the centuries.
However, it is first of all necessary to clear up some misunderstandings about revival that have given it something of a bad name in some quarters. Revival is not something that can be organised by a church on a particular date. However successful such meetings may be they have little impact on the outside world. In revival whole towns, cities and countries are affected.
Revival is not a successful campaign involving mass advertising, huge choirs and a famous evangelist. When George Whitefield preached in 1739 at Kennington Common, during the Great Evangelical Revival, over 30,000 people gathered without the use of such means.
Revival is to be distinguished from so called "phenomena" that have sometimes been associated with it. These have included fainting, excitement, visions, and reported miracles. These things have caused divisions and bitter debate among Christians both at the time of revival and later. John Wesley believed that they were the marks of a work of the Holy Spirit. Charles Wesley disapproved of such matters and discouraged them in his meetings. Jonathan Edwards apologised for them. A feature of revivals is their great variety, some being completely free from phenomena, others being famous because of them. Whatever these strange things may be they are not essential to revival.
Finally, revival is not a short cut to a successful church or an excuse to opt out of the means that God expects us to use day by day to take the message of the Gospel to the lost. Revival is unusual and special, a glorious work of God alone that is additional to the ordinary means that he uses to refresh his people and gather the church.
Sunday, 14 December 2014
Simeon
Read Luke 2:25-35
Although the events in this passage take place just after the birth of Jesus they illustrate very clearly why Jesus came. In our reading we learned that Simeon was 'just, devout', that he was 'waiting for the Consolation of Israel’, and that 'the Holy Spirit was upon him.' God had graciously promised that he would see Christ before he died.
In the old time the Holy Spirit came upon a man for a brief period only. Here it would seem that Simeon had a rare pre-Pentecost experience of the abiding presence of the Spirit. So let us consider Simeon under three headings.
We find Simeon in a state of anxious expectancy. Three characteristics of Old Testament piety are found in the man Simeon. He is described as ‘Just’ that is in regard to his relations and bearing before God and man. He is ‘devout’ (that is he fears God) as opposed to the boastful self-righteousness of Pharisaism. Lastly he is ‘waiting’ (longing expectantly) for the fulfilment of the great promise of the coming of ‘the Consolation of Israel’.
Note he expected to find. Had he heard the story that was rumoured by the shepherds? Strange goings on in the Bethlehem hills. The Temple courts would be buzzing with conjecture as to what was happening. Could this be the time?
Some think Simeon was a priest, although there is no direct evidence that he was, some rate the probability high. Even according him the rank of president of the Sanhedrin. What is not in dispute is that he was evidently well known both in the city and in the Temple, and that he was a deeply religious man who knew the scriptures well.
If he was indeed a priest, he contrasts starkly with the rank and file priests, he was clearly fully aware of the scriptures concerning Messiah, and he was waiting for His coming.
Whilst many of the other priests had more interest in ceremony and ritual. Though they taught that Messiah was to come - they were not looking for Him - nor were they expecting Him - but Simeon was. Simeon belonged to the few who at that time were like Anna looking for 'redemption in Jerusalem (v38). Joseph of Arimathea was another (Mark15:43). The promise of God is, if we seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Many people make the excuse that they are too busy. Simeon would have been extremely busy as a priest yet he was looking, watching for Messiah. Nor did he allow every day events to crowd out his cherished hope, as he received and assisted the worshippers with their offerings etc. Uppermost in his mind would be the question, ‘Would today be the day?’
Simeon the finder
Eventually patience is rewarded. For a long while he had clung to God’s promise to him. How long he waited we are not told, nor do we know his age. It is assumed he was an old man by the manner of his prayer.
Inconspicuous in the crowds thronging the temple precincts are - Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. But led by the Spirit, Simeon is drawn to the infant Jesus. Here we may say that when the Spirit of God is at work in our lives to reveal Christ to us, we find His overtures become increasingly irresistible as we are drawn closer to Him.
At last with the Christ child in his arms, The Spirit reveals to Simeon this babe is the Christ. What joy, akin to holding ones own heir for the first time. God has kept His promise. This is the Christ, this is God’s salvation. To the true seeker there comes the time when he finds, thus realising this is it, this is what I have been seeking. I have found it. My seeking is ended. Then the true seeker acknowledges that it is God who has been faithful to His promise, He has provided the answer, Thus it is ‘Your salvation’ (v30) which, ‘You have prepared’ (v31).
Also the true finder is one who identifies with the thing found. Simian recognises this child is the fulfilment of Gods word to him. And he acknowledges the fact My eyes have seen Thy salvation. Thus Simian links himself with Gods salvation. Making it personal to himself. We too must: First, recognise that salvation is from God. Secondly, that we must accept that salvation for ourselves.
Simian also sees beyond himself, sees that God has prepared salvation for all peoples, ....the Gentiles, .....and Your people Israel (vv.31-32). Edersheim comments in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, ‘With this Infant in his arms, it was as if he stood on the mountain-height of prophetic vision, and watched the golden beams of sunrise far away over the isles of the Gentiles, and then gathering their full glow over his own beloved land and people.’ Simeon was well ahead of most in his day - as he envisaged God’s salvation spreading as a light to the Gentiles. There are few Jews who today would go this far.
Simeon at peace with God
When having sought for God we find Him and identify with Him, - We have peace with God. Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. (5:1)
No wonder Simeon could now say: 'Lord, You are now letting Your servant depart in peace'. Your word has been fulfilled, my soul is at peace. The antithesis of peace is enmity: '..the carnal mind is enmity against Christ’ (Romans 8:7), but Christ 'Himself is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made a way back to God for us by His death upon the Cross.
To recognise the Christ child, to identify with Him, to accept Him, is to accept God’s salvation making peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is what Simeon did here. Simeon by the aid of the Holy Spirit recognised 'Gods salvation', and acknowledged a personal promise fulfilled.
Today we still need the aid of the Holy Spirit to enable us to find Christ for ourselves and to accept the personal salvation He offers. But we have Gods promise that when we seek Him with all of our hearts we shall find Him. Simeon found Him that first Christmas long ago.
May you find Him for yourself as your Saviour this Christmas time.
Although the events in this passage take place just after the birth of Jesus they illustrate very clearly why Jesus came. In our reading we learned that Simeon was 'just, devout', that he was 'waiting for the Consolation of Israel’, and that 'the Holy Spirit was upon him.' God had graciously promised that he would see Christ before he died.
In the old time the Holy Spirit came upon a man for a brief period only. Here it would seem that Simeon had a rare pre-Pentecost experience of the abiding presence of the Spirit. So let us consider Simeon under three headings.
- Simeon the seeker
- Simeon the finder
- Simeon at peace with God
We find Simeon in a state of anxious expectancy. Three characteristics of Old Testament piety are found in the man Simeon. He is described as ‘Just’ that is in regard to his relations and bearing before God and man. He is ‘devout’ (that is he fears God) as opposed to the boastful self-righteousness of Pharisaism. Lastly he is ‘waiting’ (longing expectantly) for the fulfilment of the great promise of the coming of ‘the Consolation of Israel’.
Note he expected to find. Had he heard the story that was rumoured by the shepherds? Strange goings on in the Bethlehem hills. The Temple courts would be buzzing with conjecture as to what was happening. Could this be the time?
Some think Simeon was a priest, although there is no direct evidence that he was, some rate the probability high. Even according him the rank of president of the Sanhedrin. What is not in dispute is that he was evidently well known both in the city and in the Temple, and that he was a deeply religious man who knew the scriptures well.
If he was indeed a priest, he contrasts starkly with the rank and file priests, he was clearly fully aware of the scriptures concerning Messiah, and he was waiting for His coming.
Whilst many of the other priests had more interest in ceremony and ritual. Though they taught that Messiah was to come - they were not looking for Him - nor were they expecting Him - but Simeon was. Simeon belonged to the few who at that time were like Anna looking for 'redemption in Jerusalem (v38). Joseph of Arimathea was another (Mark15:43). The promise of God is, if we seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Many people make the excuse that they are too busy. Simeon would have been extremely busy as a priest yet he was looking, watching for Messiah. Nor did he allow every day events to crowd out his cherished hope, as he received and assisted the worshippers with their offerings etc. Uppermost in his mind would be the question, ‘Would today be the day?’
Simeon the finder
Eventually patience is rewarded. For a long while he had clung to God’s promise to him. How long he waited we are not told, nor do we know his age. It is assumed he was an old man by the manner of his prayer.
Inconspicuous in the crowds thronging the temple precincts are - Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. But led by the Spirit, Simeon is drawn to the infant Jesus. Here we may say that when the Spirit of God is at work in our lives to reveal Christ to us, we find His overtures become increasingly irresistible as we are drawn closer to Him.
At last with the Christ child in his arms, The Spirit reveals to Simeon this babe is the Christ. What joy, akin to holding ones own heir for the first time. God has kept His promise. This is the Christ, this is God’s salvation. To the true seeker there comes the time when he finds, thus realising this is it, this is what I have been seeking. I have found it. My seeking is ended. Then the true seeker acknowledges that it is God who has been faithful to His promise, He has provided the answer, Thus it is ‘Your salvation’ (v30) which, ‘You have prepared’ (v31).
Also the true finder is one who identifies with the thing found. Simian recognises this child is the fulfilment of Gods word to him. And he acknowledges the fact My eyes have seen Thy salvation. Thus Simian links himself with Gods salvation. Making it personal to himself. We too must: First, recognise that salvation is from God. Secondly, that we must accept that salvation for ourselves.
Simian also sees beyond himself, sees that God has prepared salvation for all peoples, ....the Gentiles, .....and Your people Israel (vv.31-32). Edersheim comments in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, ‘With this Infant in his arms, it was as if he stood on the mountain-height of prophetic vision, and watched the golden beams of sunrise far away over the isles of the Gentiles, and then gathering their full glow over his own beloved land and people.’ Simeon was well ahead of most in his day - as he envisaged God’s salvation spreading as a light to the Gentiles. There are few Jews who today would go this far.
Simeon at peace with God
When having sought for God we find Him and identify with Him, - We have peace with God. Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. (5:1)
No wonder Simeon could now say: 'Lord, You are now letting Your servant depart in peace'. Your word has been fulfilled, my soul is at peace. The antithesis of peace is enmity: '..the carnal mind is enmity against Christ’ (Romans 8:7), but Christ 'Himself is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14), having made a way back to God for us by His death upon the Cross.
To recognise the Christ child, to identify with Him, to accept Him, is to accept God’s salvation making peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is what Simeon did here. Simeon by the aid of the Holy Spirit recognised 'Gods salvation', and acknowledged a personal promise fulfilled.
Today we still need the aid of the Holy Spirit to enable us to find Christ for ourselves and to accept the personal salvation He offers. But we have Gods promise that when we seek Him with all of our hearts we shall find Him. Simeon found Him that first Christmas long ago.
May you find Him for yourself as your Saviour this Christmas time.
Peace at Christmas
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? The countdown to the big day is well under way, and to the delight of the retailers, we are constantly reminded how many shopping days there are still to go. Those same retailers have been enticing us with their special Christmas television adverts too. This year’s offering from John Lewis has drawn lots of attention with its cute little boy and even cuter penguin, but if anything, perhaps the Sainsbury’s commercial has caused more conversation, marking as it does the centenary of the Christmas Day truce in the beginning of World War I.
Made in conjunction with the Royal British Legion it is based upon the football match that took place between British and German soldiers in ‘no-man’s land’ on Christmas Day in 1914. Though there would be a far more important football match between the English and the Germans fifty years later, the Christmas Day game has gone down in history. Amidst all the carnage of war, especially that particular war, the idea that men could put down their guns and share an hour in their common humanity has always been inspirational. This retailer is hoping the story inspires us to part with our cash!
The first Christmas, the real Christmas story, is also about peace breaking into war. The incarnation of the Son of God took place in a time of military upheaval too, as the Roman Empire sought to establish its stranglehold on the known world by imposing the tax and census which took Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There, amidst poverty and squalor, a baby was born, a real helpless baby, but One who was also ‘Mighty God’ (Isa 9:6). With his birth, and with his life, death and resurrection, human history changes completely. Two millennia later we are still celebrating His birth.
One of the other titles given to the baby Jesus by Isaiah seven centuries before was ‘Prince of Peace’. That reflects the reason why He came into the world. The Bible tells us that you and I are enemies of a holy God. That is because of our sin – the things that we say, think and do that are not perfect in God’s evaluation. Because we are sinners, a state of enmity exists between God and us. That enmity has consequences far worse than those when countries fall out with each other. It means we will be eternally separated from God, and shut out of Heaven.
Jesus came into this war-torn world to reconcile God to man. He brought peace by living a life of perfect obedience to God’s law, the life that we cannot live. That life, which was spent preaching the good news of the Kingdom, healing the sick, and transforming the lives of individuals, was snuffed out as He was taken by wicked hands and crucified on a cross outside of Jerusalem. But that death was God’s plan. It was Christ’s innocent blood which pays the price for our redemption. God’s charge on us is paid in full by Him. We can now be at peace with God. That peace doesn’t just last for a day, as it did in 1914, but for eternity.
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