Simeon's Song

CONSECRATION Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.  Jesus, I belong to you. I lift up my heart to you. I set my mind on you. I fix my eyes on you. I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice. Jesus, we belong to you.  Praying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.  SCRIPTURE Luke 2:25–35 NIV 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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 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, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,     you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation,     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles,     and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” CONSIDER THIS Our final Christmas song comes after the birth of Jesus, in response to the infant Jesus being brought into the temple. Simeon is described as a “righteous and devout” man (v. 25). His name, meaning “he who listens” or “he who hears,” reflects a life of attentiveness to God’s voice. His entire story is a testimony to the Spirit’s work. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he waited faithfully, having been assured that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah. Simeon didn’t happen upon the temple courts by chance—he was led there by the Spirit. For Simeon, the “consolation of Israel” (v. 25) was not merely a theological idea; it was the longing of his heart—the hope for redemption, freedom, and the restoration of God’s people. The work of the Holy Spirit in Simeon’s life shaped his longings and positioned him to respond to the presence of Jesus when He arrived. As Simeon held the infant Jesus, he declared: “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (vv. 30–32). In this declaration, Simeon recognized that Jesus’s mission extended far beyond Israel. He proclaimed that this child was not just the consolation for Israel, but the Savior of all nations, the light that would reveal God’s salvation to the Gentiles—to people like us. These words were spoken in the temple, the heart of Jewish worship and life. To declare that the Messiah had come and would not just save Israel but also be a light of revelation to Gentiles was significant. Simeon’s worship caused Joseph and Mary—already aware of who Jesus was—to marvel at the magnitude of His mission. Entering the temple courts, Jesus’s presence carried profound implications for the Jewish people within its walls and the Gentiles outside of it. Simeon’s song reminds us of a vital truth about Christmas: While it is a profound celebration for those who know and love Jesus, it is even more important for those who don’t. Simeon’s life, shaped by the Spirit’s work and marked by his readiness to recognize God’s presence, challenges us to live with the same attentiveness and mission. My guess is, if you’re reading an Advent devotional, you likely have some degree of devout faith, similar to Simeon. Today, as you encounter and remember the person of Jesus, I want to invite you to join Simeon’s song, proclaiming Jesus as the “light for revelation” to the world (v. 32). RESPONSE PROMPTS Think of someone you’ll encounter today—whether a family member, a friend, or even someone working during your Christmas celebrations—who may not yet know the light of Jesus. How might the Spirit be inviting you to join in Simeon’s song and share the good news of Christmas with them? Take a moment to listen to how Jesus might be inviting you to step into His mission today. PRAYER Thank You, Jesus, that You are a light of revelation to the Gentiles. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You are at work in my life, and invite me to join in the proclamation of the good news of Jesus’s arrival to the whole world. I pray now for those You have brought to mind who do not yet know Jesus. Holy Spirit, open their hearts to receive the love of the Father as revealed in the person of Jesus. Help them to respond to Your love. I ask that You lead me and guide me in whatever step You are inviting me to take today, and ask that You would give me the courage to take it. I trust that You are at work in their lives and want to join You faithfully in that work. Amen.