LUKE 2:38. “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” ALL THEM THAT LOOKED.
SIMEON: A man who was waiting; a man who was just; a man who kept close accounts with God – he knew who was coming. As the days passed and age crept up, anxious waiting continued. With strong commitment, he bowed his head and heart in deep and serious devotion to the God who had revealed and promised he would see the Messiah. Probably misunderstood by those who watched the aging process and heard his assurances of life to continue year after year, he came again and again into the house of God. He looked for “redemption in Israel.” He knew his Bible; he knew his God. The Spirit had found a place to speak and work; in a man who believed what seemed impossible and a man who would go where and when the Spirit told him. “Go, into the temple; today; now; this is the time, go now!” And true to God’s promise, the Messiah was revealed to him, seen by him, held by him. His uplifted spirit and heart opened, and he blessed God. God’s salvation was in his arms. His eyes meet the eyes of an infant and sees light and glory and a bright future, and now he is ready to die. But his words stirred the heart of the virgin mother and her carpenter husband, and he prophesied and blessed and gave insight that would be remembered by Messiah’s mother. “Redemption in Israel has come.”
ANNA: She could see ahead with divinely given understanding and insight. She knew things ahead of time, before they were heard or thought of. Experience of age and trust enabled her to rise above the disappointments of a life lived mostly alone. The joy of a brief marriage in the prime of life was gone and her husband wasn’t there when she needed the fellowship of aging together. Decades pass and she is still in the temple, a fixture in spite of the intrigue and unrest all around her. When others left, she was there – looking for “redemption in Israel.” Serving God by depriving herself, serving God by depriving her heart and mind of self-pity; she fills her days and nights with meaningful spiritual service for God alone – and He sees, hears and rewards her. At the precise moment, the time when Messiah is there among the throngs; she sees and hears the words of another “waiter” and is blessed with the insight of the “redemption” that was coming through this Christ-child. She serves further and tells all who had similar desires but lacked the commitment, that what they all were looking for had finally arrived. He was really here. Two living witnesses as the law required, could attest to the fact that God has visited His people and the promise was right here among them. Those who looked and waited for “redemption”, could go to sleep in the arms of the Lord and know that the movement of history – “His Story,”
was on, and though they wouldn’t see the miracles, hear the messages, or watch the climactic events 33 years later, they knew God was on His throne and keeping all the promises that are “Yeah” and “Amen.” They could die in peace.
“O Father: there are times when I am in danger of losing sight of the brightness of the future and it seems to fade in the dark clouds of the present. Some of us have spent a lifetime trying to promote the kingdom of God and have seen works start, build and grow. Now they seem to be shrinking, fading and finishing. I don’t know what else to do, Father. If there is something that needs to be attended to that I am missing, please make clear to me what it is that I am to do. I am ready. I am weak, but ready and wanting to be a Spirit-guided servant until it is time to quit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”