Advent Devotion (Day 24) - Waiting Expectantly

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.”  Luke 2:25-32

Simeon...a man named in this story of Christmas, had been paying attention to God’s promises. Like the wise men, he knew the Scriptures and he was waiting for the "consolation of Israel." Simeon may have known that there were rumors regarding the coming of the Messiah. The news of John the Baptist’s birth and its meaning was widely publicized (Luke 1:65), and the shepherds who heard the angelic announcement may have kept temple flocks. They may have reported what happened among the people of the temple.

Yet it was not rumors, but the Holy Spirit who led him into the temple on that day. Simeon was a man who knew how to be led by the Holy Spirit, both in hearing God’s promise to him and being prompted to go to the temple at the right time. (David Guzik)

Simeon was already an old man, but as we read in our verse above, he had received a promise from God that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. Can you imagine receiving such a promise from God?

Another person was there as well...Anna, the prophetess. "There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38

To be able to recognize Him, Simeon and Anna must have been looking for Him, expecting Him to come. Jesus has made another promise to those of us living today – the promise that He will return and take us to Himself (John 14:1-6). May we, like Simeon and Anna, expect Jesus' return and wait for Him with joy and peace in our hearts.