Waiting In Hope With Simeon
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669), Simeon’s Song of Praise (1631), oil on panel (61 × 48 cm) — 1631, Mauritshuis, The Hague
Discovering Hope in the Advent of Christ
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalms 33:20-22 NRSV)
Hope is an expectation, desire, or belief that something good will happen. Regarding the Christian faith, hope anticipates the complete restoration of humanity and the created world. True hope is the infinite love of God’s mercy and compassion on a personal, communal, and worldwide scale. For many people, hope is in short supply. The daily struggles to live well amid fear of the unknown, leaders abusing power, and losing meaningful connections due to technology and social media overuse are real. Fear, mistrust, and anxiety feed into the continuous notion that we are alone.
To hope is to believe in a better future for the world, where the lie that we are alone gives way to the truth we are seen, known, and loved. It is to recognize that both the difficult and the beautiful things in life provide us with reason to hope for the continued renewal of God's creation. God has been, is, and will always be with us. We need hope to increase the peace, joy, and love in our lives. During the next few weeks of Advent, we will reflect on hope and the story of Simeon, examining beauty, abundance, and wonder as they relate to peace, joy, and love.
Simeon experienced hope while waiting for the Messiah to come. To begin our four-part series, let us explore the characteristics of Simeon in Luke 2.
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah." (Luke 2:25-26 NRSV)
Names have significant meanings in Scripture. Simeon’s name means “to hear.” Simeon was a listener of the Word and of the Spirit. The title given to him is that of a righteous and devout man. Simeon was committed to knowing the scriptures and prophecies of the Old Testament and lived a life looking forward to the fulfillment of God's promises. A man of significant age and great discernment, Simeon lived during the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments; he was attentive to God and hoped that the promised Messiah would comfort the people of God. Simeon waited for the fulfillment of Isaiah's words: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel" At the time of the birth of Jesus, the Israelites were a scattered people. Simeon represents the faithful remnant of Israel waiting for God's redemption and his story connects Old Testament prophecy with New Testament revelation.
In listening to the Lord, Simeon heard and received Christ. We do not know much about Simeon's life. Maybe Simeon's devotion was rooted in deep suffering. Perhaps the only way he knew to live was dependent on promises that offered hope for a different reality. Simeon was seeking “Good News”. Often, those who have significantly suffered seek comfort and hope. I imagine this is something most of us can relate to. As Simeon sought the Lord, the Lord was faithful in revealing to him the promise that he would not die before he was comforted with the actual presence of Christ. Simeon's attunement to the Spirit of God was his source of strength throughout his life as he waited and waited, believing that the hundreds of years of silence would eventually end with the newborn king, Immanuel.
Luke 2:30-32 offers us a beautiful testimony of hope fulfilled. Simeon proclaims to the Lord, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” The story of Simeon’s devout faithfulness and trust offers hope for the future, fulfillment of the promises of God, and, ultimately, the peaceful transition from this life. Simeon’s testimony acknowledges the gift of Jesus, the Savior of the world. He knew Jesus was bringing salvation for both the Gentiles and the Israelites. The advent of Jesus ushered in reconciliation and restoration for all of Creation.
Like Simeon, we are in an in-between time, although ours has lasted almost 2000 years. We read the Scriptures, believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and live with hope, seeking comfort and healing in the Holy Spirit in the difficult times in our lives. We have the promise that Jesus will return to finish what he started and bring eternal life. So, like Simeon, we live in righteousness and with devotion, trusting the Old and New Testament prophecies that promise that Christ is coming again and that we will be comforted by His presence. Take heart; like Simeon, we are the faithful remnant. We continue to proclaim hope in the coming of Jesus. Even while suffering and death seem to be a reality, we can and will wait with attunement to the Holy Spirit and be a people looking for Jesus breaking into the world.
“See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:3-5 NRSV)
Quiet Reflection Questions:
As you consider this season of Advent, what are you anticipating and hoping for?
As you consider the story of Simeon, where do you connect with him in your desire to see Jesus?
Consider the promises in Revelation, what part of it gives you the most hope?
If you are looking for a friend to walk with you as you hope for and wait for the coming of Jesus, please reach out to one of the soul care providers at Lifepoint. You are not alone. We are here to offer a safe space for your soul to experience rest and community.