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Simeon’s Choice to Hope in God
Simeon models what it means to make choices to walk in the power of God’s Spirit. Note the concentration of terms familiar to us on this side of the Cross in the age of Christ’s Church, but very uncommon in these end of the Old Testament times Simeon lived in. Three clear statements of the Spirit of God’s work in his life:
• v. 25b the Holy Spirit was upon him.
• V. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
• V. 27 So he came by the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit insured for Simeon—a life that mattered, a life that counted, and that pleased Jesus. Walking in the Spirit gives us a life that pleases God, and a life that is “ready to go” at any moment.
A Spirit filled life that gets Christ’s well done, and that pleases God is a CHOICE. It is a chosen path. What pathway are you choosing to live?
Before we go through the elements of Simeon’s song of praise to the Lord, step back and think about his life with me. If Simeon was old (although the text doesn’t say that but it is implied) he must have had much to ponder.
• The Temptation of Bitter Memories: There were all the disappointments in his life he could choose to relive and feel the sting again and again;
• The Temptation of Fears and Anxieties: and then there were daily needs he could choose to worry over;
• The Temptation of Constant Hurts: and all the injustices of life around him he could choose to bemoan;
• The Temptation of Crippling Regrets: and of course if he was elderly he could choose to dredge up so many things from the past to regret.
But Simeon resisted in the Spirit’s power each of these temptations; and he chose to not dwell on all the bumps that jolted him on life’s rough ride.
Instead, God’s Word notes that Simeon had made it a habit in his life to look at God’s plans for his future with brightness and hope.
The secret of Simeon’s walk was in those many little choices made by faith, to live in hope.
Hope led him to love the Lord more and more; and such love always pours out in worship and expectation for God. Thus we can see from these verses that worship and praise were natural for Simeon because God was at the center of his life.
Now we get to the heart of Simeon’s spiritual walk. Simeon is an advertisement to us to:
Enjoy the Benefits of a Spirit-satisfied Life of Hope