"That day a Jerusalem resident was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die until he had seen him-God’s anointed King... The Holy Spirit had compelled him to go to the Temple that day, and so ‘when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and he took the child in his arms praising God. "Lord," he said; "Now I can die content" For I have seen him as you promised me..." Luke 3:25-29 (TLB)
From all we read about Simeon, he appears to have been a devout man, a Godly man, and an honest man. Simeon had lived along time. Simeon apparently visited the temple quite often, to pray to God. He probably had studied the scrolls containing all the hundreds of specific prophecies that the Christ would have to meet. Because of his faith,his steadfastness, and prayer devoutness, God gave him a last reward on this earth, one that was even bigger than the one Moses received as he stood on he mountain and gazed out at the fertile plains of the Promised Land.
God promised Simeon that he would see the baby born become King before He died. When they walked in carrying the Baby Jesus, he knew. He knew that he was in the presence of true royalty, and had seen a King whose reign would never end. For God had made a promise and Simeon knew that God had honored his promise. He knew God’s plan of repair had already begun, and he could die in peace, knowing there was now a way to close the sin gap between God and Man.
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis