The Spirit-filled, devout Christians humbly obey in faith the Word of God
as the Holy Spirit speaks it to them.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit he went into the temple; and at that very moment the parents were bringing in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law.” (Luke 2:25–27) While meditating on this passage, I desire to receive the lessons it gives:
(1) When I meditate on these verses I became somewhat interested in the fact that the word “the Holy Spirit” appears three times: “the Holy Spirit was upon him” (v.25), “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit” (v.26), and “moved by the Spirit” (v.27). From that interest I thought, “Simeon was a man of the Spirit.” In other words, “Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit.”
(a) The Bible says this Spirit-filled Simeon was “righteous and devout” (v.25). The Greek word corresponding to “righteous” is dikaios (δίκαιος), which carries senses such as ‘just’ and ‘upright,’ and denotes a person who faithfully fulfills obligations toward God and the covenant community. Thus for the righteous person, the relationship with God is of foremost importance (Hoekma).
(i) The Greek word corresponding to “devout” is eulabēs (εὐλαβής), which, besides meaning ‘devout’ or ‘pious,’ can also imply ‘watchfulness,’ ‘carefulness,’ or ‘fear/reverence.’ It was commonly used of devout Jews who carefully and attentively observed the requirements of the law. This shows how much Simeon honored and observed the law (Hoekma).
· When I think of this righteous, devout Simeon, I am led to the thought that devout Christians prioritize their relationship with God and, in intimate fellowship with God, revere and obey God’s Word.
(b) This Spirit-filled Simeon not only lived in the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit (“the Holy Spirit was upon him,” v.25) but also received the Spirit’s direction [divine revelation and guidance] (v.26) and acted under the Spirit’s influence [the Greek literally says “in the Spirit”] (v.27) (Internet).
(i) The statement that Simeon “entered the temple moved by the Spirit” (v.27) indicates that he was continually ruled by the Holy Spirit and followed the Spirit’s leading (Hoekma) . As a result, he arrived at the temple “just then” when Joseph and Mary had come in to perform what the law required (“to perform the purification rites”), bringing the child Jesus; thus Simeon saw the One he had longed for—the “consolation of Israel,” the Christ (v.25).
· “The consolation of Israel” (v.25) refers to the comfort that comes when the Messiah comes to restore Israel (cf. Isaiah 40–55) (Hoekma).
- After the prophet Malachi there was about a 400-year period in which inspired prophets did not appear in Israel, yet Simeon lived in that so-called long silence and nonetheless possessed a patient, persevering faith that was sure of the coming Messiah (Hoekma).
n This is a good example for us today of what it means to live waiting for Christ’s return. We should not be swept away by the moral decay and unbelief we see around us (Hoekma); rather, we should not only be certain of Jesus’ return but, like Simeon, eagerly await it—being full of the Holy Spirit, living in the Spirit’s continual presence, following the Spirit’s guidance, and acting “in the Spirit.”
n Let us all commit ourselves to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and to live in humble, faithful obedience to the Word of God as the Spirit speaks it to us!