Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-18

Luke gives us the suggestive scene
In the Temple, when Simeon and Anna,
with wisdom enriched by the treas
ured experience and piety Of the CEN
turtles, recognized the Babe that Mary
brought with her when she came to
make her gift for her restored health
and her offerings for the gift Of the
Child, to be their long expected Messiah.
Joseph and Mary were taken by surprise
by the welcome that these aged servants
gave to their little one. They never
dreamed when they left Bethlehem to
observe the laws requirements In
reference to the ceremonial publication
such consideration for Jesus. They
marveled at the welcome and words
of these two spiritual seers when they
come at the end of 40 days from Beth
lehem to Jerusalem to comply with the
law, just as they did when they had
Jesus circumcised when he was eight
days old. The fact that they did not
have great gathering and rejoicing
at his circumcision and that their Of
fering was that of q pair Of doves re-
veals that they possessed limited funds
and that in all probability the wise
men had not yet presented them with
their rich and valuable presents.
Evidently both Simeon and Anna were
well known figures about the Temple,
where they spent most of their time
praying and praising God. Both were
well along in years, in fact Anna must
have passed the century mark. They
had witnessed more than one critical
period through which their nation had
passed. No doubt they recited to the
people stories of the experiences through
which they had passed during the wars
that preceded the Roman conquest Of
their beloved nation. They had seen
the changes that took place during the
reign of Herod the Great and were
walking encyclopedias of their nations
religious and political life. They were
looking for the coming of the Messiah
who would restore Israel's greatness,
Just like the devout Jewish people who
pray outside the walls Of their ancient
Temple today for a return OF their for
mer glory as nation.
Simeon Spiritual Vision.
The only record that we possess Of
Simeon is the few verses found in this
lesson. The suggestion that Luke OBJ
tanned this information from Mary, the
Mother of our Lord, has much in its
favor, because he traced the events to
their source and had obtained informa-
ton from eyewitnesses. Two words,
Just and devout, set forth the character
of this aged servant Of Jehovah. He was
Just in his relations with men because
he was deyout toward God. One finds
help in living an upright life through
his spiritual fellowship with the Lord
Simeon was not only a devout man, but
he was one of faith, who had been
promised because of his trust in Jeho-
yah and faith in His promises OF
Messiah that he would see Him be-
fore death should remove him from the
ranks of the living.
Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit
and followed His urge and obeyed HIS
directions, so that he was in the Temple
when Joseph and Mary entered carry
ing the coming King in common sWad-
ding clothes. We can hardly imagine
that when Simeon went to the Temple
that day he expected to see the Christ
in the form of small child being
carried by young peasant mother. we
do not know how he came to recognize
Him, but we do know that he was
moved to see in Jesus the Messiah,
whom he had looked forward to come
in his lifetime and that he took the
Babe up in his arms, embraced Him
and Immediately made public testi-
mony to Christ.
In this brief declaration of his faith
Simeon gave expression to some impor-
tant truths concerning the Lord Jesus
He put first the fact that in Him we
have salvation. Many persons ian TO
obtain the joy of being saved because
they do not seek Jesus but gifts from
Him. Apart from Him there is no SAL
walton, He of God is made unto us,
wisdom, and righteousness, and sancti-
fication, and salvation" He predicted
that the Lord would be blessing to
the Gentiles and the glory OF His peo-
pie Israel. Many professed Christians
| have overlooked their indebtedness to
the Jewish people, for all that we have
| in our religion has from human point
of view come to us from the Jews.
SimeOn's Swan Song.
Having seen the Messiah, he sang
his parting song, that has been called
"Nunc Dimittis,' from the first words
of its Latin translation. In this song
Simeon reveals that his soul had,
| through the Holy Spirit, been given a
complete vision Of his own salvation
and of one that would embrace the
whole world with its glory. The mes
sage of the Prophets, that had been the
subject of his meditation and the
foundation of his prayers, he had seen
| in the coming of the Savior that
| would save the world. He was ready to
depart because of his faith in the flu
ture of that babe he held in his arms.
II We trusted like. Simeon in the saving