Christmas Carols (4) Series

Christmas Carols (Simeon)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Blooming Grove Christians Church: 12/20/15

For the past few of weeks, we’ve been delving into the Carols of Christmas. In honor of all the Carols we sing at Christmas time, I thought I’d start off today by playing a little game. I’ll quote a line from a Christmas carol and you tell me what song it’s from.

• “Dashing through the snow in one horse open sleigh” – Jingle Bells

• “All of the other reindeer use to laugh and call him names” – Rudolph

• “He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day” – Frosty the Snowman

• “Yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos” – Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

• “Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow” – I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

• “Take a look in the five-and-ten, it's glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes that glow” – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

• “Round yon virgin Mother and Child” – Silent Night

• “The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes” – Away in a Manger

• “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices” – Oh Holy Night

• “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people” – Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:30-31)

I’m not surprised that no one recognized that last one. It’s from the Nunc Dimittis or the Song of Simeon, recorded in Luke 2:29-32. Like the rest of the Christmas Carols we’ve read throughout this series, there are no notes given for this chorus. We don’t know the rhythm or tune to which Simeon sang his song. We’re not likely to hear it played on the radio this Christmas or even sung by a church choir. But, just like the other Christmas Carols we’ve seen so far, this song rises up in Simeon’s heart through the prompting and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It’s a spontaneous Spirit-induced song of praise and prophecy delivered with power and poetry. Before we get to the lyrics, however, let me introduce you to Simeon himself.

By this time Mary and Joseph are no longer spending their nights on the dirty floor of a stable. They’ve found a house, perhaps with relatives, in which to stay. It’s been eight days since Mary gave birth to God’s Son, since angels sang and shepherds bowed down. But the miracle of Christmas is far from over.

According to Jewish law, Joseph and Mary were to bring Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to have him circumcised on the eighth day after his birth and offer a sacrifice of two turtle doves (that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. The Bible says he was a good and godly man and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah with his own eyes. So on the very day that Jesus was in the Temple being circumcised, the Holy Spirit nudge Simeon to go visit the Temple. I can almost picture Simeon sifting through the crowd, his eyes darting back and forth, as if he’s searching for something, but he doesn’t know what. Then Simeon sees him. He heart leaps within him, he rushes up to Mary and Joseph, and without even asking takes the child up in his arms and praised God, singing,

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:29-32)

The Canticle of Simeon is a carol of Christmas bursting forth from a heart full of wonder and excitement. The sentiment of Simeon's Song conjures up the joyful, upbeat, rhythmic, folk music of a Jewish wedding. While we can’t dance to it, we can marvel at it and learn from it. This carol contains three sentence-length verses, each extoling a different gift brought by the birth of Christ. I’d like to work backwards through these verses as the song seems to crescendo at the beginning, rather than the end.

First, the third verse tells us that Christmas brings revelation.

• CHRISTMAS BRINGS REVELATION

One of my favorite things about this time of years is the lights. Christmas lights. Our kids get so excited whenever we drive passed a house that’s all lit up. I enjoy the final moment of the day, when all the lights in the house have been turned off except for the Christmas tree, glowing in the corner of the living room. For centuries Christians have been decorating Christmas trees with lights. Prior to our modern fiber-optic lights, candles were attached to the end of tree branches with wax or pins. Because this was a serious fire hazard, most people didn’t put their trees up until December 24, ensuring that they would only be up for a brief period of time while the tree was still fresh – and much less flammable. But they lighted these candles (almost like candles on a birthday cake) in honor of Christ’s birth.