The Song Of Salvation Series

Introduction

Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882) was an English biologist, widely known for his views on evolutionary biology.

When he was dying of heart disease, Darwin confided to a friend, “I am not the least afraid to die, but I am not sure what awaits me after death.”

Darwin had knowledge—but not peace.

He had theories—but not assurance.

He had curiosity—but not comfort.

His wife, Emma, was a devout Christian who constantly prayed for him.

Darwin died on April 19, 1882, but without the certainty for which he longed.

Human knowledge alone cannot bring peace.

Simeon was a man who faced death with peace, not because of what he knew or had done, but because of what he had seen.

Simeon held a baby in his arms and said, “Now I can die in peace.”

Not because life was easy.

Not because he had accomplished great things.

Not because he had proposed grand theories.

But because God kept his promise.

Let us read Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis, Simeon’s song of salvation, and learn that peace in death comes not from our grip on God, but from God’s grip on his promise.

Scripture

Though I will focus on Luke 2:29-32 for today’s exposition, let’s begin reading in Luke 2:25 for the sake of context:

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

Lesson

Simeon’s song of salvation in Luke 2:29-32 teaches us that peace in death comes not from our grip on God, but from God’s grip on his promise.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. God’s Promise Grants His Peace (2:29)

2. God’s Promise Satisfies Our Souls (2:30)

3. God’s Promise Envisions All Peoples (2:31-32)

I. God’s Promise Grants His Peace (2:29)

First, notice that God’s promise grants his peace.

You know the story of Jesus’ birth.

His mother, Mary, and her fiancé, Joseph, traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea to register for the census of Caesar Augustus.

While they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her firstborn child, a boy.

Eight days after his birth, the boy was circumcised and given the name of “Jesus,” in accordance with the name given by the angel to Joseph before the baby was conceived in Mary’s womb (Luke 2:21).

Forty days after giving birth, Mary, along with Joseph and Jesus, went to the temple in Jerusalem for her purification and Jesus' presentation to the Lord, as it is written in the Mosaic Law (2:22-24).

While they were in the temple precincts, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus met a godly man named Simeon (2:25a).

This is the only place in Scripture where this Simeon is mentioned.

His name means “God has heard” (cf. Genesis 29:33).

Actually, Simeon was a common name.

Several people in the Bible were named Simeon, such as one of Jacob’s twelve sons (Genesis 34:25), an ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:30), one of the teachers in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), and one of Jesus’ apostles, Simon Peter, whose Hebrew name was Simeon (Acts 15:14).

Luke said that this Simeon was “righteous and devout” (2:25a).

This is a wonderful description of Simeon’s character, rich with meaning.

To say that Simeon was “righteous” means that he, like Abraham (Genesis 15:6), had righteousness imputed, or credited, to him (cf. 1:6; 14:14; Matthew 13:49; 25:46; Acts 10:22; Romans 1:17).

And to say that Simeon was “devout” means that he was “reverent toward God.” It conveys the idea of being careful to obey and honor God, leading an exemplary life before him and others.

To be “righteous and devout” simply means that Simeon was justified and sanctified.

Wouldn’t that be an outstanding epitaph to put on your tombstone?

“Righteous and devout.”

That will only be true when you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and live your life carefully, obeying and honoring God to lead an exemplary life before him and others.

Luke goes on to tell us that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (2:25b).