Luke 2:26 Commentary and Bible Study

God rewarded Simeon with this immense blessing of being told that the time was about to come. He was nearing the end of his life probably, but he would not die until he has seen this wonderful sight. The Lord is sovereign over the timing of the death of every one of his saints. Simeon would not live to see Christ grow up and to hear his preaching to Israel, but he would witness his coming into the world. That sight would fill him with consolation personally. God had not forgotten his people. He would see a mere baby, looking like any other baby. He was a priest and how many other infants had been presented in the temple? But in this case faith would be mixed with his seeing, and he would see what others could not see, because of the word of God to him. Though the nation had been in darkness, the light had come into the world. All the hopes of Israel were embodied in this child. He was like a seed that contained everything necessary in small compass. He was to be planted and would have to die and from that seed would come the church of God, and blessing for millions of Jews and Gentiles. He knew that God does not start anything that he does not finish. This delicate child contained all the promises of God in him, ‘Yea and Amen’. Nothing could stop him completing his commission. From the start Satan was arrayed against him to devour the child, showing his intense hatred of God and his resolute will to destroy every good thing, but it would not be allowed to happen. If Simeon had known of these dangers awaiting the Messiah, he would still have been filled with consolation and optimism, for he would have been confident that none could prevail against him, even though he came into the world in such a vulnerable state. The children of God look over the head of Satan and see a heavenly Father who is more powerful than all. Simeon would rejoice that God had kept his promise to him personally. It was a special promise, an unusual promise, a promise to him alone. His closeness to God and Holy Spirit near him assured him that it was true.