THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

 

I love the story of Simeon and Anna who witnessed that Messiah had come when Jesus was presented in the temple following His birth (Luke 2:22-24; 25-38). Not much is known of these witnesses except that they were faithful and devout but much can be seen in the testimonies that they bore.

What we know of Simeon is that he was elderly, just and devout, that he had the Holy Ghost with him and that he waited for ‘the consolation of Israel’ (Luke 2:25)

Simeon rejoiced over baby Jesus testifying that God had allowed him to see His ‘salvation’ and ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel’ (v 30,32). I reflected a lot on Simeon’s joy and was intrigued that the Messiah was awaited in the meridian of time as ‘the consolation of Israel’.

According to the dictionary, the correct definition of ‘consolation’ means: the comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment. I pondered on what that word would mean in relation to Israel.

At the time of Christ’s advent, Israel had been scattered, conquered and tattered. Not since King David had Israel been recognized as a true and dignified power in the world. Under David, Israel enjoyed prominence, power and glory. His reign was defined as ‘the golden age of Israel’. Under his direction the chosen people of God controlled the whole land promised to Abraham’s posterity nearly a thousand years earlier.

Following David’s death, the kingdom was divided, Assyria scattered the Ten Tribes and Babylon and Rome had desecrated and conquered Judah. The land was lost as was the honour and glory of the House of Israel.

And so the Jewish nation has awaited the Messiah to restore the glory of Israel. To the Jews of old, it meant deliverance from occupation by foreign nations and restoration of the golden age. Simeon’s joy could very well have been based on that hope.

Anna’s testimony was based in redemption (Luke 2:38). The Guide to the Scriptures defines redemption as ‘the plan of salvation, the plan of happiness, and the plan of mercy’.

I pondered on what that would mean for Anna, a prophetess who was married for only 7 years before her husband died  leaving her a widow for ‘four score and four years’ (84 years). That’s a lot of years of being alone, especially for a woman in the meridian of time who was heavily dependent on marriage.

Was Anna’s joy in child Jesus based on her knowledge of the Plan of Salvation which would restore to her all that which she lost? That once again she will be a wife through God’s plan for eternal families? Did she also have faith in the consolation she would receive in her personal life as a faithful member of the House of Israel?

We of the last hour await ‘the consolation of Israel’ when the Saviour will come to gather us all into the household of faith and the Kingdom of our Christ. When He will restore all that was lost, individually and collectively.

When He comes the believing blood of Israel will course through our veins as it has never before. When He comes He will restore Israel’s glory that was lost which will never again be dimmed.

When He comes He will bring perpetual peace, where there will be no tears and no suffering and no death.

When He comes He will be our God and we will be His people.

We, Israel, Thy chosen seed

Bow before Thee on bended knee.

Look upon us in our sorrow;

And help us wait for Thee

In the dawning of tomorrow.

 

Please note that redemption means much more than I have elaborated on here. I used one aspect of it that would apply to Anna's situation.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Prophetess Anna Greets the Christ Child by Lester Yocum)