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)

SIMEON'S MOMENT

 

I discovered this painting one year by Ron DiCianni entitled "Simeon's Moment". The painting had me revisit the story of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35. I cannot adequately describe the tearful emotion that swelled within my heart as I did so.  

It wasn't just Simeon's story that touched the depth of my soul but the artist who was so moved by the moment of joy felt by someone as they held the Son of God in their arms. He wanted to capture the moment that Simeon had lived his life for.

It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen 'the Lord's Christ' (Luke 2:26). Simeon waited a long time and was well stricken in age when the Spirit led him to the temple the day that Mary and Joseph were there with the Christ child to offer sacrifice for his birth as was the Mosaic law of the day (Luke 2:22-24).

Simeon took the Christ child into his arms and pronounced Him to be the awaited Messiah, the glory of Israel and the light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). And then he said something highly significant to Mary: "A sword shall pierce through thy own soul....that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (v35).

As I tried to connect to Simeon through my thoughts, I could see how eager he must have been  for the Saviour to be born because the nation of Judah was by then a den of iniquity. No doubt Simeon was tired of all the wickedness and sin around him and he yearned for Christ to come.

I reflected on the signs of the times around us which are being fulfilled and how close the Saviour might be to returning, even at the door (Matt 24:33; Mark 13:29; JS-M 1:39; D&C 110:16).  How many of us will be over-joyed when we see Him coming in the clouds of heaven?

Simeon said when the Saviour comes, the thoughts of our hearts will be revealed; simply because who we are is in our hearts and who we are is all we will have to give Him. Will we be ashamed when our hearts are laid bare before Him or will we be eager to show Him that He resides there? 

May we be overjoyed like Simeon because we have waited with eagerness for His appearing and may our hearts be imbued with faith and love to make them fit for an offering to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Simeon's Moment by Ron Dicianni) 

WITNESSES OF CHRIST'S BIRTH

 

This poignant painting by Ron  DiCianni depicts the moment of exquisite joy felt by Simeon, a man in Jerusalem ‘just and devout, waiting for the ‘Consolation of Israel’, to whom was revealed by the power of the Holy Ghost that ‘he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ’ (Luke 2:25,6). Simeon did indeed see Christ before his death being led by the spirit to be at the temple the same day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus ‘to be presented to the Lord according to the custom’ (Luke 2:22,27). Simeon took the Saviour in his arms and rejoiced bearing witness of His divine birth and mission.

 

Simeon was not the only living witness of the divine birth. God raised up witnesses for Himself to meet all classes and conditions of people . There was also Anna, a prophetess who testified to all in the temple  (Luke 2:36-38); shepherds who testified to the poor and lowly that the hope of Israel was fulfilled (Luke 1:8-17); and the wise men of the East who were not afraid to enter the royal court testifying of the birth of the Messiah of the Jews to the contemptuous king and proud priests of Judea by asking one simple question (Matthew 2:2a/JST). Simeon’s testimony, however, was by far the greatest, after which he said something to Mary that must have seared her heart: "A sword shall pierce through thy own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:35). 

 

Simeon’s testimony to Mary of Christ’s death and Atonement was delivered through an unusual choice of words but yet the most poignant. Mary’s pain to see the suffering of her Son would be necessary so that the thoughts of our hearts will be revealed when Christ comes again in His glory and we stand before God to be judged of our earthly works. When that day comes, who we are will be in our hearts and that is all we will have to give Him. May we be overjoyed like Simeon because we have waited with eagerness for His appearing and may our hearts be imbued with faith and love to make them fit for an offering to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: "Simeon's Moment by Ron DiCianni)