CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL

 

By the time Jesus was born, the Jewish nation was knee deep in apostasy and their religion had evolved into 613 rabbinical interpretations of the Mosaic Law, and tradition of the elders, that the nation was expected to observe. They ‘turned the truth of heaven into a system that led them to hell’ (“The Mosaic Law and Conflict Resolution, ww.eajournals.org; Bruce R. McConkie, “The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 238).

“Among the righteous and devout Israelites were some who, in spite of traditionalism, rabbinism, and priestly corruption, still lived in righteous expectation of inspired confidence, awaiting patiently ‘the consolation of Israel’ (Luke 2:25;38; Mark 15:43)” (James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ” p 96).

One of these righteous people was Simeon to whom had been revealed 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). He was the consolation of salvation in a spiritually lost nation. And then he told Mary of the anguish that she would be called to endure because of Him akin to ‘a sword piercing her soul’ (v35).

Another privileged godly Israelite of great age was also at the temple, a prophetess called Anna, who devoted herself exclusively to temple service, and she too being inspired of God, recognised ‘the consolation of Israel’ she longed for and testified of Him to all about her (Luke 2:36-38).

I have many times imagined what it would have been like for these devout Jews who lived in a spiritually barren society to see the Christ child and know that salvation has finally come to Israel.

One thing worthy of notice. The consolation that came to these two good people happened in the temple. It reminds me of Elder Vaugn J. Featherstone’s prophecy of April 1987 at the re-dedication of the Manti Temple:

“Before the Saviour comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls.

“In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death….we will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagles’ wings; we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and clear as the moon.”

And all because of the most significant birth in the history of this earth.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

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

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)