MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/11/2026
9:10 AM
My
Worship Time Focus:
“Simeon’s Theology”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Luke 2:25b
Message of the verse: “looking
for the consolation of Israel;”
He was like the rest of the believing remnant, as
Simeon eagerly was awaiting the coming of Messiah, who would bring the
consolation of Israel. Paraklesis
(consolation) has in this context the connotation of “comfort,” “encouragement,”
or “solace.” Simeon was both looking for
the personal consolation of salvation for himself, and also for the national
deliverance that was promised in the Davidic and also Abrahamic covenants.
Simeon was a man who cared deeply
about his people, and that was a great attribute. He was like the apostle Paul, who was so
passionately concerned about the salvation of his fellow Israelites that he would
write in Romans 9:3 “I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from
Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Simeon’s concern for his people was
heightened by the distressing circumstances in which the nation found itself,
chafing under the occupation of the hated Romans. Such trying times intensified the believing
remnant’s longing for their Messiah to come and to deliver them from under the
hand of Rome, as they wanted their national sovereignty, and the national
blessing that was promised in both the Davidic and Abrahamic covenants. But
most of all they eagerly awaited the realization of the New Covenant, with its
promise of forgiveness of sin, a new, cleansed heart, and the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit and this is seen in what Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 31:31-34: “31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares
the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the
house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant
that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring
them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their
husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this
is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their
hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his
neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know
me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’”
MacArthur writes “The Messiah was
the embodiment of the nation’s hope of consolation; the only one who could
bring consolation to Israel was the Consoler.
Thus the rabbis sometimes referred to the Messiah as Menachem, which
means ‘Comforter’ or ‘Consoler.’ Isaiah
in particular emphasized Messiah’s role as a comforter. In Isaiah 40:1, he wrote “Comfort, O comfort
My people’, says your God.’ In verse 10,
the prophet identified the comforter. ‘Behold, the Lord God will come with
might, with His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for
Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and
His recompense before Him.’ Several other
passages in Isaiah also emphasize that God will comfort His people:
“8 Thus says the LORD: "In a time of favor I
have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and
give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the
desolate heritages, 9 saying to the
prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed
along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10 they shall not hunger or thirst, neither
scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead
them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a road, and
my highways shall be raised up. 12 Behold, these shall come from afar, and
behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of
Syene." 13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O
mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have
compassion on his afflicted.” (49:8-13)
“3 For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all
her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden
of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice
of song. 12 "I, I am he who comforts you; who are you
that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass.”
(51:3, 12)
“11 ¶ "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not
comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations
with sapphires.” (54:11)
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I
will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,” (57:18).
“1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because
the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind
up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of
the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim
the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort
all who mourn;” (61:1-2).
“10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for
her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied
from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her
glorious abundance." 12 For thus
says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the
glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall
be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will
comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (66:10-13)
“Jeremiah
(Jer. 31:13), Ezekiel (Ezek. 14:22-23), and Zechariah (Zech. 1:17) also speak
of God’s comforting of His people.
Simeon’s theology was consistent with the Old Testament promises that
God would console His people through the coming Messiah.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: The comfort that the Lord gives me
through what His Son, My Lord and Savior is the best kind of comfort I can
have.
My
Steps of Faith for Today: I trust the Lord to help my wife to
get through the problem of pain that she his having in her side, that God will
show her what it is all about.
4/11/2026
9:59 AM
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