Waiting for Consolation

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 

Luke 2:25

Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. God gave this man such a wonderful promise. It is yet another reminder that for those who seek the Lord, He will meet us where we are and He will bless us.

It is interesting that Simeon was waiting for the Consolation of Israel. The use of the word consolation suggests that Simeon understood the desire of the Lord to comfort His people. Many times throughout the Old Testament, the Lord promises to comfort His people, and Simeon understood that the coming of the Messiah would be the greatest comfort that we could ever know.

Simeon was waiting and watching, and he was listening for the call of the Holy Spirit. Unlike so many others, who were completely oblivious to what was going on around them, Simeon not only believed in the promises that had been given to Israel, but he was actively watching for their fulfillment. The Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon him, and at the right time, he was led to go to the temple.

Imagine Simeon. Another day of waiting, wondering when God might fulfill His promise to him. And then, as verse 27 tells us, the Holy Spirit beckoned him to the temple. There, he met Jesus, and he could only proclaim the greatness of God and of this little Baby for providing salvation to him, and to all the world.

Are you waiting for consolation? Are you in pain, sorrowing over something in your life that hasn’t come about or that was lost along the way?  Do as Simeon did, and wait. Wait for the Great Consolation, for the King of Kings to meet you. He will, just as He did for Simeon. He may not come for some time, but He will come. Simeon was believed to be as old as 113 years. We don’t know how much time had passed since he had been given the promise of meeting the Christ. But regardless, he waited faithfully for the promise to be fulfilled.

Wait on the Lord to bring you consolation, to bring you comfort. Wait as long as it takes, knowing that His promises are faithful and true. 

Might we all listen for the small voice of the Holy Spirit, showing us where to go, and may we, like Simeon, be ready to enter the temple when He calls. In other words, may we be pure and spotless through the shed blood of Christ and ready to receive what He has for us. May we, like Simeon, just wait.