He was old.
And tired.
But the Holy Spirit directed him to come.
She was old.
And tired.
But she never left the Temple.
At eighty-four, she had spent most for her life widowed, night and day worshiping and fasting.
They were saints. Prophets. Not known by many.
But known by God and used by Him.
When the Son of God was carried into the Temple to be consecrated, held by his mother Mary and protected by Joseph, these two people of God prophesied. (Luke 2)
No angels. They’d gone back to their posts.
No bright lights. Just the flicker of the candles in the Temple.
No shepherds. They were in the fields.
Just elderly arms aching to hold the promise.
Simeon held out his hands beckoning Mary the joy of holding the One who God foretold in the Word and in Simeon’s heart. And Simeon worshiped. Did he cry as he held 8-day old Jesus?
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 1:29-31).
But his words weren’t all pleasant. Simeon gently returned the baby into his mother’s arms. Eyes looking deep into hers he warned, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).
Did a chill run down Mary’s spine at the sound of those words?
If so, the warmth of Anna’s words, the other ancient saint in the Temple, countered such fear. “Coming up to them at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
At That Moment
God is so faithful. Would it have been too much for Mary to bear Simeon’s words had not Anna been there at just the right time?
She had spent almost her whole life in the Temple night and day worshiping and fasting. Waiting on God. And when He came, she knew just what to say at just the right moment to the mother of the Savior.
My friends, Anna made it her sole purpose in life to worship. And though her role in the Bible is small, though her story is tucked away between glorious angels and the miraculous healings, her part was important.
Simeon’s part ranked up there too.
And so does yours.
How do we prepare for our role–our purpose?
Simeon and Anna played their roles with grace and confidence and perfect timing because they were worshipers.
Do you want to hear God better? (As Simeon knew to go back to the Temple.)
Worship.
Do you want to be used by Him to help others? (As Anna was.)
Worship.
Do you want to be in the right place at the right time? (As they both were.)
Worship.
Sneak Peek and Printable
Psalm 103: 1-2: Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Psalm 103:13: As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
Psalm 105: 1-2: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
1 John 3:1: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Rev. 15:2-4: And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beastand its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways. King of the nations.[a] 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Psalm 89:1: I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
Psalm 146: 1-2: Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Click here to get the printable with scriptures and instructions.
No broadcast this week.
I will miss sharing these verses with you! But I pray you enjoy sweet time in worship with the Word in the word. And I pray you have a wonderful Christmas week.
Remember: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:17.
He’s near.
Digging Deep in Praise,
Andy
PS. From my family to yours . . . we pray you have a blessed Christmas
Back row: Tayler and Stephen (engaged), Joe (friend), Preston and Lauren (married), and Drew and Adeline (dating). Front row: Mike and Andy
