And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Holy Ghost brings people to Christ. That is one of his most essential roles. Christ did not come unto Simeon immediately; he had to wait for many years. When Christ was near, the Holy Ghost led Simeon to Christ at the temple. If I want to come to Christ today, I need to worship him in the temple. The temple is literally the House of the Lord, the connection between heaven and earth. As a result, I feel peace and joy in the temple.
Some words on the "consolation of Israel": "Luke’s use of the phrase “the consolation of Israel” is striking, and it is clearly to be taken in a messianic sense. Throughout their history, the people of Israel had suffered greatly, both for their own sin and because of the oppression of others. Their land was frequently overrun by foreign powers who knew the strategic significance of Palestine, which connected Africa, Europe, and Asia. They suffered under slavery in Egypt and endured the troubles of exile. In short, they were a people in desperate need of consolation and comfort—the kind of permanent comfort that could come only when the Son of David would arrive to guard them and to provide for the forgiveness of their sin. "Simeon spent his life waiting for this consolation, for the Messiah to come and redeem his people. He had been given a unique promise that he would not die before he saw the Christ—the Messiah—with his own eyes (Luke 2:25–26). When he was an old man, this promise was finally fulfilled, and he marveled at the glory of God in the face of the infant Christ. Thus, he was prepared to die and meet His Creator." (See http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/consolation-israel/.) There is interesting symbolism in Simeon seeing Christ. Jesus Christ is the life of the world. Yet, when Simeon finally had the promise of seeing Christ fulfilled, he was prepared for mortal death. The purpose of life is to prepare to meet God (see Alma 34:32). Without Christ's atonement, we would remain tarnished by sin, and would not be worthy to dwell in God's presence. Christ is the King of Kings. Yet his first mortal reign was not of powerful, glorious dominion. The Israelites may not have found a dominated war leader, but they did find the only person who could provide the permanent comfort that comes from the forgiveness of sins. I should follow Simeon's example and attend the temple regularly. I should repent daily of my sins and recieve the "consolation of Israel" in my life.
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