Devotional
I Have Seen Thy Salvation
By Dr. David L. Sampson
A month had passed since that glorious night when Christ was born in Bethlehem. Angels had announced His arrival, shepherds hurried to the manger where He laid and went away, “…glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Now in order to meet the demands of the law, Mary and Joseph brought the baby to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. There in the temple, Mary would be required to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering. A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons would meet the demands of the law (Leviticus 12:2-8). And while they were there in Jerusalem, they met a man by the name of Simeon.
All we know about Simeon is what Luke tells us about him in his gospel. He was a just and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel. The “consolation of Israel” was the promise of the coming Messiah. God had given Simeon a promise, “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:26)
That day had finally arrived! The Messiah had been born! The prophets had foretold of God’s coming King and Simeon is now beholding the very face of God! Delight must have flooded this old man’s heart. Tears of joy must have streamed down his face. God had been faithful to His promise. And now cradled in Simeon’s arms, he holds the baby gently and lovingly. Then for a moment he wipes away his tear filled eyes of joy and gazes upon the gift of God. What an awesome moment! Simeon must have had the face of an angel. His countenance was lit up with overwhelming joy! Simeon “…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 story of Simeon has been lived out repeatedly with eyes of faith. Many have seen “thy salvation.” There are thousands of people who know what it is like to stand with tear filled eyes of joy and behold by faith, the very face of God. How about you? Can you say the same thing as Simeon, “…let thou thy servant depart in peace…For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”
Peace is what Christ has to offer for the troubled depraved soul of man. Death is something not to be feared when one knows the Lord Jesus Christ. Death is only the vehicle that ushers us into the presence of the Lord with a peace that passes all understanding.
The greatest gift that could be opened in any Christmas season is the gift of eternal life. You then can say the same as Simeon and many others…I Have Seen Thy Salvation.