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to Alpha Omega Net *** Forthshining Christ's Life
PROLOGUE
You may recall a chorus popular a few years ago, especially if you took part in the movement of God named by man "Latter Rain". It's based on Isaiah's prophecy:
They that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings
as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Teach me, LORD;
teach me LORD,
to wait.
"...there was a man in Jerusalem, called Simeon; who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (Luke 2.25, NIV).
The emphasis in this scripture is more often than not placed on Simeon's righteousness and devotion, rather than upon his "waiting" - but I do recall one of my Sunday School teachers telling the class that "Simeon just sat there in Jerusalem and waited for Israel's consolation - and if you think just hanging around and waiting is easy, try it", - or some such words.
Some discussion of these most misused words may be profitable at this point.
Simeon was "righteous" (KJV says "just") and he was "devout". The Greek word here translated "righteous" is "dikaios" and is most often rendered "righteous" in the New Testament, although it is also translated "just", "right", and "meet". It describes, preeminently, one whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to God's will, and who therefore needs no rectification in heart or life. In this sense none can be called dikaios except one who has Christ's righteousness imputed to him. But in the Jewish world, in a broader sense, as is commonly used in our Bible, it is used of a man or woman who is virtuous, who keeps God's commandments and is "holy" in the sense of being separated to God. For instance, Joseph is called a dikaios man in Matthew 1.19, as is Lot in 2 Peter 3.12. Paul describes "the commandment" as "holy, dikaios, and good" in Romans 7.12.
We can then say that Simeon was a righteous man insofar as observing divine laws and that he lived a life separate from worldly wickedness.
Simeon was also "devout", and the Greek word so translated is an interesting adjective. It is eulabes and means reverencing God, pious, religious. It is used only three times in the New Testament and always translated "devout", describing Simeon in the verse under consideration, certain "devout men of every nation" in Acts 2.5, and "devout men" who carried Stephen to his burial in Acts 8.2.
Now we know Simeon was a worshipper of the Only True God, devoting himself to His service, and beyond the brief description "righteous and devout" the text doesn't expand on his piety. The word "waiting" in the verse under consideration holds vast implications. "Waiting"! What will test one's devotion to the Creator quite as much as the test of time? To receive the promise, to be given a revelation of impending events and then to be "put on hold", and to have to wait, and wait, and wait, wondering if one has been mistaken, desiring the revelation to take final form - this is time-testing.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will
not delay.
(Habakkuk 2.3, NIV)
All of our "naming and claiming", whining or begging will not make the revelation a reality. Old SELF can declare it done, rave, thunder and call down the "wrath of God', until total frustration absorbs the ranter, but SELF can't fulfill the vision and produce reality. The revelation, the "vision", is given; we receive it and long for it's reality - but we must settle down in patience and WAIT.
HE IS BOTH ORIGINATOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH! LET'S KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM - AND LET'S WORSHIP IN OUR WAITING. Such waiting is not wasted time when it is continuous worship time.
This man Simeon firmly grasped the revelation, the promise, and gave reverence to God, worshipped Him, and waited. "...the Holy Spirit was upon him" - another brief statement concerning Simeon, but chock-full of meaning. It is the indwelling Spirit of the Living God that enables us to take hold of the revealed promise, and just go on worshipping through the years of waiting. The Spirit keeps the vision fresh before us and strengthens us so that we don't grow weary and surrender to weakness of the flesh and the accusations of the adversary.
Simeon SAW this reality, the Consolation, embodied in the infant Jesus of Nazareth, the CHRIST - and he was satisfied. Faith reached out and lay hold of the fact that this babe in Mary's arms was "He who would come", - the promised Ruler over Israel - and the ONE through whom comfort and joy would come to ALL mankind - in HIS DUE TIME.
How was Simeon able to believe that the SALVATION OF ISRAEL, THE CONSOLATION promised aforetime, was resident in the Babe? I think it was because he was DEVOUT, and through the Holy Spirit laid hold of ALL God promised. Being a constant worshipper, he was attuned to God's ways and workings.
For me the most interesting word in this verse of scripture is the Greek prosdekomai. This word has two main meanings: its simple form is used to denote "receiving someone" as in Luke 15.2, "This man receiveth sinners", and in Philippians 2.29, "Receive him therefore in the LORD"; and in the sense of accepting something with patient endurance, (See Hebrews 10.34 and 11.35). But it's predominant use in the New Testament is in the sense of "to await" and "look for", e.g. Titus 2.13 "Looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ...". It is in this sense the word is used in the cited scripture.
Paul wrote in Romans 8.25 "...if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently". (The Greek word used there is not the exact word used in the previously cited verses, but is apedekomai and means almost the same thing: "to await eagerly". It is used in that sense, almost exclusively, by Paul and the writer of the letter to the Hebrews).
There is much the LORD hasn't allowed us to see, and we certainly don't want self-generated visions or revelations which He Himself hasn't ordained. Since we can receive nothing except it be given us by Him, we must LOOK, WAIT, and EXPECT TO RECEIVE at HIS appointed time. Patience has its perfect work to do, and when it has worked its purification in us and prepared us to HIS purpose, THEN we'll be able to receive whatever He has warranted.
In a previous letter we learned that we need to learn to worship the ways of God, all through the processing He has scheduled, for this worship brings immeasurable help to us on our journey. It is indeed a profound work of God's grace that allows us to worship even in the waiting time of the days He has lent us. Acknowledging that His timing is perfect brings us to that point of acceptance included in true worship - an absolute acceptance of His loving control. This is a depth of worship foreign to many - but an integral part of Sonship: "Not my will - but THINE be done."
There is recorded in 1 Samuel 7.2 a particularly interesting instance in Israel's history. "It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the Ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought the LORD." (NIV)
The Ark symbolized for Israel the presence of the LORD. So when the Philistines came up to do battle with them and "slew of the army about four thousand men", Israel knew they were in trouble, so they sent for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to them. "When the Ark of the LORD'S Covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, 'What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?' When they learned that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. 'A god has come into the camp', they said. 'We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?' (1 Samuel 4.5-8, NIV).
The Philistines were well aware of the record: how the God of Israel had smitten Egypt with plagues of supernatural origin, and they knew they were in for a rough battle. So they determined to fight, knowing that if they did not, they'd be taken captive and enslaved - IF they weren't slain outright.
Israel had the "Ark of the Covenant" but they were NOT serving the God of that Ark - so God didn't save them from their enemies. It was judgement time, - and disciplinary processing time!
The Ark was taken by the Philistines and Israel easily routed. Every man who survived fled in ignominious retreat "to his tent".
The Philistines didn't understand the God of Israel, so they brought the Ark to Ashdod and put it in the house of Dagon, their god. They thought, perhaps, that they'd unite the worship of the Only True God with their idolatry - combine the two "religions" and really have a "strong and vitally growing church".
They soon found out what God thought about adulterous worship.
When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, once more fallen on his face before the Ark of the LORD, his head and hands broken off. (See 1 Samuel 5.1-5).
The LORD'S hand of judgement fell upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity. Their false god was broken and subdued and the Philistines themselves were smitten with deadly destruction. Those that didn't die were plagued with tumors in the groin. (See 1 Samuel 5.9, LXX and NIV).
Eventually they sent the Ark back to Israel and it got as far as Kirath Jearim, where it was taken into a house and stood for twenty years, and "the time was long". The Ark wasn't restored to Israel, nor Israel to God - but they continued in slavery to the Philistines and "lamented after the LORD". (1 Samuel 7.1-2).
The Hebrew word used here for "lament" is NAHAH, and means to groan, wail, as in crying loudly. I think it's interesting to note that people can groan, moan, and cry out for a move of God in their assembly, but not really give thought to whole-hearted worship in drawing near to God.
God used Samuel to give the message to Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines". (1 Samuel 7.3, NIV).
The Israelites responded the way we wish the whole of Christendom to respond. They put away their idols and SERVED THE LORD ONLY. Remember, the word "serve" when connected with God - or an idol - means to give WORSHIP. When worship is totally GOD-WARD, He delivers His people from their enemies.
It may be a hard lesson, but God's people must learn to wait. When "the time is long" and there seems to be no "break" in circumstance - THAT is a great time to worship God and believe. Worship Him all through the waiting. This will not only bring victory but make our waiting time far easier to endure.
According to current wisdom of the world there appears to be two extremes in the present moribund thinking of man. There are those who think this physical life is everything and the future nothing and there are those who think this life is nothing and the future everything.
The latter is medieval monasticism, and not worth spending time on. It has demonstrated its weakness and is rightfully ignored by all but the most backward of Christendom.
But it is far more worthy of cognizance than the current church craze for pop-psychologies that encourages narcissism, self love, self esteem, self aggrandizement and is typically so human. If you think the writer exaggerates, turn on your radio or television set and watch a couple of "church" programs. You'll find both "sacred" and secular programming attuned to humanism - with emphasis on man's perfectibility by man. BY MAN!
Thank God - such foolishness is destined to fall by the weight of its own worthlessness. Man who makes himself a god will fall harder than Dagon fell. Count on it.
Yes, present life seems to many just dismal delay, a sort of holding pattern, and they resignedly pray for God to speed things up and bring the age to a quick close. They just "hang on", barely existing as they wait out the years. On the other side of the coin are the thoughtless merry-makers - "eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die" - and they live as if they are lost in one great, long, "party-time".
Both extremes are wrong and the victims to be pitied. God has appointed our days. He may place us in some unusual circumstances - but the issue isn't WHERE we've been placed, but how much we learn to WORSHIP GOD in ALL THINGS; in how we learn to live in joyful obedience and not just exist in resignation. According to the Holy Spirit's admonition through Paul, we are to "live heartily as to the LORD, and not unto men...for ye SERVE THE LORD." (Colossians 3.23-24).
Matthew Henry, 17th century "dissenter" minister and author of one of the best Bible commentaries, once said, "That we may not complain of what is, let us see God's hand in all events; and that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God's hands."
There are certainly many precious events that seem to tarry, the time does seem long and reality obscure. If we are worshipping God in our waiting, He will use these very days, and hours, and minutes to prepare us for the glorious time of fulfillment. These are some verses of scripture that are to the point:
"We...are awaiting the expectation of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5.5, Concordant Literal New Testament)
"...looking earnestly for the time when our LORD Jesus Christ shall be revealed..." (1 Corinthians 1.7, Conybeare. The KJV says "waiting for the coming", etc. The Greek word is apokaluphis which means uncovering, disclosure, revelation or manifestation. Of the nineteen times this Greek word is used in the New Testament, it is only translated "coming" once - in the above cited scripture.)
"In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own." (Romans 8.18-19, Phillip's translation).
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." (Romans 8.22-23, NIV).
"Behold a man by name Joseph, - a man good and righteous - ...who was awaiting the kingdom of God". (Luke 23.50-51, my translation).
The list of verses describing our waiting and the events awaited is too long to write here.
Certainly, we're waiting for the full manifestation of His Kingdom - and it follows that we have no "calling" to build our own. "Cain went out from the presence of the LORD...and he builded a city...". (Genesis 4.16-17). The recognition of God's presence is required for true worship, and I believe we must ABIDE in the presence in order to enter His Kingdom in its fullness.
It's passing strange that people who profess to be waiting for the consummation of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS in HIS SONS, hectically busy themselves in the establishment of their own self- righteousness. We worship Him because He made Him (Jesus), who knew no sin, a sin-offering for us so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him. (See 2 Corinthians 5.21, et al, especially in the Companion Bible, and the figure of speech metonymy.)
If we are truly awaiting the redemption of our bodies, then why in the name of common sense and spiritual discernment should we become entangled with all the pseudo-revelations concerning the longevity of the present body of corruption? There are some who have come to the point of believing that they have been granted esoteric knowledge of a special diet that will cleanse the blood and body of sin and render it incorruptible.
We look to OUR REDEEMER to "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue ALL THINGS to Himself." (Philippians 3.21, my emphasis).
Magic, study, exercise, sorcery, diet, festivals, flagellation, fasting - NOTHING will redeem this dying body except the SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD.
We are waiting for the revelation of the SONS OF GOD!! This being so we will NOT seek to manifest ourselves, but abide in Him, waiting in worship, until the hour that HE places His sons in the divine order of things - NOT the order of man and the worldly church. We surely recognize that we are "under guardians and stewards until the time previously appointed by the Father". (Galatians 4.2). He has sent the Spirit of His Son - (SONSHIP SPIRIT, some say) into our hearts so that we will yield to HIS workings, and scour off our own pitiful, self-righteous labor. And why? So that we might grow up into HIM, progress to spiritual maturity and be prepared for Divinely Scheduled PLACEMENT AS SONS - e.g. the redemption of our bodies!
This exploration will be continued in the next letter. (See Waiting, Part 2)
Worship while you wait.