And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD’s Christ.
The LORD began today in Luke 2:26 (the title), where we’re told of Simeon hearing the LORD (unknown) speaking to Him. In the following verse, we’re told he was then led by the Spirit into the temple where the parents brought the child Jesus, on the eighth day (the day of circumcision and presentation). In these two verses are described the LORD, unknown by man and called the Holy Ghost, speaking of His, Jehovah’s, anointed, who is then called by the name Jesus, meaning He is Jehovah’s salvation manifested. This is the Divine Formula of salvation, when the Father reveals Himself in and through the Son, and in realizing, believing, having faith, it is the Father, we see Him by His word and work revealed in and through sons in human flesh. This is the original intention of circumcision, removing the flesh so what (Who) it hides may be seen.
Luke 2
25 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.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD’s Christ.
27 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,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 LORD, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word:
30 For mine eyes have seen your salvation,
31 Which you have prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
What follows will reveal many of the deeper connections and meanings, again through the Divine Formula of following the LORD as He brings together many different parts of His word into one cohesive message (ordered, as only He can). It is intended for all, but will only be fully understood by those who’ve (here with us) loved and kept (tereo – shamar) His word.
The many patterns (describing this moment) above in Luke 2 begin with the name Simeon, meaning heard, who hearing and believing the LORD, saw Him, and thereby received the “consolation of Israel” for which he waited. The “consolation,” from the word paraklesis, is the work of the LORD while He is still unknown, leading us into all truth, so we can see Him. Those who do see Him, as is the meaning of the name Israel, will rule with Him. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says Israel means “God prevails.”
The “consolation” is the “comfort” spoken of in Isaiah 40:1, when the LORD comes to prepared His people to receive Him, by straitening what had been made crooked, and by this, we “Behold our God.”
Isaiah 40
1 Comfort you, comfort you my people, says your God.
2 Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withers, the flower fades: because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
As we’ve seen in the pattern of Genesis 49, after Reuben took His father’s place, in the pattern of the “son of perdition” recklessly reinterpreted God’s word, Simeon listened to (heard) him. Then he and Levi (the priesthood) joined with his erroneous leading and led all God’s people astray, by which they were scattered. Luke is speaking of this, the misleading of Simeon, those who should be listening to the Father, being reversed and the LORD again being heard and followed by His people.
Genesis 49
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4 Unstable [pachaz – ebullition] as water [this tells of the advice of the serpent, as one of God’s children, with unbridled license, recklessly reinterpreting His word], you shall not excel [yathar – remain]; because you went up to your father’s bed [went into the women – God’s people who have His words]; then defiled you it: he went up to my couch [took God’s place].
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren [names meaning, those hearing and joining this teaching that replace God’s]; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
6 O my soul, come not you into their secret [their hidden counsel]; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not you united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall [by this they brought death on all man, and removed the protection found in the garden].
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel [speaking of the continual scattering of God’s people into many sects].
8 Judah [the leaders God choses], you are he whom your brethren shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet [speaking of the Davidic king line], until Shiloh come [meaning peace and tranquility – the one {Joseph’s seed – the one separated} from who it will again flow – see Ezekiel 21:27 and the overturning]; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine [this is speaking of the lowly {Zechariah 9:9}, God’s elect remnant, outside the established sects, bound until Shiloh comes, when they are loosed]; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13 Zebulun [the lowly raised up at the LORD’s coming] shall dwell at the haven of the sea [safe from the masses]; and he shall be for a haven of ships [and saving any who come to the LORD through them]; and his border shall be unto Zidon [they will be the end of those who’ve hunted souls].
14 Issachar [through him will come the reward – the fruitful bough] is a strong ass [the LORD’s people, now become His goodly horse in the battle – Zechariah 10:3] couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
16 Dan [the judge – speaking of strength returned and the righteous judgment of the world begins] shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way [as a serpent raised as a standard on a pole {nec}], an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels [this is the heel bruised in the judgment, meaning the serpents among the people, are rendered without effect], so that his rider shall fall backward [so the body of Christ will return to the place from which she fell – see, in Isaiah 28:13, what causes them to fall backward].
18 (I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.)
19 Gad [the LORD’s army, overcome until their return to Him], a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher [happy] his bread shall be fat [happiness returns when the word of God prospers], and he shall yield royal dainties [ma’adan – speaking of the royal line again raised up – referring us to its use in Proverbs 29:17, telling us this is when rest returns, when we, by correction, give the Father “delight”].
21 Naphtali [by this wrestling – unknowingly with the LORD] is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words [our tongue {the word of God} is loosed and we teach it as received directly from Him].
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well [a tree of life by these waters of God]; whose branches run over the wall [the wall of lies men have created and teach]:
23 The archers [ba’al – the gods of this world whose teaching has blinded all form seeing the Father, in the son, the seed of the women who brings forth the man child – see Revelation 12:17] have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
25 Even by the God of your father, who shall help you; and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under [the deep meaning that lies below the surface], blessings of the breasts, and of the womb [seed, the son]:
26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors [all those who have come before us, who were blessed with only parts of what is perfected in our return to the LORD] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
27 Benjamin [the right hand of God’s power] shall ravin as a wolf [shall tear in pieces the wolf that has scattered the one flock]: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. [These last words are referring us to Maher-shalal-hash-baz, the son spoken of in beginning Isaiah 8, his name meaning he hastes to the spoil and is quick to the prey. He is the son foretold as coming by the virgin, later called Immanuel, as the advice, teaching, of the LORD comes, when men have formed a confederacy listening to the dead gods of the world.]
In the name Joseph, we are told of the father (of Jesus), unknown by our (his brothers) separating ourselves from Him by our sins (selling him into what becomes our captivity and oppression {Egypt}).
Isaiah 59
1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you [as Joseph’s face was hidden from His brothers], that he will not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.
4 None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
As we know, the name Mary means rebel and tells Jesus’ mother as one who rebelled against the teaching of the corrupt status quo, and taught Him knowledge and wisdom, giving him understanding. This is what straitens what is crooked. It’s first the consolation, teaching that leads us into all truth, and is then, seeing the Father, we become His children and enter His kingdom.
When Luke tells of Simeon “waiting” he used the Greek word prosdechomai, meaning to receive for one’s self. In the previous post, we saw this meaning in the Hebrew words ra’ah ‘eth, translated “consider” in Ecclesiastes 7:13. “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? The word ra’ah means to see, and the word ‘eth is never translated because it is said to be inexpressible in the English language. It is describing things that must be intelligently (with knowledge) experienced to be understood, such as the work of God which reveals Him.
Luke uses the word prosdechomai in describing the things that must be experienced to be understood. The first is the redemption of Jerusalem, the second is the appearance of the LORD, the third is why the LORD receives sinners, and the last is the kingdom of God.
Luke 2
36 And there was one Anna [grace], a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel [the face {presence} of God], of the tribe of Aser [blessing {gift}]: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the LORD, and spoke of him to all them that looked [prosdechomai] for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the LORD, they returned into Galilee [the LORD’s innner circle], to their own city Nazareth [from the Hebrew word nazar, meaning to hold aloof or to separate {fromwhat defiles} – selah].
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 12
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And you yourselves like unto men that wait [prosdechomai] for their LORD, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the LORD when he comes shall find watching: truly I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the good-man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, LORD, speaks you this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the LORD said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his LORD shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his LORD when he comes shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.
Luke 15
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives [prosdechomai – wait for, long-suffers, for the repentance of] sinners, and eats with them.
3 And he spoke this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repent, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The final use of prosdechomai is in telling where the LORD’s dead body laid, with Joseph of Arimathaea (separated from his people by the sin, erroneous teaching and misleading of those who refuse to be correct away from error). Arimathaea is telling where He is now found by His brothers, in His grace in receiving us even while we are still blinded to Him by our sins. Arimathaea is the Hebrew words har, mountain, and mattan, meaning gift (Mattanyah – the gift of Jehovah – the last king who will be the first, who the grace, gift, blessing, of God brings to life).
Luke 23
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee [the LORD’s inner circle], stood afar off, beholding these things.
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited [prosdechomai] for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
When we are told of “waiting” to understand, by experiencing these things for ourselves, they are referring to Genesis 49:19 above, which parenthetically says, “I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.” It’s speaking of the moment God’s people realize His presence and turn away from their idols to Him. Isaiah refers to this moment in Isaiah 49:23, a chapter also (in verse 8) telling of the acceptable time, when the LORD has heard us and answered.
Isaiah 49
8 Thus says the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
9 That you may say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim [thorns – from corrupt leadership].
13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
14 But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me, and my LORD has forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget you.
16 Behold, I have graven you upon the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
17 Your children shall make haste; your destroyers and they that made you waste shall go forth of you.
18 Lift up your eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, says the LORD, you shall surely clothe you with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on you, as a bride does.
19 For your waste and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.
20 The children which you shall have, after you have lost the other, shall say again in your ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
21 Then shall you say in your heart, Who has begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
22 Thus says the LORD God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
25 But thus says the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children.
26 And I will feed them that oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 50
1 Thus says the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother [teachers] put away.
2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinks, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4 The LORD God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens mine ear to hear as the learned.
5 The LORD God has opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the LORD God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the LORD God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light [your own erroneous understanding] of your fires, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of mine hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.
Psalms 26
1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For your lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocence: so will I compass your altar, O LORD:
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works.
8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where your honor dwells.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot stands in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.
