Simeon is described as a righteous and devout man (Luke 2:25). This didn’t mean that he was perfect in his righteousness, of course. He was respected by others for his religious devotion to God. Interestingly, Simeon’s description as a righteous and devout man is immediately followed by a modifying phrase, “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). The defining character of his righteousness and religious devotion was the fact that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. What was “the consolation of Israel”? The next verse makes it clear that “the consolation of Israel” was “the Lord's Christ” (v. 26).
Read MoreIn the first section (vv. 68-75), Zechariah blesses God for redeeming His people. This was according to what the prophets of old prophesied (v. 70) and what God promised in His covenants with David (v. 69) and Abraham (v. 73). This redemption is through “a horn of salvation” raised from the house of David. (A horn was a symbol of strength.) This redemption is from the enemies of Israel (v. 71). But the goal of this redemption was not merely for Israel’s political freedom; it was ultimately for Israel to serve their God in holiness and righteousness (vv. 74-75). We may think that the enemies Zechariah had in mind were the pagan nations that had invaded and occupied Israel over the years, the latest being Rome. But the description of the enemies was ambiguous enough that they didn’t have to be merely political and military enemies. The enemies were whoever and whatever prevented Israel from serving God in holiness and righteousness (v. 75). What hindered them from doing that more than sin and the Tempter?
Read MoreGood morning! This week, we will do Christmas-themed devotions. There are three “Christmas Songs” in the New Testament: The Magnificat (Mary’s song), the Benedictus (Zechariah’s song), and the Nunc Dimmitis (Simeon’s song). We will start with the Magnificat. Luke 1:46-55And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Mary sang this song after Elizabeth, her cousin who was pregnant with John the Baptist, greeted her as “the mother of my Lord.” This song is called the Magnificat because the first word of her song in Latin is “Magnificat,” which means “magnifies.” This song is about the reasons for which she magnifies the Lord.
Read More“Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Ps. 2:12). Good morning! Ps. 2 ends with “Blessed are....” Do you remember how Ps. 1 began? “Blessed is the man...” (Ps. 1:1). The word, “Blessed,” functions like the bookends, tying the two Psalms together. These two Psalms invite the readers to the blessed/happy life, to which God calls His people. How comforting and reassuring it is to know that God desires His people to be blessed! Do you believe that? Ps. 1 had a relative long description of the blessed man (Ps. 1:1-2). Ps. 2 has a simple and short description of the blessed man: “Blessed are all who take refuge in him [i.e., God’s anointed Son and King.” But these two descriptions are closely related. We can view all that the blessed man does or does not do in Ps. 1—not walking in the counsel of the wicked, not standing in the way of sinners, not sitting in the seat of scoffers, but delighting in the law of the LORD and meditating on it day and night—as various ways of taking refuge in the Son of God. We cannot separate the Son of God and the Law/Word of God. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you [as opposed to the yoke of the Pharisees, which is made up of man-made rules], and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29).
Read More“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Ps. 2:10-12). Good morning! To whom is the Psalmist addressing these words? To the kings and rulers of the earth. We have heard of these people before: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed...” (vv. 1-2). God laughed at them for their vain attempt to overthrow His sovereign rule. He established His King, His Son, on Zion (v. 6). He gave Him the authority to break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel (v. 9) for their sin of insolent rebellion against their Maker and Lord.
Read MorePs. 2 is a Messianic Psalm. Its ultimate fulfillment is in Jesus Christ. But it is not just applied to Jesus. There were many messiahs throughout Israel’s history. This is easy to see when we consider what “messiah” means. It simply means an “anointed one.” Many were anointed in Israel—kings, priests, and prophets (by the Holy Spirit). So, this Psalm could be applied to the kings of Israel, particularly of the line of David. That is why Ps. 2 is categorized as a Royal Psalm as well. You can see this Psalm used at the time of coronation. So then, when the LORD said, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you,” He was not talking about the birth of the king; He was speaking of his coronation.
Read More“Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill’” (Ps. 2:5-6). As we continue our reflection on Ps. 2, I’d like to share Spurgeon’s powerful commentary on vv. 5-6: “After he has laughed he shall speak; he needs not smite; the breath of his lips is enough. At the moment when their power is at its height, and their fury most violent, then shall his Word go forth against them. And what is it that he says?—it is a very galling sentence—'Yet,’ says he, ‘despite your malice, despite your tumultuous gatherings, despite the wisdom of your counsels, despite the craft of your lawgivers, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.’ Is not that a grand exclamation! He has already done that which the enemy seeks to prevent. While they are proposing, he has disposed the matter.
Read MoreIn vv. 1-3, we have a description of a worldwide coalition. The world has never been so united as in this federation. Nations rage and peoples plot—not against one another but with one another against their common enemy. Kings and rulers, who are always at odds with one another, constantly vying for more power and dominance, join their hands and take counsel together. They are united in one purpose: “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us!” How terrible their enemy has to be that they are willing to forget all their present differences and past animosities and join their forces together to fight this common enemy? We find out that this common enemy of theirs is none other than the LORD and His Anointed.
Read MoreYesterday, we saw how the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water. “The wicked are not so,” begins the Psalmist’s description of the wicked. Let us consider the contrast between the blessed and the wicked. This will help us appreciate our new life in Christ so much more. While the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water, the wicked man is like chaff that the wind drives away. Obviously, the blessed man is deeply rooted in the grace of God. The wicked man has no such roots in God’s grace. When the wind of the Final Judgment blows, the blessed man will be able to withstand it by the firm hold of the grace of God. But the wicked man will be blown away like chaff: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”
Read More“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Ps. 1:1-3). Today, let’s continue with the description of the blessed man, who delights in the law of the LORD. The blessed man is likened to “a tree planted by streams of water.” What do “streams of water” represent? The blessed man was described as someone who delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on it day and night. So then, the “streams of water” have got to be God’s Law/Word. He who delights in God’s Law is blessed because God’s law is like “streams of water,” which provide water to the tree so it can live, grow, thrive, and bear fruit. By being close to God’s law, abiding in the Word of God, and having the Word of God dwell in us richly, we are like a tree planted by streams of water.
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