The Remnant预览

A small cloud of dust kicked up beneath his well-worn sandals as he entered the temple courtyard. Simeon’s heart raced as he moved with an urgency he hadn’t felt in years. His eyes scanned the courtyard, and then he saw them. Making their way through the crowd, the young couple carried their newborn and a pair of turtledoves for their purification offering. It was the Spirit that had led Simeon here and confirmed that this was the One he had been waiting for. The Consolation of Israel, the promised comforter was finally here, and he slept comfortably in his mother’s arms.

Mary wasn’t afraid to place her baby in Simeon’s outstretched arms. His eyes were kind and filled with tears as he gently cradled the newborn. Overwhelmed by God’s kindness, he burst out in praise and prophecy. Simeon wouldn’t live long enough to see the wonders or the wounds this newborn babe would perform and bear. But he knew his birth would bring salvation, and he’d already brought comfort to this man’s heart.

Simeon had surely endured mockery and insults for his steadfast belief that the Messiah would come. He was part of a remnant of true believers waiting and watching for the Lord’s arrival. With hundreds of prophecies concerning the Seed, Ruler, Star, Branch, Shepherd, Prince, Anointed One, Messiah, and Comforter, there was no excuse for Israel not to be on the lookout for his arrival. But in the temple, the very place you’d expect the Messiah to show up and be welcomed, only Simeon and Anna recognized this holy moment.

While the majority of mankind is unbelieving, God always preserves a small group, or a remnant, of true believers. Proportionally, they’re small in number. Out of the thousands who heard and saw the miraculous ministry of Christ, they’re the mere 120 disciples in the upper room (Acts 1:15) after the ascension. They’re the 3,000 saved at Pentecost (Acts 2:41), and the 144,000 witness in the final pages of Revelation (Revelation 7:1-3). The remnant is always there, in every generation, representing truth, and chosen by God’s grace (Romans 11:5).

Simeon in the Temple, Rembrandt 1669, Public Domain

Now we know in full what Simeon could only hope for in part. The consolation of Israel has come. He didn’t remain a helpless babe, but lived a perfect sinless life, paid for our sins on the cross, and conquered death by rising from the dead. His life, death, and resurrection is our comfort in this life, and our confident expectation for the next.

Have you experienced the comfort that only the Consolation of Israel brings? If so, may what was true of Simeon, be true of us.

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." Luke 2:25

God, help us to be a faithful remnant, waiting in confident expectation of his next coming and inviting others to know the Comforter, too.

Questions to Consider

1. Out of all the men in Jerusalem, there was one, Simeon, who was called out and characterized as righteous and devout. He was a true believer in Israel - which makes him part of the remnant. Are you a true believer, upon whom the Holy Spirit also rests?

Did you enjoy this plan?

As we conclude this brief study of the Remnant, I pray you’re encouraged to walk courageously in faith as we follow in the footsteps of these righteous saints. If you’d like to walk in the footsteps of more righteous and devout saints, I invite you to download my ebook, Paths of the Righteous.

Paths of the Righteous is a six-day devotional designed to walk you through Psalm 23 and reflect on the lives of some famous missionaries and how David’s psalm is reflected in their lives.

Download your copy today: https://cara-ray.com/paths-of-the-righteous/