Words Are Fascinating

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Category: General | Aug 1989

Though similar, there is a difference in the Biblical meanings of the words abiding, waiting, and looking.

When Abraham was taking Isaac on the memorable journey to Mount Morish, he chose a place possibly near

the base, where the servants could await his return. "Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you", he commanded his men (Gen. 22:5). Abide meant more than just to wait; they were to settle down quietly as married folks do in their home; they were virtually to set up camp, or keep house, until Abraham and Isaac returned. That is what the Hebrew word indicates.

When the Lord Jesus gave His graphic description of things which will happen during the great tribulation, He also commented: "When these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28). "Look up" is not linked with a position of sitting or settling down, but rather from being on the knees, the attitude of prayer; an unbending of the body in order to look up.

Yet with aged Simeon and Anna, who were both looking, the thought is that of waiting to welcome a guest, to show hospitality; to wait with patience and confidence. We are told little about Simeon, but because of his declaration, and his act of blessing to Joseph and Mary, he must have been a prophet (Luke 2:34,35). Luke also says this about Simeon: "And behold there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (2:25). These were among the saddest days of Israel's history. They had known oppression under Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and other tyrants. Now the hard heel of Rome's occupation was being felt keenly. Simeon was not alone in looking for the consolation of Israel. Consolation, from the Greek word paraklesis, conveys the thought of one coming alongside with solace, comfort, refreshment, which could only be found in Jesus the Messiah. How He longed to provide this for them, but He was not welcomed by all, as Simeon's message to Mary conveyed. "Behold, this Child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel..." (v.34). He would be a blessing to some, and a stone of stumbling to others.

Simeon's days of waiting had ended when the Holy Spirit led him to the Temple where he received the Child Jesus into his arms. With hope fulfilled and joy realized, he prayed, "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, 0 Lord, according to Thy word, in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel" (vv. 29-32).

Anna the prophetess, who had probably lived a hundred or more years before Messiah was born, came from the tribe of Asher, and was holding a similar kind of vigil as Simeon. She was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (v.38). This is said of her tribe, "And let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength (rest, security) be" (Deut. 33:24, 25 RVM). Could this picturesque language indicate a walk in the Spirit (oil) in shoes of strength and endurance (iron and brass)? It might indeed typify this dear woman who in her 107th year (as reckoned by some scholars) worshipped, fasted, prayed, night and day, as she waited. Having seen what Simeon saw, she gave thanks to God for prophecy fulfilled in the Child born, the Son given, as Jerusalem's and Israel's Redeemer (v.38). Like the shepherds after their visit to the manger she could not keep the news to herself for she "spake of Him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (v.38).

We who live in the 20th century, the latter part of the day of grace, are privileged to join a noble band of watchers and waiters, as we look "for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). This looking by us is the same as that of Simeon and Anna, except that our eyes are directed heavenward. It cannot be otherwise, for Paul makes it clear:

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven,; with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thes. 4:16,17).

There was no shout or trumpet sound at His birth, but there will be at His coming. Might it be needed for those who are not looking? We have been left an incentive to look upward to replace the looking around on the violence, hate and cruelty of this world. Look up, then, with patience and confidence, "For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry" (Heb. 10:37).

And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I; send me" (Is. 6:8).

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C., Canada | Aug 1989
General