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Song of Simeon
Why do we sing this? This man was literally saying, God, I can die now.
Luke 2:29-32
At the end of a lot of church services there’s a piece of music that we sing called the Nunc Dimittis, and it comes from Luke chapter two. It’s the song of this old man, Simeon, who was there when Jesus was 40 days old, and he was brought to the temple and was revealed to Simeon that this small baby, this small child, Jesus, was the Savior. And Simeon takes this small child up into his arms and he sings this beautiful song. He says these words,
Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
One day after church, after a church service and we finished singing that a friend of our congregation came up and said, pastor, why? Why do we sing this? This man was literally saying, God, I can die now. Is that what we want to say when we’re leaving church? It struck me and I thought about it and I said, well, yes, that’s the very point. You and I have peace as we walk out of this place. Peace in knowing that no matter what happens, I’m ready and prepared for heaven. I get to walk out these doors knowing that the Lord is good. I know that my Savior is here, that he has come and that he belongs to me.
Just as Simeon was holding that child in his arms. I’ve been here in this place where I’ve heard about my Savior. I’ve remembered the fact that I’ve been baptized into that Savior. I’ve gotten to receive the body and blood of that Savior in the Lord’s Supper. So, yes, all of us, every time we leave this place, every time we leave or step away from hearing and meditating on God’s Word, we can rightly say and repeat these words of Simeon. Lord, I can depart in peace, because I have seen, and I know your salvation. I know that Jesus has lived for me a perfect life. I know that Jesus goes to the cross. He pays for all of my sins. I know that this child that was in Simeon’s arms is also risen from the dead to new, eternal life. And he promises that same thing to me and to you, because we have our faith in him. God has revealed to us that he is our Savior.
What a joy that is! What a beautiful hymn this is for us to sing as we leave God’s house of worship, as we step away from our devotion time Lord, I get to depart in peace. I know that I am ready at any given moment to meet you, because I know the salvation that I have in Christ Jesus. God’s peace be with you.
