I had a question concerning these verses, specifically verses 29-32. Therefore, I want you guys to go back and read this section, and think about the things being said. But first, let me clarify verse 29, Simeon is stating that he is now ready to die because God had honored His promise in verse 26. Simeon “would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”(1) Simeon had now seen the messiah (Lord’s Christ) and was ready to meet his maker.

After reading this section, go read Isaiah 49:6, 52:10 and 60:1-3. Make notes of the things that are similar to what Simeon is saying.

Think how Simeon might have known that the messiah’s birth was close. We know from verse 26 that the Holy Spirit revealed “that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”(1) But some scriptures predict the time of the messiah’s birth and Simeon could have been seeking the Lord about these things when the Holy Spirit revealed this to him.

(1) Scriptures quoted above are form the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.