Topical Bible: Death: Desired: Simeon

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Simeon, a devout and righteous man in Jerusalem, is a notable biblical figure who expressed a desire for death after witnessing the fulfillment of God's promise. His account is recounted in the Gospel of Luke, where he is described as a man who eagerly awaited the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25).

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. This divine promise sustained him, and he lived in anticipation of this significant event. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple to perform the customary rites, Simeon was led by the Spirit to the temple courts. Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, acknowledging the fulfillment of the promise he had received.

Simeon's words, often referred to as the "Nunc Dimittis," express his readiness for death now that he has seen the Messiah: "Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Simeon's desire for death was not born out of despair or weariness of life but rather from a sense of fulfillment and peace. Having witnessed the arrival of the Savior, he felt his life's purpose had been completed. His longing for death was a natural response to the profound joy and satisfaction of seeing God's salvation plan unfold before his eyes.

Simeon's account highlights the deep faith and hope that characterized the lives of those who awaited the Messiah. His desire for death, once his eyes beheld the Christ, underscores the transformative power of encountering Jesus and the peace that comes from knowing God's promises are true and fulfilled.

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Luke 2:29
Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word:
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How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites ...
... 1. After the death of Joshua and Eleazar, Phineas prophesied ... Now the tribes of Judah
and Simeon took the ... city belonged to the Canaanites, but desired rather to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how after the.htm

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
... Hence the aged Simeon, putting off the weakness of the ... banishing from the food the
bitterness of death; and then ... art thou, all-blessed, and to be desired of all ...
/.../the writings of methodius fragments/oration concerning simeon and anna.htm

The Dedication
... that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them ... Simeon had prophesied of
Him as a light to lighten the ... He desired men to behold Him, not merely as the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 5 the dedication.htm

The Woman and Dragon.
... "Many righteous men desired" to see ... 8:56); and Hezekiah lamented that because of
death he should ... near their termination, to the pious and devout Simeon who was ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the woman and dragon.htm

Life of Bede
... was first buried at Jarrow but, according to Simeon of Durham ... by angels to the joys
of Heaven which he desired. And all who heard him or beheld the death of our ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/life of bede.htm

How we Ought Lovingly to Receive God.
... Oh, noble and loving Lord, I have often desired in my heart that, like holy Simeon
in the ... neither joy nor sorrow, neither life nor death, could separate ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xxiii how we ought.htm

Concerning the violation of Dina's Chastity.
... From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac ... of their sister, and of the address of Hamor;
and desired them to ... But Simeon and Levi, the brethren of the damsel by the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 21 concerning the violation.htm

How, Upon Antiochus's Prohibition to the Jews to Make Use of the ...
... the son of John, the son of Simeon, the son ... sacrifice, as the king had commanded,
they desired that Mattathias ... put those of their own country to death who had ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how upon antiochuss.htm

On Genesis.
... to the death of the flesh; but He was not overcome of death. ... [1153] For Simeon did
not obtain ... Issachar desired the good part, resting in the midst of the lots. ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on genesis.htm

"Nunc Dimittis"
... wonder, and exclaim "Let me die the death of the ... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven?"
Simeon had no ... the anchor heaved, the favoring breeze is desired that the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/nunc dimittis.htm