Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people." (Luke 2:28-31)(NLT)
The following is a worship profile of Simeon from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. I highly recommend this study bible for all students of biblical worship. Let's see what we can learn about worship from the life of Simeon:
Simeon
Scripture tells us very little about Simeon. But it does tell us that he was righteous, devout, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He was also an old man who had been waiting for something special. The Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Simeon encountered the infant Jesus in the Temple, he witnessed a truly monumental even in salvation history: God had come in the flesh. Salvation had been revealed to him--salvation for all people.
Simeon the Worshiper
Simeon's life of devotion prepared him for the moment he had longed for. By listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and following his leading to visit the Temple, he found the long-awaited Messiah. Simeon praised God for fulfilling his promises and allowing him to see the Lord's salvation. Simeon then blessed Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, returning to them what God had given him.
Learning from Simeon
Simeon was devout, that is, he was deeply devoted to the Lord. This devotion was blessed by a revelation from the Holy Spirit.
Simeon waited patiently. The Holy Spirit had revealed what Simeon would see but not when he would see it. He had to wait for the Lord to reveal the Messiah at the appropriate time.
Simeon shows us the proper response to God's mighty acts: praise. The core of our worship consists of praise and gratitude to God for all he has done.
Following the Example
Just as Simeon gave praise to the Lord, so should we. Like Simeon, we have seen the Lord's salvation, and so we can praise God for Christ's death and resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit in our life. Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, and give praise to God for his new covenant of grace and spiritual transformation.