Simeon, Symeon [Sĭm’eon]—hearing, hears and obeys or hearing with acceptance.

1.The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ).

The Man Who Was Self-Willed

It is not easy to deal with Simeon alone, since he is always associated with his

brother, Levi. “Simeon and Levi are brethren” ( Gen. 49:5 ). Of Simeon’s personal history we know little. His name implies

hearing with obedience, but Simeon was deaf in the day he should have heard, and

disobedient and irresponsive when his lot hung in balance.

The first thing recorded about Simeon is that with Levi his brother, he drew the

sword in treachery against the Shechemites and slew all the males. When rebuked

by their father, they upheld indignantly their right to act as they did. Both

acted “in their selfwill” ( Gen. 49:6 ), which means they took malicious delight in their gross crime.

Simeon next appears in the story of Joseph, who felt it would be better to

retain Simeon until Benjamin had been brought to the palace. Joseph felt with

his father Jacob that Simeon and Levi would be best apart. In fact, Simeon had

no blessing while joined with Levi and no prosperity while he was with Reuben.

When separated, Simeon, at first, did not multiply ( 1 Chron. 4:24-27 ). During the forty years in the wilderness the decrease of

Simeon was remarkable. Because of the idolatry of the tribe, thousands were

slain.

In the land of Canaan, Simeon joined with Judah, and this association marked a

turning point in the history of the tribe. Judah and Simeon went up together to

Canaan ( Judg. 1:1-3 ). Simeon means “obedient hearing,” and Judah, “praise.” The

absorption of Simeon into the inheritance of Judah gave Simeon a place and work

in Israel. In the final division of the land, foretold by Ezekiel, between

Benjamin and Issachar, there is a portion for Simeon.

Over the gate to the Golden City, Simeon’s name is inscribed—“Of the tribe of

Simeon were sealed 12,000”—a way for even Simeon to enter the city of God above.

From the time the Simeonites became aware of what God had done for them there

was no more curse and no more captivity for them. Hitherto instruments of

cruelty, they became instruments of warfare against the enemies of the Lord,

ultimately earning the right to be included among the number eternally sealed ( Rev. 7:7 ).

Self-will fittingly describes Simeon’s career until he was separated from Levi.

God hates self-will for He knows how it accounts for uncontrolled passions, and

the failure to respond to higher appeals. Because of their self-will God, in His

governmental dealings, scattered and impoverished the Simeonites. May we not

come nigh their dwelling but ever seek to learn, prove and obey “that good and

acceptable and perfect will of God.”

 

2.A just and devout man in Jerusalem who awaited the coming of Jesus, the

Messiah ( Luke 2:25-34 ).

The Man Who Died Satisfied

The adoration and prophecy of Simeon, who waited for the consolation of Israel

and blessed the Consoler when He appeared, is rich in spiritual suggestion. This

spectator of the most significant birth of all history, endued with a prophetic

spirit, kept the lamp of prophecy burning when religion was at a low ebb in

Israel. Simeon means “one who hears and obeys” and this saintly Simeon knew the

voice speaking in the prophets of old, and obeyed the light he saw. Coming into

the Temple, he took the Babe in his arms and blessed God. What a wonderful

benediction his was!

At last faith had been justified and Simeon could die without fear. Have our

eyes seen the salvation of the Lord? Can we die in peace? In his swan song,

Simeon was not ashamed to declare that the One born in the city of David was the

Saviour of the world. This was more than the letter-learned scribes of his times

had discerned. These were the men who looked upon Christ as a sign to be spoken

against and to whom He would become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.

With godly Simeon it was different, for he was Spirit-taught and knew that

Mary’s Child was the One through whom the world was to be blessed. As he eagerly

anticipated Christ’s first advent, are we found patiently awaiting His second

advent? When He does appear and we see Him as He is, ours will be the thrill

Simeon experienced as He gazed upon the Lord’s Christ.

 

3.An ancestor of Jesus ( Luke 3:30 ).

 

4.A disciple and prophet at Antioch, surnamed Niger ( Acts 13:1 ).

 

5.The original name of a son of Jonas, or John, and brother of Andrew an apostle

of Christ. See SIMON  ( Acts 15:14 ).

 

January 01

Morning

“They did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”

Joshua 5:12

Israel’s weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No

more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses:

they came to the land which flowed with milk and honey, and they ate the old

corn of the land. Perhaps this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy

case or mine. Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it

will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which remaineth for

the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to expect this glory so soon

is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at the Jordan which still rolls between us

and the goodly land, but let us rest assured that we have already

experienced more ills than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every

fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this

year we shall begin to be “forever with the Lord.”

 

A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service for their Lord.

If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason why the New Year’s text

should not still be true. “We who have believed do enter into rest.” The Holy

Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance; he gives us “glory begun below.” In

heaven they are secure, and so are we preserved in Christ Jesus; there they

triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial spirits enjoy

communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to us; they rest in his love,

and we have perfect peace in him: they hymn his praise, and it is our privilege

to bless him too. We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly

ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord.

Man did eat angels’ food of old, and why not now? O for grace to feed on Jesus,

and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year!

 

Evening

“We will be glad and rejoice in thee.”

Song of Solomon 1:4

We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will not open the gates of the year to

the dolorous notes of the sackbut, but to the sweet strains of the harp of joy,

and the high sounding cymbals of gladness. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord:

let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation.” We, the called and

faithful and chosen, we will drive away our griefs, and set up our banners of

confidence in the name of God. Let others lament over their troubles, we who

have the sweetening tree to cast into Marah’s bitter pool, with joy will magnify

the Lord. Eternal Spirit, our effectual Comforter, we who are the temples in

which thou dwellest, will never cease from adoring and blessing the

name of Jesus. We will, we are resolved about it, Jesus must have the crown of

our heart’s delight; we will not dishonour our Bridegroom by mourning in his

presence. We are ordained to be the minstrels of the skies, let us rehearse our

everlasting anthem before we sing it in the halls of the New Jerusalem. We will

be glad and rejoice: two words with one sense, double joy, blessedness upon

blessedness. Need there be any limit to our rejoicing in the Lord even now? Do

not men of grace find their Lord to be camphire and spikenard, calamus and

cinnamon even now, and what better fragrance have they in heaven itself? We will

be glad and rejoice in Thee. That last word is the meat in the dish,

the kernel of the nut, the soul of the text. What heavens are laid up in Jesus!

What rivers of infinite bliss have their source, aye, and every drop of their

fulness in him! Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, thou art the present portion of thy

people, favour us this year with such a sense of thy preciousness, that from its

first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in thee. Let January open with

joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.