Faith that Sees - The Song of Simeon
Luke 2:28–32
“He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word…’”
When Simeon takes Jesus into his arms, centuries of waiting converge into a single moment. Simeon sees what everyone else in the temple sees—a poor couple and a newborn child. But Simeon sees more than that. His eyes take in the physical reality of the child before him, yet his heart sees deeper still. These are eyes trained by faith over years of waiting, eyes illuminated by the Spirit. As the apostle Paul would later pray, Simeon sees with “the eyes of the heart enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18).
Faith does not deny what is visible; it perceives what is true and real. Simeon’s physical eyes see a baby. The eyes of his faith recognize the Lord’s salvation.
All the promises—spoken to Abraham, reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob, echoed through Moses, David, Isaiah, and the prophets—are suddenly no longer abstract. They are embodied. God’s salvation is no longer a distant hope or a future event. It is held in Simeon’s arms!
This is why Simeon’s song matters so deeply.
He begins by addressing God as Lord—a word meaning absolute sovereign, one who possesses complete authority and ownership. Simeon sees God as the true ruler of history. And in contrast, he calls himself God’s servant—the word used for a bond-slave. Simeon understands his place. God is great; Simeon is not. This posture explains everything that follows.
“For my eyes have seen your salvation…”
Simeon does not say, “I have seen a solution,” or “I have seen a strategy.” He has seen salvation—a person, not a plan. A baby, not an army. God comforts His people not by giving them what they most want, but what they most need - Himself!
In this child, Simeon sees the fulfillment of every hope Israel has carried across the centuries. The One promised to bless all nations. The Son of David whose kingdom would never end. Immanuel—God with us. As the carol so beautifully puts it, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.”
And Simeon understands something else: this salvation is not only for Israel.
“A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
From the beginning, God’s plan was global. Simeon’s song reaches beyond national boundaries and personal fulfillment. He sees a salvation prepared “in the presence of all peoples.”
Only then—having seen God’s salvation—can Simeon say something astonishing:
“Now you are letting your servant depart in peace.”
Simeon is ready to die—not because life has been easy, but because God has been faithful. One moment of true sight—seeing with eyes of faith—made a lifetime of waiting worthwhile.
But Simeon’s song is not the final word. He blesses Mary and Joseph, and then speaks words that sound less like celebration and more like warning:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be spoken against…and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Salvation will come—but it will come through suffering. Light will shine—but it will provoke opposition. And Mary herself will pay a price for loving this child.
Yet Simeon does not shrink back from this.
One of the great lessons that Simeon’s life teaches us is that faith in God is worth it. That waiting is not wasted.
That God keeps His word—even when fulfillment looks different than expected.
And when our eyes are fixed on ourselves, we miss the glory of God standing right in front of us. But when our view of God grows large and our view of ourselves grows small, we too may see His salvation.
Prayer
Sovereign Lord,
open our eyes to see what Simeon saw.
Not merely with physical sight,
but with eyes shaped by faith and hope.
Help us recognize your salvation
even when it comes in unexpected forms.
Teach us to trust your promises,
to wait without growing weary,
and to rest in your faithfulness.
May our hearts be ready to depart in peace
because we have truly seen You.
Amen.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to see Jesus not only with physical eyes, but with the eyes of faith?
- In what ways might God’s salvation look different than what you expect or want?
- Where are you tempted to focus on yourself rather than on what God is doing?
- What would it look like for you to live with the same peace Simeon expresses—rooted in God’s faithfulness rather than circumstances?