"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him."
Luke 2:25 (NIV)
Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He was waiting for the answer to Jeremiah's question: "Is there no balm in Gilead?" (Jer. 8:22) Here in this verse in Luke, is the biblical definition of waiting on the Sovereign Lord, for Simeon was righteous and devout; that is, Simeon was living his life by the Spirit. Waiting on the Lord is trusting Him to answer our prayers and to fulfill His promises in His time and then showing our trust by living according to His Spirit and His Word.
We first see this balm from Gilead in Genesis 37:25, where it records that the caravan that Joseph was sold to, carried balm from Gilead. We see it again in Jeremiah 8, where Jeremiah is crying over the state of His people and is asking for a physician and for the healing balm from Gilead.
Gilead is the area on the east side of the Jordan and it apparently produced medicine or salve of some kind that brought about healing. Healing is what Israel desperately needed; not a healing that comes from a salve, but the healing that comes from their great Healer, the Great I AM.
Friend, do you need consoling today? Do you need comfort today? Do you need healing today?
Give me Jesus, for He is my balm! Give me Jesus for He is my consolation!
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