The Infancy of Jesus 11/13/2022

First Baptist Church Leominster

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in the 60s AD, they were increasingly becoming persecuted because of their

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Christian faith. And so there was a temptation for them to deny

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Jesus and embrace their Jewish belief and tradition as they formerly had, because that was still a legal religion in Rome, the

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Roman Empire. And the writer, inspired of God, of course, told these professing

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Jewish Christians, there's no salvation if you go that route. God's been moving through history, revealing himself, and he's revealed himself through Jesus Christ, his son, and to abandon him and go back is just like the

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Israelites going back to Egypt, and they forfeit their deliverance.

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In chapter one, you will read about how Jesus is set forth as greater than the angels.

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And the nature of the writer's argument is that the

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Jews believed that most of the law of Moses was given by God through angels to Moses.

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And therefore, although the Old Testament, the Mosaic law, was legitimate given by angels,

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God has revealed a finality and a fullness through his son, Jesus Christ.

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And that's why Jesus is shown to be greater than the angels. We have a fuller revelation of who

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God is in his son, Jesus. Hebrews chapter one. Hebrews chapter one.

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Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.

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But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

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He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.

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And he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

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Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

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For to which of the angels did God ever say, you are my son, today I have begotten you.

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Or again, I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son. And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, let all

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God's angels worship him. Of the angels, he says, he makes his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire.

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But of the son, he says, your throne, oh God, is forever and ever.

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The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

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Therefore, God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.

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And you, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the work of your hands.

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They will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.

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But you are the same and your years will have no end. And to which of the angels has he ever said, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

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Are they not all ministering servants sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

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Let's pray. Our heavenly

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Father, Jesus Christ is better. He is better than all these things.

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He is better than anything that the world can offer. In Christ is life.

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In Christ is eternal life. And Lord, we rejoice and we exalt you, that we know you and that we are found in you.

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Lord, we thank you for this text of scripture that exalts Christ over all things. He is the exact imprint of your nature.

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Lord, what wonderful truths. We pray that in our lives we would give Christ the supreme place that he is deserved.

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We ask, Lord, that all things would fall under his authority in our lives. And Lord, we pray that you would help us and guide us as we walk through the scriptures.

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We pray, Lord, that as Lars preaches this sermon, that we would hear your truth and the spirit would take that truth and change our hearts.

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We pray, Lord, that we would leave here with a better understanding of who you are and what you've done. Help us now,

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Lord, as we lift you up in worship through the preaching of the word. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name, amen.

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Well, let's turn to Luke chapter one, or two, rather. I hope and trust that you're enjoying this study of Luke as I am.

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It's wonderfully rich. I think it's probably about my favorite book of the Bible, if you can say something like that.

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Now, last week, we considered the account of the shepherds and the angelic message they received in the fields of Bethlehem the night the

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Savior was born. The angel had declared to them, for there is born to you, and there's emphasis on that, to you, shepherds, this day in the city of David a

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Savior who is Christ the Lord. The specific message of the angel, you will recall, was good news to these shepherds that although they were lowly persons and held in contempt by society, they had available to them salvation from sin before God through this child that had been born.

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And the angel had told them of a sign that would confirm to them this truth, the reality of this promise, to you has been born this

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Savior. And so the shepherds rushed to the place where their faith was confirmed when they saw the infant wrapped in poverty and lying in his humility.

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He was one for them. And then, of course, throughout our Lord's earthly ministry, he would be to others as these shepherds found him on this night, gendering hope, eliciting peace, and encouraging the approach to him by all lowly and needy people.

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And there's an emphasis in Luke's gospel on those who are poor and in need of him, who come to him.

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And you can come to Jesus Christ and be received by him if you come humbly, acknowledging your spiritual uncleanness and poverty, looking to him in faith for what he alone can bestow, even the forgiveness of sins and the kind of new life that he produces, which is fellowship with his father, a life of righteousness, peace, and joy, as you follow him along with his people.

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Now, the shepherds had related what they had seen and heard from the angel to those present at the manger scene.

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And the result was the wonderment of Joseph and Mary at that news.

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And then we read of Mary specifically. There seems to be a continually pulling back to her and her reaction.

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She treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. We then read in verse 20 that the shepherds returned to the fields, glorifying and praising

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God for all they had heard and seen just as had been told them.

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And this is the kind of response, and it's set forth in the narrative, the way the story is told.

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It's the kind of response that you and I ought to have as these shepherds.

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When we hear and learn of our Lord, whether it be through preaching, teaching, or own reading of the Holy Scriptures, we're to highly value every bit of news that we learn of him.

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Storing it away as a treasure deposited securely in our hearts so that we might work through the matter, ponder it, meditate upon it, thanking and praying for a better understanding regarding its implications.

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And then let us be as these shepherds, glorified and praising God that we were so blessed to have been allowed by God to have been given such news.

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It's a truism that it is a great privilege to have in our hands the news that angels long to look into, prophets strain to understand.

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You have that in your hand, in your Bible. And it's great sin to take it lightly or disregard it with little interest, with disinterest or little value.

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And so may God put it into our hearts to love him and to love his word. And to seek to understand it fully as it reveals our

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Savior and our Lord. You can spend a lifetime studying it and you'll never arrive at a final goal because it is ever rich and rewarding.

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And so we are to seek Christ in his word. Just as the ancient wise men urged his son to seek wisdom, we can say with regard to biblical knowledge of Jesus Christ.

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Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. In other words, finds Christ. And the one who gets understanding for the gain from her wisdom is better than gain from silver.

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Her profit better than gold. She's more precious than jewels. Nothing you desire can compare with her.

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Long life is in her right hand, even eternal life in Christ. In her left hand are riches and honor.

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In her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are at peace. She's a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.

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Those who hold her fast are called blessed. And the New Testament says that God has made Jesus Christ onto us wisdom.

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And so these things are applicable to seeking him and knowing him. Well, we now arrive to the next recorded event in the life of Jesus, which is his circumcision and his naming, by the way, and his presentation in the temple.

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And so here's Luke 221 to verse 35. And Lord willing, we'll attempt to get through it in the time we have this morning.

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When eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus. The name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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Now in the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses were completed. They brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the

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Lord. As it's written in the law of the Lord, every male who opens the womb should be called holy to the

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Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the

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Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was

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Simeon. And this man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the

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Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the

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Lord's Christ. And so he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child

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Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed

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God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.

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For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the

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Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against.

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Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

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Throughout this infancy narrative of Luke, we have seen Luke's clear and repeated emphasis that this

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Jesus born to Mary is the son of God incarnate, who is also the promised son of King David, who's come to usher in the promised and long anticipated kingdom of God, the kingdom promised to David.

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We may break down this passage for easier understanding by first considering the circumcision and naming of Jesus in verse 21.

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And secondly, we will give attention to the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple.

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And then thirdly, we'll examine the prophetic witness of Simeon to the infant

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Jesus. And so first, the circumcision and naming of Jesus, Luke 2, 21.

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It reads, and when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child, his name was called

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Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. We gave some attention to the ceremonial meaning of the

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Jewish rite of circumcision when addressing the circumcision to the infant John the Baptist, recorded back in Luke chapter one.

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And so we'll not do so again at this time, other than reiterate this, the bottom line.

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Circumcision was a physical sign for a physical people constituted as a physical nation of Israel, which was in covenant relationship with God.

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Upon Israel breaking its covenant, his Mosaic covenant relationship with God, God cursed this people and poured out his wrath upon them.

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And even as God had declared his purpose to judge his people by defeating them militarily, destroying their land and its capital

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Jerusalem, God promised to send them his Messiah. And by the way, that destruction took place, of course, back in 587

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BC. But now, you know, five full centuries and then some had passed.

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But God promised even in the midst of his judgment that he would send his Messiah, his anointed one.

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That's what Messiah means. Who would save a remnant of those Jewish people from their sin by removing the guilt of their transgression from them.

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And who would establish a new and better covenant with his people. This promised Messiah would be one of them, one born under the law of God as they, but whose life would be fully obedient and compliant to God's law.

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He would then die as a sacrifice for the sin of his people, a holy and perfect sacrifice atoning for their guilt, whereby securing their forgiveness of sin and their reception of all the promises of God's blessings from them through him.

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The apostle wrote of this in just a few words. But when the fullness of time had come,

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God sent forth his son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law that we might receive the adoption as sons.

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Notice God is sending his son, that's the eternal son of God, to be born of a woman, that's the incarnation, assuming our human nature, that he might die in order to redeem those who are under his law, who are under the damnation of his law for having broken it.

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So that we, Paul includes himself and Gentile Christians, that we might receive the adoption as sons, in other words, children of God.

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Our Lord was born a Jew. He lived as a Jew under the law. During his earthly ministry, he ministered to the

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Jews almost exclusively, although we will see an emphasis in Luke's gospel of him occasionally reaching out to Gentiles, foreshadowing this age of grace, this worldwide kingdom of Jews and Gentiles.

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But he had become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God in order to confirm the promises given to the fathers.

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He was under the law of God his entire life, serving it fully and blamelessly, and the righteousness that he manifested in his own keeping of the law of God is credited or counted as if it were belonging to those who believe on him, thereby elevating his disciples to the place of sons of God.

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For the one who abandons self -will, self -righteousness, acknowledge sin, comes to faith in Jesus Christ.

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He is granted as a gift, the righteousness of Christ. His sins are forgiven because of the death of Christ on the cross on his behalf.

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And thereafter, he is regarded as a legitimate child of God, son or daughter of God, as though that believer had been obedient to the law of God himself all his life.

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And that's why there's no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. And you and I cannot fathom the kind of glory that's gonna be manifest one day when we stand before him, the glory of the children of God that's conferred upon us when we stand before Christ and our salvation is fully received.

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And so from his earliest days, we see our Lord submitted to God's law. He was one of the circumcised, one of the covenant people of God, a child of Abraham.

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And with the circumcision of the infant Jesus at eight days of age, Jesus was under solemn obligation to God, his father, to order his entire life in conformity to the law of Moses, which was the law of God.

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Again, to quote the Apostle Paul, I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised, he is a debtor to keep the whole law as was

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Jesus upon his circumcision. Well, let's also recognize the necessity of Jesus to be circumcised in order for him to have been held in any regard by his

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Jewish brethren. Here are the words of J .C. Ryle. Let it suffice us to remember that our

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Lord's circumcision was a public testimony to Israel, that according to the flesh, he was a

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Jew made of a Jewish woman made under the law. Without it, without circumcision, he would not have fulfilled the law's requirements.

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Without it, he could not have been recognized as the son of David, the seed of Abraham. Let us remember furthermore, that circumcision was absolutely necessary before our

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Lord could be heard as a teacher in Israel. Without it, he would have had no place in any lawful

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Jewish assembly, no right to any Jewish ordinance. Without it, he would have been regarded by all

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Jews as nothing better than an uncircumcised Gentile and an apostate from the faith of the fathers.

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So this circumcision really equipped him also for public ministry.

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Well, in this episode of the circumcision and naming of Jesus, we see the faithful actions of Joseph and Mary, bringing their child to be circumcised.

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Of course, the baby Jesus is wholly passive in this rite, but of his parents, they were active, it has been said, reflecting the piety of obedient Jewish parents.

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Joseph and Mary undertake to circumcise the child on the eighth day and give him the name the angel said he would possess,

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Jesus. In every action, this couple is showing faithfulness. They are examples of faith.

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As devout Jewish parents, they follow the Mosaic law. Jesus has been born into a good family.

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May the Lord enable us to be faithful parents in raising our children in a godly way as well.

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Well, it was when the son of Mary was circumcised that he was formally named. Again, we read in verse 21, when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child, his name was called

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Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke, of course, records that the angel

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Gabriel gave Mary the name of Jesus, and that's found back in Luke 1, 30 and 31.

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Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and she'll call his name

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Jesus. Jesus, of course, simply means savior. It's the same as the

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Old Testament Hebrew name, Joshua, or Hebrew, Yeshua, sometimes pronounced with a

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Y, Yeshua. It's the Old Testament Hebrew equivalent. And so his name,

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Jesus, sets forth his work and his accomplishment. Matthew had recorded in his gospel that Joseph was to name his son

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Jesus. In Luke's gospel, Mary was to name her son

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Jesus. Both father and mother were told by angels to name him Jesus. And so the angel had said to Joseph regarding Mary, she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name

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Jesus. Why do you call him Jesus, which means savior? For he will save his people from their sins.

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Now let's consider the presentation of Jesus in the temple. This is a glorious account and has significance, great significance.

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We read of Joseph and Mary coming to the temple in Jerusalem which occurred 40 days after the birth of Jesus.

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Verses 22 through 24. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the

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Lord. As it's written in the law of the Lord, every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the

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Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.

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And so here we read of the ritual of Mary's purification, having given birth to a son.

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We see again the infant Jesus and his family firmly rooted in Judaism. Jewish law required every

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Jewish mother to offer a sacrifice on the birth of her child. She was formally unclean, ceremonial unclean.

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And the instruction is found in the law of Moses, Leviticus chapter 12. The Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the children of Israel saying, if a woman has conceived and born a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days as in the days of her customary impurity, she'll be unclean.

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And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall then continue in the blood of her purification 33 days.

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That would be 40 days altogether. She shall not touch any hallowed thing nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.

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If she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification 66 days.

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When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb in the first year as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtle dove as a sin offering to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

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And then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. And he shall be clean from the flow of her blood.

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This is the law for her who is born a male or a female. And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering, the other as a sin offering.

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So the priest shall make atonement for her and she will be clean. And so a woman was regarded as ceremonial unclean for 40 days after the birth of a son, 80 days if a daughter, and one of you boys or girls might wonder why, was it twice as long for giving birth to a daughter?

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Ask your mother. I don't know, doesn't say, but it's clearly stipulated in the law of God.

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Your mother, I'm sure has an answer for you that's suitable. Well, in every way, other than his mother's purification,

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Jesus lived again in a faithful Jewish family. And so after the days of their purification, 40 days, the family came to the temple where a burnt offering and a sin offering were to be offered.

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The law of Moses called for a lamb for a burnt offering, but in the place of a lamb, the poor could offer a turtle dove.

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And therefore here we see the poverty of this family displayed, once again stressed, for they offered two turtle doves in accordance with the law.

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Our Lord Jesus, even in his infancy, was associated with the needy and the helpless.

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He stands as one with us and one for us. No one need fear to approach

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Jesus. He sympathizes with us in our weakness and our afflictions.

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Joseph and Mary had two purposes for coming to the temple. The first was to offer sacrifice. The second was to offer their firstborn son to the

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Lord. We read in verse 22b, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the

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Lord. Verse 23 gives the meaning behind the presentation of Jesus. As it is written in the law of the

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Lord, every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. The instruction to this presentation of a male son is found in Exodus 13.

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The setting is Egypt when Israel was in bondage. So that the Egyptians would release the

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Israelites from slavery, God brought great judgment upon the land of Egypt. And so on a single night, the death angel was to pass through Egypt, slaying all the firstborn sons of every household, whether Egyptian or Jewish.

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To spare the firstborn of Israel, the Lord told Moses to set them apart. And so we read in Exodus 13, then the

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Lord spoke to Moses saying, consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whoever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both man and beast, it is mine.

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And so on behalf of each household, a Passover lamb was offered so that God's judgment would pass over that household, sparing the oldest son of that household.

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And thereafter, the firstborn son was to be dedicated, that is in a sense offered or sacrificed to the

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Lord or dedicated to a service. And so an animal was presented as a substitute for that son.

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And so we read in Exodus, it shall be when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers and gives it to you, you shall set apart to the

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Lord all that opened the womb, that is every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have, the males shall be the

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Lords. And so we see that our Lord Jesus was dedicated to the

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Lord from his earliest infancy. Once again, we read of emphasis given to the observance of the law, the law of Moses, the law of God by this family.

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But actually the details of verses 21 through 24, although certainly important and provide details of our

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Lord, they actually serve to lead up to the major point, the major message of this episode.

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And this is the encounter with Simeon and Anna. Because of the time, we don't have time to address

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Anna today, we'll do so next week, Lord willing. Here we have two elderly prophets, a man and a woman who frequented the temple grounds.

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And so let's consider this encounter with Simeon. I wanna read the verses again.

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Behold, there is a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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By the way, in your New King James Version, notice the capital C, not in the ESV. The translators of the

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ESV regarded this word consolation as a name for Jesus, the consolation of Israel.

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And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the

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Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child

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Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed

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God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word.

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For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you've prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the

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Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

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And then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against.

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Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul. Also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

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This is a rich passage. Here is a man named Simeon. Nothing is known of him other than what is set before us here in Luke's infancy narrative.

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He's described as a man of Jerusalem waiting for the consolation of Israel. Now Luke's gospel is already set before us a number of faithful and righteous

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Jewish people in those difficult days of Israel's history, both Zacharias and Elizabeth, you'll recall, were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinance of the

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Lord blameless. And then there was Mary to whom the angel addressed, highly favored one, the

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Lord is with you. And now here is Simeon, who is said to have been just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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One rightly said of Simeon, notwithstanding the general low spiritual condition of the

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Jewish people at that time, they were nevertheless, as always, genuinely pious and upright ones who served

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God faithfully and who, especially during the years before and around the coming of Jesus, look forward with great yearning to the coming of the

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Messiah. They were expecting the consolation of Israel, the salvation to come to the

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Messiah. And one of this group of faithful people in Jerusalem was the devout Simeon.

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He was constantly under the influence of the prophetic working of the Holy Ghost. We read

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Luke introduced Simeon in a way that gave unquestioned credibility to him and the witness that he would provide.

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Luke describes Simeon as just, righteous, and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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But not only that, the Holy Spirit was upon him. Here is a man who was about to bear prophetic witness of the infant

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Jesus, and his testimony is impeccable. Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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What a significant phrase. Consolation is a word that depicts a state of well -being or a state of rest and peace after a long and difficult trial or period of trouble.

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We speak of consoling people who are troubled. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.

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This described the need of the physical and spiritual state of Israel. It was a time of great difficulty and trouble, for the curse of God was upon the

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Jewish people. The nation, though once highly favored and regarded by God, had fallen under God's curse for having transgressed its covenant with him.

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And so all of the consequent curses of God that the Lord had threatened his people had been poured out upon them.

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587 BC, the city of Jerusalem destroyed, Judah ravaged, the temple razed to the ground, the walls razed, and the few survivors taken back to Babylon.

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The wrath of God was upon them. Well, at the consequent curses of God, when the

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Lord first established a covenant with them, he not only announced the blessings if they obeyed his covenant, his law, but he also announced the curses that would come upon them if they transgressed his law.

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And that's, of course, what happened. And so when God had restated his covenantal stipulations with its accompanied results, just before Israel entered the promised land at the death of Moses, and under the leadership of Joshua going into the land, he had the people stand up and declare openly and loudly both the blessings and the curses of God.

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And here, we spelled out in your notes from Deuteronomy 27, 14 and following, the curses of God if they refused or failed to keep the law of God as a nation.

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Here's the instruction before going into the promised land. The Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel, cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the

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Lord, the work of the hands of craftsmen, and sets it up in secret. Of course, they did that throughout their history.

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And all the people shall answer and say amen. They acknowledged what was true, and they acknowledged the consequences of failure.

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Cursed is the one who treats his father, his mother with contempt, and all the people shall say amen.

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Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark, cheats him out of property, and all the people should say amen.

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Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road, taking advantage of the helpless, and all the people shall say amen.

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Cursed is the one who perverts the justice, do the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and all the people say amen.

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Cursed is the one who lies with his father's wife because he has uncovered his father's bed, and all the people shall say amen.

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Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal, bestiality, and all the people should say amen.

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Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, the daughter of his mother, and all the people should say amen.

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Cursed is the one who lies with his mother -in -law, and all the people say amen. Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly, and all the people should say amen.

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Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person, corrupt politicians, and all the people should say amen.

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Cursed is the one who does not conform, or confirm all the words of this law by observing them, and all the people say amen.

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They knew what they were getting into. And all of God's curses had fallen upon Israel in the sixth century

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B .C., 800 years after that law had been given. God destroyed the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, its temple, had forced the surviving

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Jews into exile to Babylon and the other nations of the world. Nevertheless, God had promised that he would not always hold

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Israel under his wrath. Being estranged from him due to its centuries -long rebellion and transgression, he promised that he would bring comfort, consolation, as it were, to his people through their

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Messiah who would himself bear their transgression, atone for their sin, and restore them to God.

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And in fact, Isaiah 40 through 55 is commonly referred to as the book of consolation, for it contains prophecies and promises of God redeeming

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Israel and Jerusalem to his favor. And so Isaiah 40 opens with these words of prophecy, looking forward to the days of Israel's restoration.

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And this was given in the eighth century B .C. by Isaiah. Comfort, yes, comfort my people, says your

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God. Speak comfort, consolation to Jerusalem, and cry out to her that her warfare is ended, her iniquity is pardoned, for she's received from the

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Lord's hand double for all her sins. O Zion, a reference to the people of God, you who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain,

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O Jerusalem. You who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength. Lift up, be not afraid.

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Say to the cities of Judah, behold your God. And behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand and his arm shall rule for him.

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Behold, his reward was with him, his work before him. He'll feed his flock like a shepherd.

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Here's a prophecy of Jesus. He will gather the lambs with his arm, carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

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And now in Luke 2 .25, in which it's declared that Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, the

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Greek word for consolation is perikalete. This is the same word that's used in the

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Greek translation of Isaiah 40, verse one, which in English reads comfort, perikalete.

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Yes, comfort, perikalete. My people says your God. Simeon was full of faith and hope because he was looking for the comfort of Israel.

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And in this baby Jesus, this has arrived. Jesus was the comforter, the one who would restore

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God's people to God. Simeon was full of faith and hope because he was looking for the comfort of Israel.

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He was looking for the messianic age, the kingdom of God, the time of Christ, for the anointed one of God who would bring redemption to God's people.

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And further, he's described as having the Holy Spirit upon him. His witness is a reliable. The kingdom of God has arrived and here's the king coming in to the temple.

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By the way, let's make a quick application for us and then move on. If we desire our witness to be effective, like Simeon's was effective.

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These qualities need to be recognized about us as they were in Simeon. May we also be seen by others as righteous and devout, living rightly and consistently before others.

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May we be full of faith and hope so that others may see that we're ordering our lives according to God's words and promises, like Simeon did.

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And may we be walking and speaking, giving evidence that the spirit is upon us. And when this is evident, people will realize that there is truth in our words, whether or not they respond to what we have to say.

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Let us be good testimony, a good testimony of witness for Jesus Christ in our fallen world.

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Well, we read of what happened upon the entrance of Joseph and Mary and her child entering the temple precincts.

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And so beginning in verse 26, we read of Simeon. It had been revealed to him by the

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Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the spirit into the temple.

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And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up at his arms and blessed

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God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.

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For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the

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Gentiles and a glory to your people of Israel. And so Simeon sees

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Mary coming into the temple area, carrying the infant Jesus. And Simeon immediately recognized her baby as the promised

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Messiah. I appreciated what one commentator surmised regarding Simeon.

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I think probably rightly. It was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the

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Lord's Christ. And he came by the spirit into the temple. I suppose that means that some inward munition, which he recognized of God sent him there in the expectation that at last he was to see the

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Lord's Christ. He was there before the child was brought by his parents where we read he came by the spirit into the temple.

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And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, he took him in his arms. Think of the old man waiting there in the sanctuary told by God he was thus about to have the fulfillment of his lifelong desire.

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And yet probably not knowing what kind of a shape the fulfillment would take. There's no reason to believe that he knew he was to see an infant.

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Good conclusion. And presently a peasant woman comes in with child in her arms and there arises in his soul, the voice anoint him for this is he.

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And so whether he expected such a vision or no, he takes the child in his arms and says,

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Lord, now, now, after all these years of waiting, let us now thy servant depart in peace.

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Amen. Now Simeon is depicted as an old saint who had waited a long time with longing and anticipation of this heart's desire.

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And in some ways he, and we might add Anna too, in some ways he was a fitting metaphor of many in Israel itself who had waited with longing and anticipation of their salvation wrought on their behalf by the promised

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Messiah. As one wrote, it's striking to observe how the description of Simeon's character expresses the aim of the whole

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Old Testament revelation. All that was meant by the preceding long series of manifestations through all these years was accomplished in this man,

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Simeon. Simeon filled with the Holy Spirit gives forth the prophetic utterance regarding the infant

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Jesus. Actually, there are two parts in his testimony. There's a law, there is a song of thanksgiving voiced to God, the new diminutus,

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I believe it's called, in verses 29 through 32. And then there's a prophetic word given to Mary.

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Let's work through these quickly and then we'll close. First, a song of thanksgiving.

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Through divine illumination, Simeon recognized the child, verse 27. He took the child, lifted him up in the presence of God in the temple.

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He blessed God, followed by his prophetic utterance recorded, Lord, now you're letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.

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And in the Greek language, the number of syllables and the accents suggest that it's a poem or a song.

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Just another song that we have in Luke's infancy narratives. From my eyes have seen your salvation which you've prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the

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Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. In these words, we have expressed an entire new dimension of the salvation that God would bring to pass through Jesus Christ.

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The main thrust of this entire episode of Simeon's inspired utterance was that Gentiles too would be the recipients of salvation that Jesus Christ would accomplish.

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That's the main message of this episode. The emphasis of the passage is on the universal scope of salvation that God was bringing through this child.

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In the previous episode, the shepherds were told the Lord Jesus would bring salvation to all people.

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In other words, all kinds of people, including lowly people like you shepherds.

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But here, Simeon announces that Jesus would bring salvation to all peoples, plural.

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In other words, even Gentiles. Verse 31. The grace of God bringing salvation was so great that even

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Gentiles would be included within its scope. This is an announcement of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

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In many places in the Old Testament, God had revealed his purpose for the Messiah of Israel to be a savior of all people, not just Jewish people, but of the nations of the world.

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God promised Abraham way back in Genesis, early in biblical history, that through him,

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Abraham, through Abraham, God would save the world. God said to Abraham, in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

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And that's what Simeon is declaring is coming to pass through this child. And later in the prophets,

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God made the matter clearer. We read of God the Father's prophetic words to his son in Isaiah 42, one of the servant songs of Isaiah.

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This is a prophecy of God the Father, speaking to his son, Jesus Christ. Told 800 years before the birth of Jesus.

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I, the Lord have called you, talking about his son in righteousness, and will hold your hand.

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The father helped him through his ministry. I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people.

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The night Jesus was betrayed, take this cup. In this cup is a new covenant in my blood.

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God made Jesus the covenant to the people and notice here as a light to the

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Gentiles. It wasn't just a Jewish Messiah, but a Messiah for the world to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison.

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Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that's my name and my glory

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I'll not give to another nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass.

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New things I declare. Before they spring forth, I tell you of them. That's Isaiah 42.

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And God promised a great expansion of the Messiah's kingdom and that Gentiles of the world would be made kingdom citizens, subject to the

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Messiah, the King of Israel. And so here's Isaiah 46. Listen, oh coastlands, it's an announcement.

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Coastlands is where Gentiles live. Coastlands around the Mediterranean region, Gentile lands and take aid you peoples from afar.

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He's talking to Gentiles. The Lord has exalted me from the womb. This is

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Jesus Christ speaking prophetically. From the matrix of my mother, he's made mention of my name.

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He's made me my mouth like a sharp sword, the word of God. In the shadow of his hand, he's hidden me.

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He made me a polished shaft. His quiver, in his quiver, he has hidden me. And he said to me, you are my servant, oh

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Israel. Here, Israel is another name for Jesus, for Messiah in whom

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I will be glorified. And then I said, I've labored in vain. Jesus coming to his end of his life, his death on the cross, it would seem like nothing great resulted from his life and ministry.

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I've labored in vain. I've spent my strength for nothing in vain. My father, why have you forsaken me?

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Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord and my work with my God. And now the

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Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring back Jacob to him, that would be a reference to the elect of Israel, a remnant, so that Israel is gathered to him for I'll be glorious in the eyes of the

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Lord and my God shall be my strength. Indeed, he says, this is God the Father speaking prophetically to Jesus.

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It's too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob. You deserve a far greater kingdom than just some

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Jews coming to faith in you. And to restore the preserved ones of Israel, the remnant,

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I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the world, the ends of the earth.

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And that's a prophetic, of course, of this church age. The gospel of God has gone out throughout all the world and his kingdom is comprised of Jews and Gentiles all over the world who believe on him as their

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Lord, as their Savior. And so God determined that this child would be a glory to Israel, yes, whose illuminating life would give knowledge of God and his salvation to the

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Gentiles as well. And here in Luke 2, Simeon, inspired by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares that this child would affect the salvation of the

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Gentiles. And so it is that Jesus Christ dissipates the darkness of the knowledge of God among the peoples of the earth.

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When people come to him, come to know him, they're coming to God and coming to know God through him.

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And so again, just by word of application, if you see yourself in darkness regarding who

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God is and how you might know him, if you feel ignorant of his person and desire to come to understand him and you long to know him and serve him and receive his life that he gives to people, if he's put that in your heart, look to Jesus Christ.

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There you will have the darkness removed and understanding will be given to you. Though you may be currently separated from Christ and excluded from the people of God, stranger to all the promises of God, having no hope and without God in the world, having lived in disregard of him, perhaps even in opposition to him as I was for years, in Christ Jesus, you can encounter peace and reconciliation with God.

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The consolation of Israel is also promised to you in Christ if you come to him in humility, acknowledging your darkness, need of mercy and grace, pardon and power to become one of his own.

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What a glorious end to a godly life that Simeon experienced. It was as one described him as a slave having been instructed by his master to keep watch from a high place through a long dark night to wait for a special star and then to announce its appearance.

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And after many worrisome hours of waiting, he at last sees the star rising in its brightness.

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He announced its appearance and is then discharged from keeping watch any longer. Simeon fulfilled his watch.

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He did his duty, having stood his watch and he declared that God had indeed fulfilled his purpose, his promise to bring salvation to all peoples.

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The parents were amazed, as you can well imagine. Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

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But then we have this second utterance and we can't close without at least touching on this, the prophetic word given to Mary.

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After Simeon had concluded his blessing of God, Simeon turns to the amazed parents and blesses them and gave a word to her.

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Simeon blessed them, said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will be spoken against.

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Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, speaking about her witnessing her son dying on the cross, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

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The child will be a cause for rising of many in Israel. Those who are currently fallen, humble, needy, outcast sinners, he would cause to rise.

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In other words, receive the salvation of God and all that involves. But he would accomplish another work as well.

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He would bring the fall of many in Israel. Those who are currently standing or so they thought, that as they thought they were standing, but actually standing in pride and self -righteousness, this child would spell their doom.

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For the gospel is good news to some, that is sinners who need him. But to them who say or think they have no need for his salvation, his birth spells and seals their doom, their damnation, their fall.

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The gospel records in verse 35, that Jesus Christ is for a sign, which will be spoken against, that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

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The Lord Jesus Christ, because he's God incarnated and because the Holy Spirit was upon him without measure, the

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Lord is capable and qualified to render judgment on behalf of God his father. And while he was ministering on earth, he had the ability to know the thoughts of those about him.

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Three places in Luke we will see that expressed. And on the future day of judgment,

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King Jesus will righteously examine and pass judgment on the thoughts of every soul that comes before him in judgment.

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In other words, every one of us, all of our thoughts. There's no escaping his scrutiny.

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It is said of him, the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any to its sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

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And it's a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The thoughts of people are gonna be exposed as well as actions and attitudes on that day of judgment.

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Paul had written of the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ in Romans two.

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And there will be the rise and fall of many on that day of judgment. You and I may be able to deceive ourselves and others regarding our sins, but on that day,

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King Jesus will reveal and expose the open and secret sins of all when they stand before him in judgment.

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He will either be your savior or your sentencing judge. The standing of men and women before God, their rise or fall is determined by their attitude and responsiveness toward Jesus Christ, the only savior of sinners.

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There's no neutrality. There's no sitting on the fence on this one. One is either for him or against him.

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One will rise or fall based upon their standing before him, for there's no other name given under heaven than Jesus Christ, whereby one may be saved.

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So may the Lord have mercy on each and every one of us. May he grant us great grace that we have faith in him alone to save us from our sin due to his life, his death on the cross to atone for our sins like us.

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And Lord willing, may each of us go forth from this place fully persuaded and fully committed and believing on Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

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Amen. May that be so. Let's pray. Thank you, Father, for your word and the clarity, our

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God, of your revelation to us of your purposes in history and the unfolding fulfillment and realization of that, our

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God, disclosed to us even through the infancy of Jesus. Help us, our

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God, to take these matters to heart. We pray, our God, as we go forth from here that these words would not escape us, but that we would hold them dear to our heart, ponder them, our

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God, throughout this coming week and resolve afresh to believe on Jesus as our

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Lord, as our King, our God, and help us, our God, to live as humble and obedient citizens of his kingdom.