The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Exodus 13:2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

Psalm 2:7-8 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

It is significant that when Simeon gives his prophecy, he talks directly to Mary. One, only she would survive to see Jesus’s crucifixion. And two, I think he knew, guided both by prophecy and the Holy Spirit, that this baby boy had no Joseph in him.

As God said from the early days of Israel, hearkening back to the significance of the Passover, the firstborns belong to him. The firstborns of Israel are even more holy, more set apart. But this firstborn of a virgin daughter of Israel, he belonged to God in a way that no other person could. Not only was he conceived by the Holy Spirit, not only would he be called the son of God, but he was actually God. Fully God. Yet born a tiny human baby in all the mess that entails.

But because the God the Son willingly entered our chaotic and sinful existence, he will receive the nations for an inheritance. And one glorious day, all the ends of the earth will acknowledge him as Lord and Savior as he accepts his rightful place as its king.

As quoted in Psalm 2, it will happen because God declared it.