Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) – Simeon

 

²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

 

You could say it was Simeon’s exclamation, and not just the mark one might make at the end of a sentence. This one was worth a whole life’s wait. (See here the 19^th Century artwork Simeon the Righteous by Aleksey Yegorov.) The story of Joseph, Mary and their unique son Jesus began before He was even born, and four songs marked this unique occasion. Three other songs had already been sung because of events surrounding Jesus and his relatives. The first one was Mary’s song called the Magnificat (Glorifies, in Latin) when she visited her aged relative Elizabeth, and the baby inside Elizabeth rejoiced because he recognized Jesus even when He was still in the womb; the second one was the song of Zechariah (Elizabeth’s husband) and was called Benedictus (Praise Be, in Latin) and celebrated his son John the Baptist’s role as a prophet heralding/announcing the Messiah’s coming ministry and salvation; the third was the song Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest, in Latin), which was the angels’ song announcing Jesus’ birth to shepherds; and the fourth was the song sung by this old man named Simeon. All four of those songs are in the first 2 chapters of Luke.

 

Joseph and Mary, though poor commoners, were doing what the Jewish law dictated, but also what the angel had told them to do, and they named the baby Jesus (Luke 1:31/Matthew 1:21; Jesus is the Greek form of the name that means Joshua [the Lord saves]). They traveled the five or six miles or so from Bethlehem north to Jerusalem to do what was required. Three distinct Jewish legal requirements they performed after naming Him were these: first, they had Him circumcised (the eighth day after birth, according to the law [Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3); second, they waited until 40 days after Jesus’ birth (so, 33 days more), so that Mary could make an offering at the temple for her purification (Leviticus 12:4); and third, they had to offer Jesus, as the firstborn son, as a dedication to the Lord – what is known still today as Pidyon Haben (redemption of the firstborn son) – according to the ancient law (Exodus 13:2,12-15; Numbers 18:15-16). It was probably just before this Pidyon Haben that Joseph and Mary encountered the man named Simeon. Simeon was apparently a ‘devout’ man (Luke 2:25) whom the Spirit had moved to come into the temple courts (verses 26-27).  And he said something that he must have been wanting to say his whole life – that this baby was the source of salvation for all. That’s very important, because it is so strikingly reminiscent of what the prophet Isaiah had said about a servant centuries earlier (see Isaiah passages – 42:6 and 49:6). To be clear, Isaiah wasn’t necessarily looking ahead to a Messiah, but this Simeon was looking backward to what Isaiah had said, and through the Spirit that moved him, projected that that servant who would be a light and offer salvation for the Gentiles, and would be a glory to the Jews, would in fact be this baby he was holding. When Simeon said he was satisfied that he could now be dismissed and feel at peace, would it be too much of a stretch to say he was singing his own funeral’s song? What a way to conclude one’s life, not with a dirge, but with an exclamation of utter delight! Nunc Dimittis (in Latin) – Lord, you now dismiss!

 

 After Simeon had sung his song, Joseph and Mary marveled at what he’d said (verse 33) – very similar to Mary’s treasuring up things in her heart (verse 19) earlier, on the night Jesus was born. But then, Simeon told them some things that must have made them cringe, too – that Jesus was to be a source of clashes and controversy, and some heartache for them too (verses 34-35). Aren’t all children, even occasionally, sources of some anguish for parents? Where would an exceptional child from God rank on that heartache spectrum? An old prophetess named Anna, who stayed at the temple all the time, also was moved by Jesus’ presence, and told others about the redemption of the city. And so, no parents in history had more to ponder, nor felt more responsibility for a child in their care, than those two from Nazareth.

 

The above story details are all obtained via the NIV Study Bible and notes for the Luke 2 account of this episode.

 

See a well-done, pretty moving rendition of Simeon’s Exclamation here: Nunc Dimittis by Peter Wilkinson

 

See information on the artwork here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yegorov-Simeon_the_Righteous.jpg …This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.

Song of Glory -- Calvin Nowell and Tony Sutherland

 

They called Him Son of God, the very first words in what they wrote. And so, Calvin Nowell and Tony Sutherland were echoing what the Father-God said when it came time for His son to launch His earthly ministry, when Jesus was baptized and God acknowledged Him (Matthew 3:17/Mark 1:11/Luke 3:22/John 1:29-34; see a representation of that moment in this work of art The Baptism of Christ, by 15^th Century artist Jean Colombe). That time was pretty crucial and has been the reason, along with the earthshaking events that happened at the end of His time on earth, why so many songs have been written about Him, including the “Song of Glory” that Calvin and Tony co-wrote in 2007. The world and the destiny of you and me would be very different if He wasn’t the Son. What Calvin and Tony said poetically was similar to what Jesus Himself said – that if people don’t say who He is, the other parts of creation, even the stones, would cry out (Luke 19:40).   

 

Though Calvin and Tony have not shared explicitly what circumstances spurred what they wrote, their lyrics capture what they felt and express what is so true for all of us. Perhaps that’s why Calvin, in some brief comments he gave at the end of a recording of the ‘Song of Glory’ and two other songs, shared what he obviously felt deep inside. In short, Calvin spoke of what is common for all us humans: that we mess up, but that that doesn’t stop us from being able to approach God with our admission of guilt and regret. He can in fact use our imperfections to speak His power into any situation that troubles us. Calvin urged watchers/listeners to engage with Him, to feel Him deep inside, and know that He loves people, and wants to hear from them so that He can heal them spiritually. That motivation seems to be at the heart of what these two composers shaped into a musical offering to God. The grace and mercy that He has poured out on humankind is so vast, that it cannot be contained just inside us mortals, even if we are His image-bearers. The ‘sky’ and the ‘oceans’ and ‘seas’ that Calvin and Tony mention are also part of His creation that joins in the chorus of praise to Him. That His grace ‘saturates my life’ is really an extension of how the non-human elements of His creative power are expressing – each moment of every day – Him. He forgives and grants mercy that doesn’t just sit there, it ‘sings’ of Him, and if we’ll open our eyes and hearts, we might capture what Calvin and Tony saw – that the ‘strong melody’ He has composed for us overcomes and ‘breaks the chains’ of guilt that we might otherwise bear. He stood in ‘endless light’, but gave of Himself so that ‘a thousand dreams’ became reality. A ‘rescue’ that you and I desperately need has been provided by what He’s done – really, by who He is. He is the love (1 John 4:8) that we proclaim, just as mightily, we aspire, as the ‘seas (that) resound’, the ‘oceans (that) roar’, that ‘fills the sky’, and ‘as the heavens sing’. Just try doing what nature is saying without pausing, Calvin and Tony suggest.

 

That is the life of the believer, this ‘Song of Glory’ that Calvin and Tony coax us to live. ‘Send up a shout’ from the very depths of your insides, as you stop for a moment and contemplate what they’ve said about Him. If you have something that hinders your praise, He wants ‘your deep’ reaching out to His ‘deep’, because He’s not just an everlasting being who is set on casting you aside. You and I are part of His creation, but in fact the most special living things that have been made in His likeness to exercise dominion over the rest of the living things (Genesis 1:26-28). That Jesus came as a man, looking like the rest of us, underscores that Genesis principle. And, Jesus exercised authority over the rest of creation while He was here -- as when He stilled the storm on the sea (Matthew 8:23-27) -- that really epitomized what God said about dominion that He wanted man to exercise. Mistakes entered the picture, seemingly upsetting the perfect picture that God had made. Except, He had a plan. And, it’s still working, and cannot be detoured, as when the first human pair were forced out of Eden. In fact, we’re all looking forward to making our way back to the beginning, to Eden. Jesus Christ is blazing the trail. Wanna join in?    

 

See some brief comments from one of the composers (Calvin Nowell) at the end of the video linked here (10:09-minute mark through 11:40 [end], a collage of three songs he sings [Unrestrained; Song of Glory; and Jesus Come]): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-edxRbII8

 

see PDF copy + Song Of Glory this site that shows copyright date of song in comments section

 

See information about the image here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Folio_109v_-_The_Baptism_of_Christ.jpg …The author died in 1493, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.

Same God -- Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett, Steven Furtick

 

Unchangeable. That one word sums up what Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett, and Steven Furtick were expressing with “Same God” in 2022. This Elevation Worship group in Charlotte, North Carolina was probably looking at some inspiring words that spurred them to think outside of their own experiences in this lifetime. They certainly thought about what different writers have said about the God they worshipped across the centuries, from historical periods separated by some 2,000 years, and even broader than that if they included themselves in this group of humans who have called out to Him. Perhaps what one fellow called Him is most apt – the Ancient of Days (see Daniel 7:9,13,22; and as shown in a reproduction of this 18^th Century artwork The Ancient of Days by William Blake) – because it communicates that He’s existed from before time began and He’ll also be present at the end of time. In other words, He’s not bound by time, so how could He change if He’s outside of our understanding of linear time?  

  

The comments by one of the writers, Chris Brown, further indicates specifically how the group’s focus helped them pen the words about this Same God. Chris and the others must have been thinking about what the writer of Hebrews had to say about God, including that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrew 13:8). And, there’s so many who’ve gone on before those of us who are still living, that we cannot help but think about that great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), as Chris explained. They had no doubt that He was – and is -- the same God that their forefathers had heard, and worshipped, and followed. So, these songwriters wanted people who heard their musical creation to join in, not just in the act of singing and worshipping, but also to think of themselves as being part of that great voyage of humanity, seeking out Him who made us. From the Jacob of Genesis to Mary in the gospels, and so many others in between – like Moses and David, and so many others they do not mention in their lyrics – who talked with, and even wrestled with this same God, one thing they could say was that He’s faithful. He’s dependable, because the pledges that He made to people long ago were honored. And, since He was a promise-keeper for those people, we can think of Him in the same way, and articulate that to succeeding generations. By creating a musical prompt for this goal, the Elevation Worship members have sought to add to the great collection of songs that help preserve a people’s awareness and appreciation for this Same God…as if anyone could reasonably forget or disregard Him.

 

The reality is that too many people do ignore God, until an episode in life just will not allow us to put Him aside. A few pages about ancient history’s people who tried to go around Him should give us reason to pause. Just a glimpse of how He interacted, and the number of people He impacted, was enough for 12 followers to give themselves completely to Him, including martyrdom. And, there were so many others before them, as the Hebrews 11 crowd testifies, and centuries of believers since then. He changed the trajectory of the people He met, and though He went home after 33 years here on earth, He’s still here. The Elevation Worship band reminds us that the Holy Spirit is part of the Divine presence, the same one who’s been called faithful by all those generations we can read about. We all still need Him, something else that they remind us to acknowledge. Have an ailment, lack courage, see giant problems in front of you, don’t know how to swim when an ocean preventing a resolution to an issue is in the way, or just feel insignificant to others? Brandon, Chris, Pat, and Steven recall all of those impediments in their lyrics. Yet, the same God is healer, lifter, protector, rescuer…the list doesn’t really end. He’s still who He’s always been.         

 

 

Read about the song here, including some comments by one of the composers re: its purpose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same_God

 

Also read about the song’s purpose here: https://jubileecast.com/articles/27286/20220122/7-things-to-know-about-elevation-worships-lion.htm

 

See the composers and their band sing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LawxIZE9ePE

 

For information on the image, see the following: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Europe_a_Prophecy,_copy_D,_object_1_(Bentley_1,_Erdman_i,_Keynes_i)_British_Museum.jpg …The author died in 1827, so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer…This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1930.