About the Hymn
Although we sing the Song of Simeon, Nunc Dimittis (“Now You Dismiss”), all church year in the Lutheran church, we seem to give short shrift to the occasion of the song, the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple.
Known also as the Purification of the Virgin Mary (and less formally as Candlemas), the church celebrates this feast 40 days after Christmas, on February 2. For it was 40 days after a child’s birth that mothers were to come to the Temple to offer a small sacrificial offering for their purification. At that time firstborn sons were also to be consecrated to the Lord.
After their short, six-mile walk north from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, the Holy Family met two aged believers in the Temple, Simeon and Anna. The Spirit miraculously led these two to recognize the Child as the promised Messiah, and their words of prophecy and praise astounded the new parents.
When we thoughtfully consider the events of this day, we too are astounded. First, beneath the commonplace event of two Jewish parents presenting their six-week-old son in the Temple—obeying Moses’ Law as had thousands of Jews for thousands of years—is this: “For his presentation, Jesus visits his own house today.” For centuries, the pre-incarnate Son of God has been present there in his house with the Old Testament believers. Today is merely his first human visit.
The second astounding fact is this: This Child is himself true God, so as his parents present him to Jehovah, we can truly say, “They’re presenting God to God!”
Third, the Song of Simeon is an early New Testament assurance that the salvation that came from the Jews was not meant only for the Jews. This narrative, like the Visit of the Magi, confirms that we who are Gentiles are also God’s redeemed children.
Finally, even here, in a simple ceremony carried out by simple people, our Savior is, in a sense, already saving us. His parents’ obedience to the Law of Moses will be subsumed into his own keeping of the law in every detail as part of his active obedience for our salvation.
The hymn should be performed at a contented♩= ca. 60.
Text
1. To the Temple comes the Savior.
Mary, Joseph bring the Babe.
For his presentation, Jesus
visits his own house today.
Though they look like any fam’ly
following the ancient law,
this dear Child is Messiah!
They’re presenting God to God!
2. Simeon is a watchman, waiting
for the nation’s Hope and Joy,
when the Holy Spirit leads him
to the Temple and the Boy.
See him cradle Baby Jesus:
“How I’ve waited for this birth!
Now I’ll die in peace. I’ve seen him—
Christ, the Light of all the earth.”
3. Anna, faithful prophet praying
years and years before the Lord,
knows this Child in the Temple
is the One they’re waiting for.
Hear her tell the people, “Listen!
This is Christ, the Promised One!
Hailed by ancient kings and prophets,
he’ll redeem Jerusalem!”
4. At our Savior’s presentation,
like those aged saints, we see
Christ has come to ave all nations;
Jews and Gentiles he redeemed.
Now we wait and watch and worship,
filled with hope and highest praise,
for we know we too will meet him;
we will see our Savior’s face.
© 2018 Laurie F. Gauger
Lectionary Reading
Presentation of the Lord: Luke 2:22–40
Jesus Presented in the Temple
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
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. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
