Ever wonder how long Simeon was waiting—day after day in the temple courts—for the Messiah to be revealed? The Bible does not share that information with us. Could have been days, weeks, months or years; maybe even decades. He waited because, as a man who knew the power of the Holy Spirit in his life, it was made privy to him that if he would patiently wait he would live to see the Lord’s Messiah, who would bring about the “consolation of Israel.” Simeon wanted to see hope and salvation for Israel and he knew that these could only come about through the work of Messiah, the long-awaited hope of Israel.