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Consolation of Israel


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 upon him. (Luke 2:25)

CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
 
          Today's passage gives us another "con" word in English, and another "parakleo." Consolation comes from Latin terms meaning "with/together" and "to comfort, provide solace, encourage."  Parakleo means to come alongside, to comfort, encourage or appeal." It's the term we discussed when we looed at "Advocate."  These are more words that seem to have a "There, there, it'll be OK" meaning. Again, the etymologies suggest that the terms weren't meant so much as pats on the head as they were kicks in the butt. Comfort, as noted yesterday, is "with strength." Encourage is "to put heart or courage into." 
         Why is the Bible so insistent on strength, courage, heart, and endurance. Physiologists say that in order for a muscle to become stronger it needs to be worked; pushed to its limits and beyond. Easy doesn't build a person's strength of character. Being nice to someone who is nice to you is easy. Loving the lovable is a piece of cake. Being tolerant of someone who agrees with you - easy peasy. It's a different matter when we are nice to jerks, love the unlovely and unlovable, or treat someone with respect as human beings when they don't respect you. 
          Have you considered that this is what God does to us and for us? He proved His strength, courage, heart and endurance on the cross. He gave and gives us grace. He loved and loves us. He puts up with all manner of abuse from us. He accepts decisions we make even when they're bad decisions. He doesn't make things all better when we've chose what's worst. In short, within limits, He grants that we should be "like God." Not surprisingly, the way that He wants us to be like Him is not the way we tend to want to be like Him.  

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