Bible Women: Anna who was a Prophetess

Anna the Prophetess

Only three verses are written in the bible that speak of Anna, but they are filled with  examples of this godly woman's devotion to God and her hope for the promised Messiah.  Let us take them one by one.

Luke 2:36 "And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;"

Anna's name means "gracious",  and we can imagine that she was, like her name implies, a kind, and merciful person.  She was a prophetess, a woman who foretold future events, and we know that prophets always foretold true events to come, as opposed to mere predictions.  No doubt Anna foretold the coming of Messiah. Anna was a very old woman, and was married only seven years.  The Lord did not give Anna any children, but led her to that most consecrated life of service to him.

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

There is some discrepancy about this term "a widow of about fourscore and four years"  Either Anna was 84 years old, or else she had been a widow for 84 years.

Nevertheless, in the plan and purpose of God, Anna remained a widow.  But her time was spent in the service of the Lord.  She remained in the temple, fasting and praying without ceasing night and day.  How faithful she was.  Anna was not caught up in the cares of the world, she lived a separated life.  Spending all of her time in the temple, she would have heard the reading of the scrolls by the men, and would have grown very knowledgeable in God's holy word.   And now we have been given the Holy Bible.  How much of the day do we spend reading God's holy word, reading and meditating upon it.  Are we open to the teaching of the Spirit? or are we caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day, too busy to spend time with our Lord.



We know that fasting often accompanied solemn prayer.....as Esther fasted and prayed before going in to see King Ahasuerus,  as Daniel prayed to the Lord with fasting and wearing sackcloth, as the people of Ninevah fasted and prayed wearing sackcloth.  These were fervent, heartfelt prayers, crying out to the Lord for direction, supplication, deliverance. 

Consider our own prayers. What is our attitude when we pray?  Do we seek God's leading in our lives? Do we seek wisdom and truth?  Do we petition for others? or do we utter selfish prayers...  May we take the example of Anna, who fasted and prayed "night and day" for 84 long years.

Luke 2:38 "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

And now Anna's faithfulness is rewarded.  Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple to offer a sacrifice and to present him to the Lord.  And a man named Simeon, who was also a just and devout man was waiting for the promised Messiah.  And the Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not see death until he looked upon the Lord's Christ, the promised Messiah.  And so he was led by the Spirit to the temple, and saw Mary and Joseph and the child.  Then, as he lifted up the child and blessed God, at that very moment Anna came in and was witness to this blessing and herself looked upon the face of the redeemer, the one she had spent so many years  in prophesying, fasting and praying for.  And Anna gave thanks and immediately set about speaking to all that had ears to hear, that "looked for redemption in Jerusalem"  that the Messiah had been born.

Do we keep the gospel to ourselves?  or do we speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, as God leads us, giving us opportunity to share the gospel.  Have you ever ignored the leading of the Spirit to speak to someone of the Lord Jesus? 

Let us from this day forward, follow the example of Anna in proclaiming the Messiah has come, the Saviour of the World, our blessed Lord Jesus.

vcg/September 2015