Anna’s Prayer Of Thanksgiving Series

LUKE 2: 36-38 [Christmas]

ANNA’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Luke here reveals Anna’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. I’m sure the previous encounter with Simeon astounded Mary and Joseph, but they had a further sign from God. The truth of Simeon’s words were confirmed by Anna, an aged prophetess who also hailed the advent of the Messiah. This godly woman from the prophetic tradition continued the work of confirmation that Simeon had started. These two aged saints, poised in anticipation of the Messiah, represent the faithful remnant in Israel.

Anna, esteemed for her fasting and praying, was a devoted fixture in the Temple. Because of her calling as a prophetess she announced God's will for His people, to all who would listen to the counsel of God. Because of her eyes that would see God and her ears that would hear God, she truly did behold her Redeemer and would then announce His redemption.

Verse 36 provides some background understanding of Anna. “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

Simeon and Anna were prophets. I think we have a hard time knowing what to make of prophets then or now. There have always been false prophets, as well as true ones.

Simeon and Anna were true and accurate prophets. They were not prophets in the sense of future telling or fortune telling. Prophecy is forth-telling. You speak forth for God to a person or a nation about that person’s or that nation’s unrighteousness and about those things they might do to be faithful and obedient. The true prophet speaks to us of our sins, our false values and our unloving behavior. [Larson, Bruce; Ogilvie, Lloyd J.: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 26: Luke. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983 (The Preacher's Commentary Series 26), S. 57.]

The prophets usually have had hard words for us, words we prefer to think are meant for someone else. I heard about a boy celebrating his birthday. Among his presents was the gift of a five dollar bill. He immediately began to make plans to invest in an ice cream sundae with all the trimmings. The party guests were a somewhat pious group, and someone suggested that he give part of the five dollars to the poor. “I thought of that,” admitted the birthday boy, “but I think I’ll give it to the ice cream man instead and let him give it to the poor.” A lot of us are like that. We are trusting someone else to follow the admonitions of the prophets.

Verse 37 reveals even more about this godly woman. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, “and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Anna was made a widow after seven years of marriage and never remarried. After losing her husband, Anna could have become bitter. Instead, she became better and blessed. Rather than simply becoming old and fatigued, she kept about her such a high degree of vitality and spirituality that she was chosen of all women to be the prophetess who recognized Jesus as Messiah. Down through the ages God has revealed His purposes to humble servants who continually live in His presence (Lk. 24:53; Amos 3:7).

This verse may mean she is eighty-four or that she has been a widow eighty-four years. The wording would allow either understanding. If it is the later, by any estimate that would have made her at least a hundred and three years old. At that time, thirteen was the minimal age to marry, and when we add all the other figures given us by Luke, we find that Anna must have been a very old lady indeed.

This old woman was in the temple night and day. She probably lived in a little house nearby or even on the premises. Whenever the church opened for worship, she was there.

Do you know anyone like that? We probably consider such people fanatics. If you’ve visited the great cathedrals of Europe, you’ve seen any number of women in the tradition of Anna— nondescript, dressed in black, kneeling devoutly and murmuring endless prayers. An implication that Luke gives us is don’t dismiss such people lightly. They may have a special understanding of God’s plan and purpose. We assume from Luke’s account that Anna’s testimony about the baby Jesus was honored and impacting. At one hundred and three she was an effective witness. [Larson, Bruce. s. 56.]

In spite of her age Anna had devoted herself completely to the Lord’s service in the temple since her husband had died years before. Because she devoted herself to the Lord, she devoted herself to serve Him in prayer. Those saints who so devote themselves master the blessed skill of praying. Their prayers are effective and powerful before God (Jas. 5:16).