The Third WiseWoman in the Christmas story was Anna the Prophetess. And from the start, let me be clear, she was NOT a priest or a preacher, as the Bible CLEARLY states that only MEN are to be called into those ministry positions. ( I Tim. 3:1-13). This simply means she was the wife of a priest or a prophet. Luke 2: 36-38 are the only verses of Scripture dedicated to this woman, yet they speak VOLUMES about her! She is pictured here above with another godly, wiseman Simeon, (whom will have a post dedicated to him this week) and baby Jesus in the Temple. She was used of God to be a mighty example, of TRUE FAITHFULNESS! She displayed this by HERALDING the news of the Redeemer's birth!
1.) Anna's family name alone HEARLDED plans the Lord had for her concerning Jesus' birth. An old saying says "what's in a name?" Well, here there is alot!! Verse 36 says" And there was ONE Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phannel, of the tribe of Aser...". Anna means "God has favored me" in Hebrew, and Phannel, her father, meant "Face of God, or He turns to God." The tribe of Asher would refer to those that lived by the sea, which plays into what will happen later, when Jesus was born. The way the Lord recorded HER name, ONE Anna, shows a PERSONAL or SPECIAL something about this one person to Him. The Lord has ALWAYS dealt with man personally; from creation to salvation. But we know she was already a believer that the Messiah was coming. It is also interesting that her father's name is given and her husband's was NOT. It AMAZES me how the Lord chooses to unfold HIS-STORY in His Word! This all shows that she had a goodly heritage that served the Lord. Her upbringing hearlded to others their faith, and that of her husbands as well. The verse says that she was married to a husband from her virginity, for 7 years. It also says that she was of great age at this time of Jesus' birth. 7 is the number of Divine perfection or completeness in the Bible, so it was God's perfect will that she was wed for only 7 years, but no child was conceived.
2.) Anna HEARLDED the REDEEMER as her HUSBAND and the Temple as her HOME! Vs. 37 says was a widow of about 84 years and "....departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." When Her husband died, she CHOSE to not remarry, but HERALDED the Saviour as her Husband! Isaiah 54: 4&5 says " Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed.....for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." She chose to give herself, for the rest of her life, in serving the LORD! In doing so, the Temple then became her HOME! Ps. 84:1-4 " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh ...for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah." In choosing to serve God, after just being "grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth" (Ish 54:6) and take Him as her Husband and Redeemer, the Lord took away her reproach, as a widow with no child, just as He had done for Elisabeth. And because she so wisely chose God over man, HE CHOSE to show her "great mercies", and "everlasting kindness" (Ish 54 6-8).
3). Lastly, Anna HEARLDED what the Holy Ghost and given her an unction to SEE and SAY!
After all of her years of serving the Lord in the Temple; fasting, praying, and being an encouragement, no doubt, to others, her faithfulness was also seen of her HUSBAND! This shows that age is NOT a factor for service; positions may change, but our passion should not! Ps. 84 says that those that dwelt in God's house would go from strength to strength, and everyone KNEW she would rather be there than in the tents of wickedness! I'm sure that in reading this, there may even be someone white-haired, saged wisewoman of God that comes to mind that you know. IF you want someone praying for you, it's that lady! THIS is how the Lord described Anna. As stated in Isaiah, the Lord blessed Anna beyond measure, and put her into the events of the Redeemer's coming! While loving life, service and I believe, LOOKING for the coming of the Messiah, she was sensitive to the HOLY GHOST and obeyed when He prompted her. Luke 2:27 says Simeon (mentioned earlier) came into the Temple by the Spirit's leading. Verse 38 says that Anna sensed the same thing, "..And she coming in THAT INSTANT.." suddenly found herself, gazing upon the literal " Face of God"! Is that not what her family name meant?? Also, Ish. 54 promised The Lord of Hosts promised to take away her reproach of youthful widowhood, with no children, and gave her the blessing of seeing THE CHRIST CHILD; THE SON OF GOD! Her HUSBAND, REDEEMER, and MESSIAH KNEW she would be faithful to HEARLD HIS BIRTH, to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem! (Luke 2:38.) Wisely, this is EXACTLY what she did!
Anna was a Wisewoman in that she HEARLDED FAITH from her goodly heritage. Even being a young, barren widow, she wisely chose the REDEEMER as her HUSBAND, and the Temple as her HOME for the rest of her life! The Lord openly rewarded her faithfulness and put her into HISTORY; "HIS-STORY' concerning His Birth, and allowed the daughter of Phannel " He turns to God or "the Face of God" to do just that- She turned to see His precious Face, and then be given the honor of Heralding HIM to all that were looking for the Messiah, or soon coming Redeemer! No doubt her testimony made its way back to the tribe of Asher, by the seashore, that sat in darkness, according to Scripture. Just as the Wisemen saw that STAR of BETHELEHEM and His Light, she & they had too! And what other reaction could she have after such blessings??? She HEARLDED and gave thanks, just as the angels, shepherds, and wisemen did!! And as her name meant, Anna could hearld "God HAS favored me"!
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