Anchor My Faith

Anna the Prophetess

Scripture: Luke 2:36-37

In our previous lesson we learned that Jesus would divide humanity into those who fall (are lost) and those who rise (are saved). He would become a person that would be opposed and hated by many. We also learned that this hatred of him would also be felt by his followers.

In this lesson we meet another person in our walk along the gospel path: “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, 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” (Luke 2:36 – 37 ESV). That person, we are to meet in this lesson, is a prophetess named Anna. It is not clear why she was called a prophetess. Maybe it was because she was the wife of a prophet or because she was employed in celebrating the praises of God. An example of this is given in 1 Chronicles 25:1 – 2.

She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Phanuel is mentioned only because he was the father of Anna. This is the only place he is mentioned in the New Testament. The tribe of Asher was one of the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel and was located in the northern part of the land of Canaan. Her family may have been distinguished in Jerusalem, but it was her exemplary devotion that entitled her to be mentioned here.

Anna lived with her husband for seven years from the time she was a virgin and then she became a widow and remained that way. She lived until she was eighty-four, spending her time in the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke says that she did not depart from the temple means that she was constant and regular in all the public services at the temple. She was never absent from those services. It is humble servants, like Anna, who continually live in God’s presence that he reveals his secret purposes in history.

This is a little about Anna, but what God revealed to her will be made known in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as we walk along the gospel path and meet different people, we are realizing that you do nothing without revealing your secrets to your servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). These secrets are now hidden in your Word and can be known to those who study the Scriptures and develop a close relationship with Jesus the Word made flesh. I am excited to think of all the secrets we will uncover as we walk along the Gospel path together.