Luke 2: 36-38 (NKJV)
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
In this passage of scripture, we are introduced to Anna (meaning Grace), a prophetess of great age. The Bible says she had been a widow for 84 years but had lived with her husband only for 7 years before becoming a widow. The minimum marriageable age for young Jewish girls at the time was about 12 years. So if you do the additions, we can safely say she was about 103 years at the time the Lord was born.
So this wonderful woman had been widowed and single for a very long time. What can we learn from her today? She stayed true to God and looked to Him her “Maker”, as her “husband” (see Isaiah 54: 4 – 5). Her widowhood did not cause her to give up on God.
Just as in an ideal world, a wife will not normally depart from her husband’s house, and will remain loyal to him. Anna did not depart from the temple, God’s house. She was totally committed, loyal and faithful to God her “husband”.
She was a pillar in the house of God, serving Him with all her heart, might and strength. She at no time retired or gave up.
She was a woman of consistent and continual prayers, and times of fasting.
She was a woman full of gratitude, a woman given to thanksgiving, praise and worship.
She was a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. One who preached the gospel and pointed others to Jesus.
She fulfilled her high calling regardless of her status and circumstances.
What a woman to emulate....