Anna

There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived wih her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers, at that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

At a time when there was a lack of divine prophesy, here was a prophetess. There had been prophetesses before but none in the pervious four hundred years. Both Simeon and Anna, it appears, prophesied.

Anna had only been married for 7 years. If she was married at 12, then she would have been 19 when her husband died. She did not remarry. How did she survive financially? I imagine she was supported by her family. We are told the name of her father and so he may have been a significant man. Perhaps he too was involved in the temple in some way.

Anna devoted herself to the Lord. She was in the temple night and day, this was the life she chose instead of remarriage and children. We are not told of she had had children to Her husband, we can presume not, perhaps she was barren and thus did not remarry, or was considered barrens and not a desirable wife.

Now days when people divorce they quickly seek to remarry. When a spouse loses their partner it is not always a choice they make. There are times the thought of remarriage is distasteful, especially if their spouse was loved dearly. However, it really depends on so many variables as to whether a person would remarry, it is neither right or wrong, ( unless of course adultery is the motive) but a choice they make.

Anna is an inspiration and I am grateful that the Lord included her story in the gospel as one of the witnesses to the Messiah's birth. I am inspired that Anna being a prophetess is acceptable and acknowledged. 

Thank You Lord for honouring this woman!