Widows in ancient Israel faced lives of hardship and dependence. Without husbands, they became vulnerable to poverty, isolation and oppression. Their options were slim: Remarry or depend upon other family members and gifts from temple tithes.

Their precarious situation made them morally vulnerable as well, prone to yielding to passions that would lead them astray spiritually.

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.—1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)

But Anna the prophetess, widowed as a young woman, would follow a different path. She would not succumb to youthful folly. And instead of binding herself to another man, she bound herself to the service of the Lord. Her reward would be worth her tireless years of dedication.

Set Apart by Holiness

We know little about Anna, but what we know shows she was a woman of upright character and divine anointing. 

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 84. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.—Luke 2:36-37

As a prophetess, Anna—whose name means “favor” or “grace”—was a spokesperson for the Lord. She spoke what the Lord told her to speak. This places Anna among a handful of other prophetesses including Miriam, Huldah, the prophet Isaiah’s wife, Philip the evangelist’s four daughters, and Deborah the judge.

Anna’s husband died seven years into their marriage when she likely would have been in her early 20s, in the prime of her life. Convention would dictate she would find another husband and bear children. But Anna defied convention.

Instead, she wholeheartedly devoted the rest of her life to worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. The temple possibly became the prophetess’ home. She met God there day after day, year after year, decade after decade, and He met her needs—even fulfilling her greatest desire.

She Sees God Made Flesh

When Jesus was 40 days old, it was time for Mary and Joseph to make a purification offering to fulfill the Old Testament law. So they brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem and offered the sacrifice fitting for people of their humble economic status.

There they encountered Simeon, a man who was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25b ESV).

The Lord had told Simeon he would live to witness the coming of the promised Messiah. Seeing baby Jesus, Simeon knew God had kept His promise. Anna came along as Simeon held Jesus in his arms, prophesying over and blessing Him.

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.—Luke 2:38 (ESV)

Like Simeon, Anna’s faith was made sight. And being the prophetess she was, Anna would tell everyone she could what God had done for His chosen people and the waiting world.

What We Can Learn from Her

Commentators disagree about Anna’s age at the time she saw Jesus. Was she 84 or closer to 104? We can’t know. But what we can know is the prophetess had spent most of her long adult life in the service of God.

When Anna became widowed as a young woman, other godly women would likely have encouraged her to seek another husband. Worldly women of her time would have told her to make the most of her youth.

But Anna chose neither path. She chose instead to live a life of singular devotion to the Lord. She found joy, purpose and a path forward in Him alone.

When her husband died, Anna also died—at least to the conventions and expectations of her culture and to her worldly desires. But in dying, she found a richer life. And God rewarded her with the ability to see Him manifested in the flesh.

God doesn’t call every widow to follow Anna’s path. But we can all learn from her devotion, integrity and faithful witness. As for me, I pray the Lord would make me more like Anna.

________________________

This is Part 14 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.