100 Years; Finally He’s Here!
“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.”
Luke 2:36-38 NKJV
(https://www.bible.com/bible/114/luk.2.36-38.nkjv)
I had always known that both Simeon (mentioned in verses 34 and 35) and Anna were elderly. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon he would not die, “before he had seen the Lord’s Christ,” so he had likely been around for quite some time. But what I hadn’t realized was how long Anna dwelt on this earth.
The passage indicates Anna had been a widow 84 years, after having been married only seven. Assuming a marriage age of 13 (fairly common in that day), that would have made her around 104 years old! For much of that time, she had been faithfully serving in the Temple, “with fastings and prayers night and day.” Like Simeon, it appears she was also divinely directed to be there at that time, as the text refers to her as, “coming in (at) that instant,” just as Simeon made his proclamation.
Next time you think you’ve waited a long time for the Lord to answer your prayer, consider both Simeon and Anna. If the Lord has given you an assurance about salvation for a loved one, healing, deliverance – whatever it might be – hold fast to His promises. He has a history of 1) doing things in His own perfect time and 2) faithfully performing that which He has spoken. As Paul said, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24 NKJV)
Related Scriptures
“The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.” (Joshua 19:24 NKJV)
“‘To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.’” (Acts 26:7 NKJV)
“Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.” (I Timothy 5:5 NKJV)
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:25-26 NKJV)
“Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:42-43 NKJV)
“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.” (Luke 24:21 NKJV)