and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
5 sermons cite this verse
… and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And this woman was a widow of about 84 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 who looked for the redemption of Israel. All right, what happened here? We have a prophet, a prophetess, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Let me change the language a little bit. We have a prophet and a prophetess who recognized the king of all kings when he was an infant. It could be said that they recognized who it was because of the prophetic gifting, but I don't think so. I think their prophetic gifting was backed by their passionate prayers. And when you lean into something in prayer, it's much easier to recognize the answer in its infancy. it's much easier to recognize that which comes, not fully formed, not fully shaped, not the way we'd expect a king to come, the Messiah to rule and to reign. He didn't show up the way many expected, but because of the devotion to prayer and that sense, how many of you have had times where you've been praying and you can tell the Holy Spirit is riding on or saying amen to what you're praying. You know that feeling. I wish I could say it's there all the time. It's not there all the time for me, but when it happens, make a note because you've just engaged in what …
… there was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Peniel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When it comes to Jesus, you got two options. You can resist him or you can marvel at him. and my question to you today is do you resist the words of Jesus do you resist the ways of Jesus do you resist the life of Jesus or do you marvel at his beauty do you gaze upon his eyes do you look upon his splendor do you behold all the power and the glory of the come on clap if you believe it today I marvel at the Lord our God and I pray that Zoe would be a church that does not resist our Savior, we marvel at our Savior. That when we come to church, we marvel at His grace. …
… noticed. First, they're both in the temple. Simeon comes into the temple. Luke says Anna never left the temple, not that she literally lived at the temple, but she was there daily. It was only the priests who could go into the holy place, but there were temple courtyard, and that's what's meant here. There was a court for women and that's where Anna was day after day. So they're both in the temple. Second, they're both old. Simeon, we assume, is old because he's been waiting his whole life and the Lord told him, it was revealed to him, you would see the Lord's Christ. That word means Messiah, anointed one. You would see the Christ before you die. So he's likely old. Anna is 84. Sorry if you were hoping that 84 wouldn't count as old, but it just is what it is. They're both old. Third, they're both prophets. Simeon is not called a prophet, but we read that the Holy Spirit was upon him and that God had revealed things to him that he wouldn't die before he saw the Christ, that this child would be spoken against. That's a prophet. Anna is specifically called a prophetess. …
… and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And this woman was a widow of about 84 years who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. In coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of him to all who looked for the redemption of Israel. All right, what happened here? We have a prophet, a prophetess, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Let me change the language a little bit. We have a prophet and a prophetess who recognized the king of all kings when he was an infant. it could be said that they recognized who it was because of the prophetic gifting, but I don't think so. I think their prophetic gifting was backed by their passionate prayers. And when you lean into something in prayer, it's much easier to recognize the answer in its infancy. it's much easier to recognize that which comes, not fully formed, not fully shaped, not the way we'd expect a king to come, the Messiah to rule and to reign. …
… I ask that you would stand with me. As we look at the scripture found in Luke chapter 2, verses 36 through 38. And it reads like this in the NRSB version. There was also a prophet. Anna, the daughter of Phanuyel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the temple, but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment, she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Before you go to your seats, I want to center your thoughts this morning around the significance of the insignificant. And I want you to turn to your neighbor and say, God responds to human devotion. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. In the tradition of prayer as our theme for the month of January, I want us to look at a woman who prayed and fasted day in and day out. …