Serving Lights

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 her 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.

In this illumination being lit up for us are prophetess lights of Service. Anna did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. When we see the conjunction, but, used in a sentence, we immediately want to know what went before. More curiously, we like to make contrast with what has been previously stated. Here are a couple examples.

They did not attend the Harvest Programme, but they watched it live on television. Now that is what I consider as a straightforward, but. Needless to say, there are some usages of this conjunction that seem almost clumsy and incorrect. It’s like me saying that I did not leave home, but I made a batch of bread. Somehow, in my limited thinking, I’m saying that the correct way to express this, is to use the conjunction, and, to carry on my decision and subsequent action. Wisely, I’m shown my error and given this explanation. To make such a linguistic change, would be to alter my entire mind, motive and mission on the matter of baking bread.

We reason a bit more. I stayed home, not to make bread specifically, for I could have done other very good and useful things. I could have cleaned the house, do laundry, or a bunch of other just as important things. However, when I chose to stay home, baking bread became my specific mission. It was the service to others which my staying home produced.

This has given us a bit more clarity and understanding into what we are receiving concerning Anna. She did not go out to any other place or person, but stayed right there in the temple. We can safely say that she stayed home in the temple, but what did she do? What was her service to God? She, served God with fastings and prayers night and day. As a prophetess, there were many kinds of services, as we were shown with the other bonafide prophetesses. We saw prophetess Miriam as inspired by God’s Spirit to lead others in high and uplifting worship and praises to God. Prophetess Deborah was inspired by the same Spirit of God, to be the people’s judge and so serve God to His pleasure.

Prophetess Anna’s service was one of fasting and praying. She comes to us as one of those hidden, lower lights, in terms of profiling. This is what I mean. Take the beautifully lit Christmas tree, all laden with lights of all different sizes and shapes. There are some lights that are cast in the middle of the tree, where their lights are readily seen, as the larger lights at the edges of the tree. Those inside lights contribute significantly to the full shining of the tree, even though the bulbs themselves are not upfront.

Making this understanding even brighter and clearer, take your mind to Moses, during that momentous battle against the Amalekites. Joshua and all the fighting men of God are on the battle ground. But Moses is on the hill praying. Neither Joshua, nor the army of God are seeing, or hearing Moses as he renders his service of prayer. Moses is like the hidden light, yet without his prayers, Joshua and the army of God would never realize God’s miracle victory. Think of Prophetess Anna in that light.

Tomorrow, we shall continue in this vein.