During Advent, this song from Lianna Klassen serves as a springboard to meditate on worship, waiting, and fulfillment. It imagines the lives of three women described in Luke’s gospel: Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.
The one who stands out to me this time is Anna. She was an ordinary woman who worshiped with her whole self. Her reputable presence in the temple, and response to the baby Jesus, added evidence in Luke’s account of Jesus.
I once heard worship defined as, “Your whole spirit, soul and body are in awe, and you express it.” Anna did this for years. I imagine her as an old testament believer – she was at the end of 400 years of silence from God. She had the Old Testament scriptures and Psalms to anchor her faith. She lived conscious of God’s promises, in Jerusalem under Roman occupation and oppression.
Her prayers led her to be in awe of God, and her awe led to more prayers. She heard from God (Luke names her as a prophet). She prayed back to him what she heard. Her body expressed her awe by being in the temple at night and in the daytime, by fasting as a lifestyle, hungry for redemption of Israel. She likely felt that God would break his silence, but didn’t know if it would be in her lifetime. She likely encouraged the younger people around her by her dedication and her wisdom. She frequently, daily, hourly, expressed her awe of God.
Luke 2:36-38 NLT
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
The Women’s Song
Lianna Klassen
Oh Mary, I wish I could have known you when
The angel of God called you “Blessed among women”
For you would bear the Son of the God Most High.
I wish I could have heard your cry…
“My soul does magnify the Lord my God
And my spirit does exalt in God my Saviour
For I have been chosen by God Most High,
To carry the seed of his salvation.”
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Elizabeth, I wish I could have known you when
Your babe leaped for joy the presence of Mary.
The Spirit fell upon you and you prophesied.
I wish I could have heard your cry…
“How great an honour this is indeed,
That the mother of my Lord should visit me.
You have been blessed because you believe.
And now this miracle’s revealed to me.”
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Oh Anna, I wish I could have seen your face,
When the Saviour of mankind in your arms was placed.
And all of the heavens heard the sound of your sigh.
I wish I could have heard your cry…
Arise, oh Israel, your King has come,
To deliver the captives of Jerusalem.
He is Yeshua, the promised of God,
Redeemer, Messiah. Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
oooooh …. this is so very meaningful …… I am deeply grateful for this posting . Thank you
Powerful words, sung so beautifully.
Glory be to our God.
What a beautiful song!