Considering Angels

Angels are fascinating creatures. Perhaps part of their fascination, for me at least, is that we seem to know so little about them. Much of what we believe about angels is artistic or authorial speculation. I suggest this week, however, that we know more than we might think we know.

Volumes have been written about angels, and I will not even pretend to touch the depth of those studies in this blog posting. My task here is to share just enough that it might cause you to reflect, to ponder the angels around you this day.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The truism “out of sight, out of mind” is applicable in this case. We don’t see angels, at least not that we are aware of, so we don’t think about them much.¹ Some may even question their existence.

Just because we cannot see a thing does not mean it is not there. For example, we do not see air. We may see mist, fog, or pollutants in the air, but we do not see the air itself. Yet, without it, we die. We cannot see gravity, yet it holds us to the soil.

In 2 Kings 6 contains a fascinating story wherein the king of Syria has surrounded the city of Dothan where the prophet Elisha lived. Elisha had been prophetically informing the king of Israel on the activities of the Syrian king, much to the Syrian King’s dismay.

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
– 2 Kings 6:11-12, ESV

As illogical as it sounds, with the city of Dothan surrounded with “horses and chariots and a great army,” the Syrian king thought he had bagged himself this prophet who foresees his every move. So did Elisha’s servant, exclaiming to Elisha, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
– 2 Kings 6:17, ESV

Elisha calmed his servant telling him, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”² Though unseen, they were there the entire time. Indeed, Hebrews speaks of angels as beyond numbering.³

Ministering Servants

Perhaps one of the best-known verses regarding angels is this one from Hebrews:

Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
– Hebrews 1:14, ESV

Though the angels are servants of the Lord seated on the throne, they serve the him by functioning as ministering sprits of humanity, those who are hears of salvation through faith in Christ. That has to be a comforting thought.

Possessing Wisdom

Twice in 2 Samuel 14 an unnamed woman speaks of the angel of God who discerns good from evil and who knows “all things that are on the earth.” ⁴ No doubt she was attempting to flatter King David by comparing him to the wise angels. Nonetheless, that concept was with her and it is now in scripture.

Performing God’s Will

As we noted above, the angels serve God by ministering to us. Indeed, it seems their core purpose is to serve God by carrying out his will.

Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
– Psalm 103:20-21, ESV

They Fly

Contemporary art almost always depicts angels as human beings with wings. Much recent art involving angels, sadly, has become highly sexualized. The portrayal of angels as humanoids with wings has no support in scripture, as scripture gives us no data on this either way. However, we do know from Daniel that angels fly, and they do so with great speed.

while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.
– Daniel 9:21, ESV

We also know from Exodus, Ezekiel, and Isaiah that at least two classifications of angels do indeed have wings. Cherubim are said to be winged creatures whose wings spread over the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant.⁵ In Ezekiel 10, we know that the sound of their wings is exceedingly loud at times.

And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
– Ezekiel 10:5, ESV

Seraphim are also winged, having six each. These are the beings that fly while crying out “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory!”⁶

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
– Isaiah 6:2, ESV

Involved in Our Battles

The concept of guardian angels is lightly tossed about, even among the unbelieving. It is a concept, however, that does have possible support in scripture. Matthew’s gospel indicates that every child has angels assigned specifically to them, calling them “their angels.”⁷

The psalmist says the angels are involved in our battles, protecting, and delivering us. We are likely delivered from numerous attacks of which we are completely unaware.

The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
– Psalm 34:7, ESV

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
– Psalm 91:11, ESV

You may recognize that last psalm as a quotation from Satan to Jesus when he tempted him to leap from the pinnacle of the temple compelling the angels to come rescue him.

Daniel credited his survival in the pit of lions to God’s angel who guarded him by shutting the lions’ mouths, saying to King Darius, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”⁸

Local Churches Have Them

Just as individuals are protected by angels, individual churches have angels assigned to them.

To the angel a of the church in Ephesus write…
– Revelation 2:1

To the angel a of the church in Smyrna write…
– Revelation 2:8

To the angel a of the church in Pergamum write…
– Revelation 2:12

To the angel a of the church in Thyatira write…
– Revelation 2:18

To the angel a of the church in Sardis write…
– Revelation 3:1

To the angel a of the church in Philadelphia write…
– Revelation 3:7

To the angel a of the church in Laodicea write…
– Revelation 3:14

It appears that these angels are directly identifying with specific bodies of believers, ministering to and protecting them.

Curious Creatures

Since angels are tasked with ministering to the heirs of salvation, they are understandably intrigued by human affairs, particularly as regards the gospel message.

It was revealed to [the prophets] that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
– 1 Peter 1:12, ESV

Ministers in Our Death

Finally, it appears that angels are with us to assist in our death and passage to the “other side.” From the account of the unnamed rich man and Lazarus, we read this:

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
– Luke 16:22, ESV

I hope this week’s blog has been as fun for you to read as it was for me to compile. I find these accounts of angels tremendously encouraging. Perhaps one day we will meet those angels given to our care. I hope so.

Blessings upon you, my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

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1. Hebrews 13:2
2. 2 Kings 6:16, ESV
3. Hebrews 12:22
4. 2 Samuel 14:17, 20
5. Exodus 25:20
6. Isaiah 6:3
7. Matthew 18:10
8. Daniel 6:22a