| The Christian Life | August 1943 |
They Encamp Around Us
Ministering Spirits
“And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. … Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”—Hebrews 1:7,14
OUR text indicates that our Heavenly Father, in caring for our needs as His children, uses heavenly messengers, or angels, who are sent forth under general direction from His throne. Each of these is invested with adequate power to perform the task appointed, that task being especially to instruct, deliver, guide, and bless the people of God in their happy, yet hazardous pilgrimage along the narrow way.
Man was created a little lower in nature than the angels, yet they have always been interested in man, hence are enthusiastic and happy co-workers with God in all things pertaining to His plan as it relates to the human race. Described in Job 38:7 as the sons of God, they are said to have shouted for joy when this earthly domain was created.
Their continued interest in the human family is reflected in their keen desire to understand the writings of the Old Testament which reveal the divine purpose of redemption through Christ. The apostle says that the angels desired to look into these things, but were not permitted to do so.—I Peter 1:12; Revelation 5:1-7
While the angels have not been honored with so deep an insight into the divine plan for human redemption as have the footstep followers of Jesus, nor been called to the high position in that plan of joint-heirs with Him in His Kingdom, yet they gladly serve in the more humble capacity of helpers to the future royal family of heaven.
Jesus, in sounding the warning to those who might think to oppose His followers, mentioned the protection afforded them by these spirit messengers, saying, “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:10) Of Himself the Master said that He could ask the Father and He would be given more than twelve legions of angels for His protection.—Matthew 28:53
The holy angels are spoken of in the Scriptures in terms which imply that their power would baffle all human conception. A single one of them was said to have struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night.—II Chronicles 32:21; II Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36,37
Angelic Ministries in Old Testament Times
As already indicated, the angels served as God’s ministers in Old Testament times, even as they are the invisible guardians of the church now. The Old Testament is replete with narrations of the presence and power of these ministering angels. Frequently when the Lord spoke to His servants, an angel was the instrument used to produce the audible voice, the angel being commissioned to speak in Jehovah’s name. In Hebrews 2:2, we are informed that “the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.”
The earliest mention of angelic intervention explicitly stated to be such is in the case of Hagar, she had been banished from Abraham’s household. Out in the desert, with bread and water exhausted, she sat apart and snatched her starving child, and wept bitterly. We are told that an angel called to her out of heaven and said:
“What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.”—Genesis 21:17-19
Aside from God’s personal interest in Hagar and her child, Ishmael, He used them as types, or illustrations of fleshly Israel and His dealings with them under the Law Covenant. As an angel ministered to typical Hagar and Ishmael, so God’s dealing with the Israelites in connection with the law is said to be by means of angels through Moses the mediator.—Galatians 3:19; 4:24-31
Abraham Entertains Angels
Then, too, we remember when Abraham was sitting during the noontide heat beneath the shade of his sheltering tent, suddenly he was startled by the abrupt approach of three unusual strangers. Apparently there was a display of royalty in their demeanor, their bearing, because Abraham bowed himself to the ground before their, offering his hospitality.—Genesis 18:1-8
These strangers were materialized angelic messengers, sent to Abraham by God, and charged with the commission of conveying a most important message to him—a reaffirmation of the divine promise that Sarah was to bear him a son. While visiting Abraham, these angelic messengers also announced a catastrophe of the greatest import for that tune, the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Neither Abraham nor perhaps the angels who had spoken to him realized the full import of the promise concerning the seed through which all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Probably they were not fully informed concerning the seed as being that of Christ and His church, the royal family or nation of this Gospel Age, developed through faith, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit. But it was a happy privilege for the angels, and a blessed experience for Abraham and Sarah to have even this limited share in the outworking of the divine promises.
Later, when Abraham is raised from the dead, and the plan of God is unfolded to him—as by then it will also doubtless be to the angels who visited him on that memorable occasion—he will then know who constitutes the real seed of promise. They will also know that the seed will spread its influence throughout the earth for the blessing of all people.
The message brought to Abraham and Sarah on this occasion was one that must have been difficult to believe, but in due time, though seemingly contrary to science and all natural laws, that strange angelic announcement was fulfilled. Never has a holy angel gone forth from the presence of the Most High to any nation, people, or person, with false or uncertain tidings. The word spoken by the holy angels is the utterance of the divine will, and therefore dependable. Though thrones and dominions and principalities and powers conspire to thwart the accomplishment of the divine will, the power of the Almighty God stands back of every message He sends by the ministering spirits of heaven, and those messages have already been recorded for our particular benefit.—I Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4
The most important message the angels had for Abraham was that pertaining to the promised seed, and the blessing that was to come through that seed. Just so, the most important part of God’s message to us today is still the fact of that seed, and the coming Kingdom blessings of all mankind through the seed.
The angels also told Abraham of the coining destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; and even so the Lord, through His Word, has informed us of the destruction of Satan’s world. This knowledge in itself would be of little value were it not that we know also that there is to follow the “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—II Peter 3:13
Angels Minister to Daniel
The inspired prophecy of Daniel is both interesting and important in view of its remarkable delineation of events fulfilled and to be fulfilled. His predictions run to the culmination of the “time of the end” of this age, and tell also of the Messianic Kingdom which is to be the administrative power in the affairs of men throughout the new age now dawning. He foretells the first advent of the Messiah and of His sacrificial death—“cut off, but not for Himself.” (Dan. 9:24-27) His prophecy also points out the return of Christ to this earth at His second advent, the reviving of the dead, the destruction of evil, and the establishment of a universal reign of righteousness on the ruins of the present imperfect governments of men.—Daniel 12; 2:44
Much of Daniel’s prophecy came to him directly from the lips of an angel. The key which unlocked for him the mystery of unseen future eras was furnished to the prophet in that manner. The angel Gabriel was the authority for much that Daniel predicted, a great deal of which is even now being fulfilled.—Daniel 9:3,20-23; 10:9 – 12:13
Daniel was a captive in a foreign land when he wrote his prophecy, but he was true to his people and to the God of his lathers. He resisted the fascinations and corruptions of Babylon’s court life with which he was surrounded and challenged the admiration of his enemies by his purity and integrity. But more important is the fact that Goal honored him as one of His special servants and prophets.
Daniel’s intelligence, under divine providence, resulted in a rapid advancement at the court of Darius. The favors bestowed upon him by King Darius awakened cruel jealousy in the hearts of other officials, out of which there developed a wicked plot against Daniel, the servant of God. He was ordered cast into a den of lions. Then occurred a miracle most stupendous! He was not destroyed by the lions! What strange power surrounded him? Let us see.
The king, who had himself been inveigled unwittingly into the plot to destroy Daniel, came to the lions’ den the next morning, hoping that the prophet’s God had protected him. Upon inquiry, he found that indeed, his hope had been justified, that his trusted servant was still alive. We quote Daniel’s explanation of what had occurred: “My God hath sent His angel and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king have I done no hurt.”—Daniel 6:22
Thus was effected a deliverance of Daniel from the attacks of literal lions. Christians also are subjected to attacks likened unto that of lions. Peter says, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Pet. 5:8) But, as with Daniel, so with Christians, “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them,” and they are delivered, not physically, but as new creatures in Christ Jesus.—Psa. 34:7
Preparing the Way for Messiah
We next recall the good priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and hove he was overcome with fear at the presence of a shining visitor who was none other than the angel Gabriel. Gabriel soothed the alarm of the priest with words which filled his heart both with amazement and delight: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”—Luke 1:13-19
Both Zacharias and his wife were “well stricken in years,” so it was hard to believe the joyous tidings that Gabriel had brought, even though they had come from the lips of an angel. (Luke 1:7) It was but natural, therefore, that he should inquire, “Whereby shall I know this? … And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed.” in keeping with this, the priest’s lips were sealed, and he remained speech less, even as the angel had said.
The Annunciation
The announcement of the Savior’s birth was also made by an angel, and when He was born the glorious tidings of His birth as the world’s Savior—the most wondrous song ever heard by mortal ears—came from angelic lips.—Luke 1:26,27; 2:8-15
Later, Joseph was told by an angel to “Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring tree word.” (Matt. 2:13) Joseph obeyed, following the angel’s warning and escaped from the jealous power of Herod. What a precious life was thus delivered from peril! How highly did God thus honor and wondrously use His angelic servants.
And this angelic guardianship over Jesus continued, for, when Herod was dead, Joseph and Mary were again instructed in vision by an angel to return to their own land, and when doubtful about the rule of Herod’s successor were given further counsel and direction. (Matt. 2:19-23) Thus did the holy angels keep constant watch over the precious life of the world’s coming Redeemer.
There is little doubt but what the angels of heaven continued to be the bodyguards, the swift and powerful servants of the Master. Throughout His entire earthly career it was their privilege to attend Him day and night. They were His unseen helpers at every step of the way.
Ministering to the Saints
The same bright, holy, powerful, beings who attended the Savior all through His earthly career are also ministering spirits to the saints. Just as they helped Him in all His trials and sufferings, they are now in just as constant attendance over all His saints; end irrespective of their needs; are competent to guard their steps from danger, and to deliver them from the “snare of the fowler.” (Psa. 91) And how much we need to be defended against the assaults of demons and other enemies of the new creature which unitedly are endeavoring in every way to defeat us who are the soldiers of Jesus Christ.
The ministry of the angels is in the realm of the supernatural. God is above nature, and the angels are His mighty messengers. While God does not perform His work contrary to the laws of nature, except when necessary, yet what we call natural law is never an obstruction to the accomplishment of His will as committed into the hands of His angelic ministers. No place can be so dismal, no cavern so deep and dark, no fortress so strongly guarded, that they cannot find quick and easy access; if a child of God be there.
Yes, angelic power, under divine commission, is superior to all physical laws, as evidenced by the miraculous deliverance of the Apostle Peter. His chains fell off and the huge iron gates of that ancient prison opened at the angel’s behest—opened without being touched by the hand of man.
The ministrations of the angels are equally efficient on land, on the sea, or in the air. They can spear from the skies, feed a disconsolate prophet in the wilderness, and pluck a foundering ship from a tempest in mid-ocean. Wherever God’s people are, angels are present to care for them.
The Encampment of Angels
Psalm 34:7 reads, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” This pictorial language suggests that our guardian angels do not appeal, simply on occasions of great and dire peril, but that they tent on the field, as it were. This suggests that they are never absent, but always on duty, full-armed and vigilant. Symbolically speaking, they pitch their tents close round all the followers of the Master, and spread over their “defenseless heads” their shields of invincible skill and power.
Let us remember, however, that while God always works through such instrumentalities as may serve His purposes best, and always will, still it is God Himself who does the work. Whatever help we have from angels or men is as really the help of God as though He personally were to put forth His mighty arm and work directly for us.
But in all ages He has used the ministry both of angels and men. Even in these dark and evil days, God’s angels still guard the followers of the Master, so that neither evil men nor devils are able to separate them from the love of God. Tenderly they wait and watch, and spread their unseen shields over the weakest followers of the Lamb of God.
Nor will their sleepless vigil fail us day or night, till the last one of those who are running for the prize of the “high calling in Christ Jesus” is safely escorted to his place in the heavenly phase of Christ’s Kingdom, and is ready to join with the Master in extending God’s blessings to all the families of the earth.