Angels in Scripture: God’s Appointed Watchmen
Angels in Scripture: God’s Appointed Watchmen.
“All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me. Now I lay me down to sleep, angels watching over me, my Lord. Pray the Lord my soul to keep, angels watching over me.” (African American Spiritual).
All Night All Day (Angels Watching Over Me) – Isaac Cates, Affirmations
The Watchman. In the biblical era when there were walled cities, the citizens would always make sure there was a watchtower built onto the wall, at which would be posted a watchman. This person would be responsible to be on the lookout for the approach of a friend, enemy or stranger to the city. This watchman would need to listen to the instructions of the ruler of the city to distinguish between those three possibilities. And then if there was any threat or danger that approached the city, the watchman would blow a trumpet or sound an alarm. The watchman would also be on the lookout for the approach of good news as well, and would shout out to the citizens those whom they could welcome that was coming their way, including the announcement of the new day at each sunrise.
The Lookout. The Hebrew word for watchman was “mishmereth,” which means one who looks out in order to protect, to guard, to keep safe. The good watchman needed to have particular abilities: the mental discipline to be constantly alert, attentive and focused; to be fearless, calm and composed; to be shrewd and not easily fooled; to have acute hearing and eyesight; to be extremely observant and aware of surroundings; to be ready for anything, expectant, poised to act when called upon; to be someone who is able to wait patiently; to be able to discern the good from the bad, the welcome from the unwelcome.
“For God will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from stumbling and falling.” (Psalm 91:11-12).
Angels as Watchmen. This psalm underscores the reality that angels have always been used by God for our protection during spiritual warfare. This entire psalm is about divine protection of our soul during demonic attack. In verse 13, three of the great symbols of satanic power are mentioned by name: lions, snakes, and dragons. But we needn’t worry about demonic spirits capturing our souls or hurting us in any way spiritually, because, as the Orthodox Christian church has stated, “Believers can walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness.” The psalmist’s opening verses clearly declare that only those who dwell in God, who abide in faith to the Almighty God as refuge and fortress, will remain safe and protected from the demonic realm. Our soul is fiercely defended, and the victory is sure. Much of that spiritual protection comes from God’s angelic hosts. God has assigned His warriors to watch over us, to surround us with protection. As the Message puts it, “God ordered His angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.” Rabbinic teaching has consistently maintained that guardian angels protect God’s people, even from demonic forces (David Stern). As David wrote in Psalm 103:20-21, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will.”
Angels watch with us in our prayer closet. “I will confess to you, O Lord, with all my heart; in the sight of the angels will I sing to You, for You have heard all the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 138:1). Father Reardon in his book Christ in the Psalms makes a special point that when we place our heart in the Throne Room in prayer, we place ourselves in the presence of the angels. He exclaims that “there is no such thing as ‘Private Prayer.’ In prayer we are always sustained by the angelic presence.”
Angels watch over believers. “In speaking of the angels, God says, ‘He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire… Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:7,14). As they watch over the earth, angels are the first to rejoice when a new believer enters into God’s sheepfold (Luke 15:10). We see this watchman role demonstrated many times in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as they remain constantly alert to what is happening on the earth. They fed Elijah (1 Kings 19), they stopped the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:11), they came alongside Jacob and appeared to him a number of times (Gen. 28, 31, 32), they shut the lions’ jaws for Daniel (Dan. 6:22), and they intervened at many important moments in biblical history. God orders His angels to be our watchmen, to guard and protect us wherever we go (Ps. 91:11 and Ps. 34:7), and to patrol the earth (Zech. 1). In the New Testament, an angel provided the escape for Peter in prison (Acts 12:7), rescued all the imprisoned apostles (Acts 5:19), and intervened with the apostle Philip, directing him to meet up with the Ethiopian eunuch and then leading that Gentile to a spontaneous baptism in Christ (Acts 8:26-40). came alongside Paul in a dangerous storm at sea to speak words of encouragement (Acts 27:23). An angel came to their rescue when he “smote” King Herod during one of his typical moments of hubris, cutting Herod down and somehow making sure he was eaten by worms until he died (Acts 12:22-23). Jesus even mentioned in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man that angels were responsible to deliver us to paradise upon our death. (Luke 16:22).
Angels watched over Jesus. “Jesus Christ was gazed upon by angels and beheld by them.” (1 Timothy 3:16). Angels spoke personally and powerfully to Mary, to Joseph, and to the wise men in order to protect Jesus in His vulnerable state. They announced Him in full angelic choir to the Bethlehem shepherds in a mind-boggling way (Luke 2:9). They ministered to Jesus at critical times, including during the wilderness Temptations (Matthew 4:11) and the agony of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). It is implied in Scripture that they were always with Him during His life and ministry, ready to serve Him at any time as directed by the Father in heaven. It is clear that angels were poised to serve Jesus at any time, as He said to Peter, “Do you doubt that I couldn’t ask my Father, and He would even now send me more than twelve legions (literally 72,000) of angels?” (Matt. 26:53). Jesus also offered a glimpse of His glory on the Cross as He explained to His disciples early in His ministry, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51). The angels seemed especially watchful after the Resurrection… at the tomb and thereafter (Matt. 28:2-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-7, 23; John 20:12). There was an angel present soon after Christ’s Ascension as well (Acts 1:10).
Angels watch over children. Jesus made a special point that God has appointed guardian angels over children. “In heaven the angels of these children are continually gazing upon the face of My Father, always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:10). Since they are constantly in an open communication with God, angels are definitely a major aspect of the heavenly support system of children here on earth, regardless of the child’s age. A parent can be certain that angels will minister to their adult children as well. Our children are watched over by God’s special messengers, who are always in the company of the Almighty God and have instant access to Him at all times.
Florida Mass Choir – All Night All Day (youtube.com)
The Watchful Guardian Angels still don’t know everything. The heavenly angels are not omniscient. Even as they are ever-watchful, there is much they do not know, and God Himself has been keeping a secret even from them in heaven. The following are fascinating passages and quotes about how angels are still learning about the ways of God:
“… the Good News of the Messiah’s unfathomable riches, and of letting everyone see how this secret plan is going to work out. This plan, kept hidden for ages by God, the Creator of everything, this many-sided wisdom of God, might now be known to the heavenly rulers and authorities, through the existence of the Messianic Community.” (Ephesians 3:10).
(ESV Study Notes). “God’s redemptive purposes are of interest to angels and the whole host of heaven, who are better able to glorify God when they behold in wonder what God has done and still does in creating the Church.”
(Orthodox Study Bible Notes). “Not only did people on earth not know of God’s mystery, neither did the angels. They hear of it from believers here on earth. How can this be? Because the Church affects all elements of creation, from the material to the immaterial. The united, renewed humanity made possible by Christ is the basis of the reconciliation of the heavens and the earth. Therefore, the Church ascends above the angels. The basis of such an astounding work by us believers is Christ’s Resurrection and exaltation. The wonder of the mystery of God is surprising even to angels!”
“It was revealed to the prophets that they were not serving their own interests, but yours, in those things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven – wonderful mysteries into which the very angels are eagerly watching and longing to gain a clear glimpse of. The angels in heaven long to understand more fully these mysteries of God, and these things are becoming known and talked about even among the angels!” (1 Peter 1:12).
(TPT Notes). The Church is the University of the Angels and every believer is a professor teaching the heavenly realm the mysteries and wonders of the grace of God. The angels investigate through our lives the treasures of grace, like the cherubim who gazed upon the Mercy Seat. Angels are fascinated with God’s mercy shown toward us. His wise plan of making former rebels into lovers has mystified the angelic realm.”
(Orthodox Study Bible Notes). “Even the angels desire to deepen their vision both of the uncreated glory and of what God has in store for creation. The angels beheld and worshiped Christ in His divine nature; what is new and amazing to them is His human nature.”
(Eugene Peterson’s Study Notes in the Message). “Peter said that ‘angels would have given anything to be in on this!’ The Greek words literally mean ‘to lean over to look.’ That little detail is part of a beautiful scene that pictures heaven as a kind of circular balcony stretched out over the earth, and behind the balustrades the angels are lined up, leaning over, trying to get a look at what’s going on. Salvation is what is going on below – an epic drama that spans human history, culminating in personal encounters with God in each and every generation. It provides the same kind of spectator pleasure for the angels that watching a Broadway play does for us. The elaborate intricacy of the history of salvation provides a never-ending plot, an endlessly unfolding drama, with rousing crescendos and standing ovations. It is the passion of the angels to lean over the balcony rail of heaven and watch the drama. But you and I are not spectators in the audience; we’re the actors on stage!”
“For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of us apostles, exposing us to view last of all, like men in a triumphal procession who are sentenced to death and displayed at the end of the line. For we have become a spectacle to the world – a show in the world’s amphitheater – with both men and angels as spectators.” (1 Cor. 4:9, Amplified Bible).