My lesson yesterday on Psalm 91 included biblical references to angels watching over us. The psalmist writes, “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down” (Psalm 91:11-13). God’s protection for His children includes commanding His angels to guard us.
The concept of angels guarding the Jews in the Old Testament referred especially (not exclusively) to their physical protection as God “tutored” them (Galatians 3:23-25). And let’s not forget that the psalms are poetry with hyperbolic language. For you and me as the children of God living after the death and resurrection of Jesus the protection is especially spiritual in nature (but not exclusively).
Here are three of the New Testament passages that speak of angels:
*Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven”.
*Hebrews 1:14 – Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
*Hebrews 13:2 – Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Read Psalm 91:1-16 and then listen to an old song by Alabama called Angels Among Us. Maybe God will use us like an angel to bless someone along the way as well.
Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”