"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34:7)
Since God's angels are normally unseen, we have little appreciation of how intimately they are involved in our lives. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). As in our text, there may well be a protecting angel embracing and delivering us in times of danger. "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:11-12).
Angels are sometimes called on to rout the enemies of God and His people. "Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul . . . and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them" (Psalm 35:4-6).
Angels are intensely interested in the salvation and spiritual growth of believers, "which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12). "For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1 Corinthians 4:9). There are even occasions when "some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2).
There is "an innumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:22), beings of great power and wisdom (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Samuel 14:20). They are not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient, of course, since they--like us--were created by God, simply to obey God. "Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word" (Psalm 103:20).
Finally, we shall be "carried by the angels" (Luke 16:22) into God's presence. Then we can better understand and thank them for all the many services rendered to us here on earth. HMM
