Saturday, May 30, 2009

In the Charge of Guardian Angels

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“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:9-11).

The Message says, “He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.”

From the first moment when God set an angel with a flaming sword at the entrance to Eden, to guard its gates from access by all that was defiled, we are assured repeatedly that an unseen host of Heaven’s warriors are ever on guard for the welfare of those whose hearts are set upon the Lord.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that the angels are “all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Heb.1:14). And we have a few stellar examples of this given to us elsewhere in the Scripture.

When Daniel passed through the night unharmed in the Lion’s Den, he confessed openly, “My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me” (Dan.6:22).


Jesus gave a clear warning about how we treat children, “Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven” (Matt 18:10). The implication is obvious – you mess with one of these defenseless ones, and God will unleash their Guardians to sort the matter out!

Even Peter, when he was imprisoned by wicked King Herod, received an encouraging visit in the night by an angel that help bust him out of the prison! “Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, "Quick! Get up!" The chains fell off his hands, and the angel said, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, "Now put on your coat and follow me." (Acts 12:7-8).

The promise is true –
“He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Spurgeon writes, “Not one guardian angel, as some fondly dream, but all the angels are here alluded to. They are the bodyguard of the princes of the blood imperial of heaven, and they have received commission from their Lord and ours to watch carefully over all the interests of the faithful.”

Think about it my friend – even now you are in the charge of guardian angels! And this is no trite matter.

Let me once more cite Charles Spurgeon, as his words say it best, “The protection here promised is exceeding broad as to place, for it refers to all our ways, and what do we wish for more? And as to how angels thus keep us we cannot tell. Whether they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots, or even ward off the subtler physical forces of disease, we do not know. But perhaps one day we shall all stand amazed at the multiplied services which the unseen bands have rendered to us.”


My friend, we may say today even as Elijah said to his trembling servant so long ago as the Syrian army surrounded his camp, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2Ki 6:16).

Be at peace, for you are in the charge of Guardian Angels!
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