"MINISTERING SPIRITS"

Angels In The Old Testament

INTRODUCTION
  1. We have seen that angels are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation" - He 1:13-14
  2. Their ministry as "messengers" of God is evident in the Old Testament...
    1. During the Patriarchal age, from the creation to giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
    2. During the Mosaic age, from Mount Sinai to the time of Christ

[An understanding and appreciation of the ministry of angels may be gleaned by a survey of their appearances as revealed in the Old Testament...]

  1. THE PATRIARCHAL AGE
    1. BEFORE THE FLOOD...
      1. 'Sons of God' (angels?) shouted for joy at the Creation - Job 38:7
      2. 'Cherubim' (angels?) were placed at the east of the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life - Gen 3:24
      3. 'Sons of God' (angels?) cohabitate with 'daughters of men' - Gen 6:1-4; cf. 2Pe 2:4; Jude 6
    2. IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM...
      1. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar in the wilderness - Gen 16:7-14; cf. Gen 21:17
      2. Two angels together with the Lord appeared to Abraham - Gen 18:1-2
      3. The same two angels appeared to Lot before destroying Sodom - Gen 19:1-22
      4. The Angel of the Lord prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac - Gen 22:11-18
      5. Abraham was confident that an angel would guide his servant in finding a wife for Isaac - Gen 24:7,40
    3. IN THE LIFE OF JACOB...
      1. In his dream at Bethel, Jacob saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder up to heaven - Gen 28:12
      2. The angel of God spoke to him in a dream, telling him to return to Canaan - Gen 31:11-13
      3. Angels of God met him on his return at Mahanaim - Gen 32:1-2
      4. He wrestled with a "Man", who is later called as "the Angel" - Gen 32:24-30; Hos 12:4
      5. Toward the end of his life, he refers to "the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil" - Gen 48:15
    4. IN THE LIFE OF MOSES...
      1. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him at the burning bush - Exo 3:1-2; cf. Ac 7:30,35
      2. The Angel of God led the Israelites out of Egypt - Exo 14:19

      [When the nation of Israel came to Mount Sinai, the Law was given, ushering in a new dispensation. It too was a time in which angels ministered to the people of God...]

  2. THE MOSAIC AGE
    1. ON THE WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND...
      1. God's angel led Israel through the wilderness - Exo 23:20-23; cf. Exo 32:34; 33:2; Num 20:16
      2. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam's donkey, and then to him - Num 22:22-35
      3. Some believe "the Commander of the Lord's Army" was the Angel of the Lord - cf. Josh 5:13-15
      4. The Angel of the Lord rebukes Israel at Bochim - Judg 2:1-6
    2. IN THE TIME OF THE JUDGES...
      1. Through Deborah the Angel of the Lord tells Israel to curse Meroz - Judg 5:23
      2. The Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon - Judg 6:11-24
      3. The Angel of the Lord appears to the parents of Samson - Jud 13:1-23
    3. IN THE DAYS OF THE KINGS...
      1. The Angel of the Lord was sent to destroy the people of Israel after David's census - 2Sa 24:15-17; 1Ch 21:14-18,26-30
      2. The Angel of the Lord fed Elijah - 1Ki 19:5-7
      3. The Angel of the Lord sent Elijah with messages to the king of Samaria - 2Ki 1:3,15
      4. The Angel of the Lord slew 185,000 men of the army of Assyria - 2Ki 19:35; 2Ch 32:20-22; Isa 37:36; cf. Isa 63:9
      5. Isaiah sees 'seraphim' praising the Lord on His throne - Isa 6:1-7
    4. IN THE YEARS OF BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY...
      1. Ezekiel sees 'cherubim' (angels?) in several visions - Ezek 1:1-28; cf. Ezek 10:1-20
      2. Nebuchadnezzar praised God for sending His Angel to deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego - Dan 3:28; cf. Dan 3:24-25
      3. They appeared (as 'watchers') in Nebuchadnezzar's dream - Dan 4:13,17,23
      4. God sent His angel to shut up the lions' mouths when Daniel was in the den - Dan 6:22
      5. Gabriel interpreted several visions for Daniel - Dan 8:15-17; 9:21-23
      6. A "certain man" appeared to Daniel and revealed what certain "princes" (like Michael, the archangel) were doing - Dan 10:4-13,21; 12:1
    5. IN THE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE RESTORATION...
      1. The Angel of the Lord appeared in Zechariah's eight visions
        1. The vision of the horses - Zech 1:7-17
        2. The vision of the horns - Zech 1:18-21
        3. The vision of the measuring line - Zech 2:1-5
        4. The vision of Joshua, the high priest - Zech 3:1-10
        5. The vision of the lamp stand and olive trees - Zech 4:1-14
        6. The vision of the flying scroll - Zech 5:1-4
        7. The vision of the woman in a basket - Zech 5:5-11
        8. The vision of the four chariots - Zech 6:1-8
      2. These visions along with the message of Zechariah were used to encourage the completion of the temple following their return from Babylon - cf. Ezr 5:1; 6:14
    6. IN THE SONGS OF ISRAEL...
      1. "For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor." - Ps 8:5
      2. "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." - Ps 34:7
      3. "Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase them." - Ps 35:5
      4. "Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them." - Ps 35:6
      5. "Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full." - Psa 78:25
      6. "He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them." - Ps 78:49
      7. "For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways." - Ps 91:11
      8. "Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word." - Ps 103:20
      9. "Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire." - Ps 104:4
      10. "Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!" - Psa 148:2
CONCLUSION
  1. Angels played important roles in the Old Testament...
    1. Including the giving of the Law - cf. Ac 7:38,53; Ga 3:19; He 2:2
    2. Who wondered at the scheme of redemption slowly being revealed - cf. 1Pe 1:9-12
  2. They were truly ministering spirits...
    1. Serving the faithful saints throughout the Old Testament
    2. Serving the will of God as He prepared for the coming of His Son

Their service continued with the coming of Christ, which we shall consider in a future study...