"MINISTERING SPIRITS"
Angels In The Old Testament
INTRODUCTION
- We have seen that angels are "ministering spirits sent forth to
minister for those who will inherit salvation" - He 1:13-14
- Their ministry as "messengers" of God is evident in the Old
Testament...
- During the Patriarchal age, from the creation to giving of the Law
at Mount Sinai
- 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...]
- THE PATRIARCHAL AGE
- BEFORE THE FLOOD...
- 'Sons of God' (angels?) shouted for joy at the Creation - Job
38:7
- 'Cherubim' (angels?) were placed at the east of the Garden of
Eden to guard the way to the tree of life - Gen 3:24
- 'Sons of God' (angels?) cohabitate with 'daughters of men'
- Gen 6:1-4; cf. 2Pe 2:4; Jude 6
- IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM...
- The Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar in the wilderness - Gen
16:7-14; cf. Gen 21:17
- Two angels together with the Lord appeared to Abraham - Gen 18:1-2
- The same two angels appeared to Lot before destroying Sodom
- Gen 19:1-22
- The Angel of the Lord prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac
- Gen 22:11-18
- Abraham was confident that an angel would guide his servant in
finding a wife for Isaac - Gen 24:7,40
- IN THE LIFE OF JACOB...
- In his dream at Bethel, Jacob saw angels ascending and
descending on a ladder up to heaven - Gen 28:12
- The angel of God spoke to him in a dream, telling him to return
to Canaan - Gen 31:11-13
- Angels of God met him on his return at Mahanaim - Gen 32:1-2
- He wrestled with a "Man", who is later called as "the Angel"
- Gen 32:24-30; Hos 12:4
- Toward the end of his life, he refers to "the Angel who has
redeemed me from all evil" - Gen 48:15
- IN THE LIFE OF MOSES...
- The Angel of the Lord appeared to him at the burning bush - Exo
3:1-2; cf. Ac 7:30,35
- 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...]
- THE MOSAIC AGE
- ON THE WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND...
- God's angel led Israel through the wilderness - Exo 23:20-23;
cf. Exo 32:34; 33:2; Num 20:16
- The Angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam's donkey, and then to
him - Num 22:22-35
- Some believe "the Commander of the Lord's Army" was the Angel
of the Lord - cf. Josh 5:13-15
- The Angel of the Lord rebukes Israel at Bochim - Judg 2:1-6
- IN THE TIME OF THE JUDGES...
- Through Deborah the Angel of the Lord tells Israel to curse
Meroz - Judg 5:23
- The Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon - Judg 6:11-24
- The Angel of the Lord appears to the parents of Samson - Jud
13:1-23
- IN THE DAYS OF THE KINGS...
- 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
- The Angel of the Lord fed Elijah - 1Ki 19:5-7
- The Angel of the Lord sent Elijah with messages to the king of
Samaria - 2Ki 1:3,15
- 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
- Isaiah sees 'seraphim' praising the Lord on His throne - Isa
6:1-7
- IN THE YEARS OF BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY...
- Ezekiel sees 'cherubim' (angels?) in several visions - Ezek 1:1-28; cf. Ezek 10:1-20
- Nebuchadnezzar praised God for sending His Angel to deliver
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego - Dan 3:28; cf. Dan 3:24-25
- They appeared (as 'watchers') in Nebuchadnezzar's dream - Dan
4:13,17,23
- God sent His angel to shut up the lions' mouths when Daniel was
in the den - Dan 6:22
- Gabriel interpreted several visions for Daniel - Dan 8:15-17;
9:21-23
- A "certain man" appeared to Daniel and revealed what certain
"princes" (like Michael, the archangel) were doing - Dan 10:4-13,21; 12:1
- IN THE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE RESTORATION...
- The Angel of the Lord appeared in Zechariah's eight visions
- The vision of the horses - Zech 1:7-17
- The vision of the horns - Zech 1:18-21
- The vision of the measuring line - Zech 2:1-5
- The vision of Joshua, the high priest - Zech 3:1-10
- The vision of the lamp stand and olive trees - Zech 4:1-14
- The vision of the flying scroll - Zech 5:1-4
- The vision of the woman in a basket - Zech 5:5-11
- The vision of the four chariots - Zech 6:1-8
- 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
- IN THE SONGS OF ISRAEL...
- "For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You
have crowned him with glory and honor." - Ps 8:5
- "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them." - Ps 34:7
- "Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of
the LORD chase them." - Ps 35:5
- "Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the
LORD pursue them." - Ps 35:6
- "Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full." - Psa
78:25
- "He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath,
indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction
among them." - Ps 78:49
- "For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in
all your ways." - Ps 91:11
- "Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do
His word, Heeding the voice of His word." - Ps 103:20
- "Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire."
- Ps 104:4
- "Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!" - Psa
148:2
CONCLUSION
- Angels played important roles in the Old Testament...
- Including the giving of the Law - cf. Ac 7:38,53; Ga 3:19; He 2:2
- Who wondered at the scheme of redemption slowly being revealed
- cf. 1Pe 1:9-12
- They were truly ministering spirits...
- Serving the faithful saints throughout the Old Testament
- 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...