There is far too much speculation about the work of angels and their impact upon the earth. We need to be careful when we think about them and listen to what the Bible tells us about them. The book of Psalms clearly reveals much about their work. Look at the following description David gives about angels and then, without speculation, find comfort in what the psalmist shows us about their work.
Man Lower Than Angels but Crowned with Glory
In the eighth psalm, David extols the magnitude of the work of God and then turns his attention to men. He says, “For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor” (Psa. 8:5). In God’s orderly creation, angels rank higher than people, but it is to mortals that God offers salvation and crowns us with glory.
His Angel Encamps All Around Us
David said, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psa. 34:7). Think of Job and the hedge Satan said God had placed around this righteous man. While Satan might desire to conquer us by forceable dragging us away from God, such is not the case. The wall cities of the Old Testament were protected by massive stones, but the righteous have something far better. That “wall” around them is the angel of the Lord. Those who fear the Lord can rest assured that Divine help is with them. That angel is not only around the saints, he delivers them. The next verse is so appropriate for David urges, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”
His Angels Have Charge Over Us and Keep Us
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psa. 91:11). When we read verses like this, we tend to speculate as though we are as wise as God and understand how He works. However, instead of trying by human wisdom to work all of this out, we should just thank God that He does work.
What does this verse say? It teaches us that God uses angels to keep us. What comfort this should be to simply know that He works in our lives. If He has not told us how He does this, there is no way to know the details, but how comforting it is to know that our God is personally concerned about us. Angelic beings who rank above have become servants in our lives.
So, when the darkest hours surround us, let us remove those clouds by simply remembering what we do know. God cares for us, protects us and encamps around us because He loves us. We may not be in charge of our lives, but He is!