22. The Functions of The Angels

 

 

I. St. Paul says of the angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?” (Heb. i. 14). God employs them as His agents, as intermediate, secondary causes of the works of various kinds which He carries out for the benefit of mankind. God also uses men as the agents of His dealings with other men; to exercise the functions of Providence towards them, enlighten their minds, move them to goodness, help them to save their souls. God uses further the intelligence of man for the material development of this earth, by the discovery of its secrets and the manipulation of its great forces, such as electricity, for example. The angels are an innumerable multitude of immense intellectual forces. Every creature of God has its utilities, and these are proportioned to its nature and activity. The angels have functions to fulfil on this earth, as Scripture itself informs us, and these may be material as well as spiritual. It may well be, in accordance with a widely received supposition, that the Almighty made use of the instrumentality of the angels in the development of the universe, and in the maintenance and guidance of it subsequently. How grand a conception of nature this opens out to us! The possibilities that we can imagine are wonderful, and it is certain that the actual facts are more wonderful still. When we see in God all things as they are, we shall discover for the first time marvellous harmonies of the spiritual and material universes which are hidden from our present science.

II. More important than the material disposition of the universe is that race of beings for whom this earth at least was made. The salvation of mankind is that which most of all contributes to the divine glory, and this must be, consequently, the chief interest of the angels on this earth, and their chief occupation. Men form corporate bodies and societies which have a common action and distinct spirit of their own, and which need a peculiar guidance and graces from God in addition to those which are bestowed on individuals for their separate advantage. It is reasonable to suppose that some of God’s “ministering spirits” are appointed to superintend the life and action of societies and assist them in the universal struggle for right against wrong. This accords with the words of Holy Scripture: “He hath given His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands shall they bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Ps. xc. 11, 12). The prophet Daniel tells us of the angelic Princes set over Israel and the Persians and Greeks. There were also tutelary angels of the Holy Place in Jerusalem. So we may suppose that kingdoms and religious houses and churches have their special protectors, to watch over their spiritual interests, and protect them from the malevolence of the evil spirits. Pay homage to the angels of such places as you live in or of churches that you visit.

III. The universal sense of the Christian people has always clung to the beautiful idea of Guardian Angels being appointed by God to every individual child of Adam, to protect them, pray for them, move them to good, and in every way to promote their salvation. This is a manifestation of the grandeur and power of God, in that He is able to assign such a multitude of glorious spirits to the charge of one department of creation. It shows how valuable we are in the sight of God, and what immense love and care He has for us. There are depths of wisdom, as yet inscrutable, in this system by which God sustains us in our conflict with evil, strengthens us against the malice and fearful power of our tempters, and maintains a just balance of forces in the spiritual world. Glorify God for His greatness as shown in the angels; thank Him for His tender care of you; be always mindful of your companion angel.