by jimwalton » Tue Nov 28, 2017 2:25 pm
Psalm 91.11-12 are the only verses in the Bible that speak of so-called "guardian angels." There's no indication in those verses, however, that specific individual angels are assigned to specific individual humans to guard them. It just speaks in a general way about God protecting us in general, using angels as the mechanism of that action on earth.
The ancient world believed in deities (rather than angels) protecting people. The Mesopotamians believed the gods offered special care or protection to their subjects. That protection was against demon powers who were thought to the be cause of illness and trouble, as well as against magic spells and hexes that could be pronounced against individuals. The Israelites certainly believed in the reality of the demon world, but the writer of the Psalm isn't necessarily sharing all those beliefs. What he is saying in very general terms is that God protects those who are his—but even this is in a proverbial way, not guaranteed protection that no believer will ever have any troubles.
Hebrews 1.14 mentions that angels are servants of God to do some of his work in the world, which would certainly include certain aspects of protection. That statement still doesn't claim that we have individual guardians who constantly watch over us. The point of the statement in Hebrews 1 is not to convince us of guardian angels but to show us that they are servants, not rulers, and hence subservient to, inferior to, and submissive to Jesus. Angels in Hebrews 1.14 are occupied in a ministry directed towards the salvation of people. The focus of God's plan is on salvation more so than protection.
The book of Daniel (10.12-15, 20-11.1; 12.1ff.) indicates that nations had supernatural creatures of represented the interests of the nation in a "heavenly council," so to speak.
So we conclude that God is assuredly active in the world, that he intervenes sometimes directly, sometimes through the activity of angels, and sometimes also through the activity of people. He does protect certain individuals at certain times through various means, though he is not obligated to do so. That we each have an individual angel watching over us is unlikely, but I'd have to say that angels, as agents of God, are involved at times in parts of our lives.
Psalm 91.11-12 are the only verses in the Bible that speak of so-called "guardian angels." There's no indication in those verses, however, that specific individual angels are assigned to specific individual humans to guard them. It just speaks in a general way about God protecting us in general, using angels as the mechanism of that action on earth.
The ancient world believed in deities (rather than angels) protecting people. The Mesopotamians believed the gods offered special care or protection to their subjects. That protection was against demon powers who were thought to the be cause of illness and trouble, as well as against magic spells and hexes that could be pronounced against individuals. The Israelites certainly believed in the reality of the demon world, but the writer of the Psalm isn't necessarily sharing all those beliefs. What he is saying in very general terms is that God protects those who are his—but even this is in a proverbial way, not guaranteed protection that no believer will ever have any troubles.
Hebrews 1.14 mentions that angels are servants of God to do some of his work in the world, which would certainly include certain aspects of protection. That statement still doesn't claim that we have individual guardians who constantly watch over us. The point of the statement in Hebrews 1 is not to convince us of guardian angels but to show us that they are servants, not rulers, and hence subservient to, inferior to, and submissive to Jesus. Angels in Hebrews 1.14 are occupied in a ministry directed towards the salvation of people. The focus of God's plan is on salvation more so than protection.
The book of Daniel (10.12-15, 20-11.1; 12.1ff.) indicates that nations had supernatural creatures of represented the interests of the nation in a "heavenly council," so to speak.
So we conclude that God is assuredly active in the world, that he intervenes sometimes directly, sometimes through the activity of angels, and sometimes also through the activity of people. He does protect certain individuals at certain times through various means, though he is not obligated to do so. That we each have an individual angel watching over us is unlikely, but I'd have to say that angels, as agents of God, are involved at times in parts of our lives.