The Angel Of The Lord Is On Guard

Those early movies of Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan in the wilds of Africa would give any child a fright to be in the dark. Imagine camping in the middle of the dark jungle with the roar of lions all about. Fear would hold anyone captive who did not keep a vigilant eye for danger. Sleep was fretful without the confidence of security and safety. Life is more fearful than the imagined distress of a young boy. There is a greater enemy that stalks about our lives seeking to devour and destroy us. The apostle Peter knew what it was like to face this beast. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:6-10).

The devil is a very powerful foe and has destroyed millions of lives. He is Hell-bound and will take as many of God’s creation with him as he can. His wiles are full of deceit and the manner of his seduction is overpowering. Every man should fear him. Yet, there is an answer to this seemingly invincible braggart. Found in the psalms the poet David speaks of those will trust in the Lord and declares, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).

Consider the imagery for a moment. The child of God is protected all around by the angel of the Lord. This is the same one who withstood Balaam in Numbers 22; gave hope to Gideon (Judges 6); brought judgment on Jerusalem (2 Samuel 24) and performed untold works for Jehovah God in blessing His people: Hagar – Genesis 16; Manoah – Judges 13; Joseph – Matthew 1.

Why should the child of God fear the devil when the angel of the Lord is on guard? If an angel of the Lord can destroy 185,000 soldiers in one night, (2 Kings 19:35) why should I fear a lion whose sentence of death has been measured fully by the blood of Christ? “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)? “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

David reminds us in Psalm 34 the Lord is watching out for us (v15) and will not let the devil have sway over us (v16-17). “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken” (vv19-20). What have we to fear? When the angel of the Lord camps around our lives there is nothing that can separate us from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

The angel of the Lord empowers us to resist the devil (James 4:7) because he is on guard. There is no power that Satan has that will break the bonds of protection given by God to His people. United with the power of the Almighty the devil is nothing more than a whimpering toothless pup lion. As the armor of God (Ephesians 6) protects us and guides our lives so the angel of the Lord will protect us. Raise the banner of faith high with the knowledge that the victory is ours (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)!