Do we have guardian angels—personal angels who hang out with us and go where we go? We don’t know for certain, but we do know from the Bible that as believers, we have angels in our lives. Every Christian does.
What is a Guardian Angel?
While the phrase “guardian angels” is not explicitly stated in the Bible, it alludes to the biblical concept of heavenly angles keeping watch over believers. The earliest known use of the phrase, meaning an angel having special care of a specific individual, is in the 17th century.
The word “angel” means a messenger (Strong’s 32). And whenever the Greek word, translated as “angel,” is used in the Bible, it’s always in the masculine form.
What Does the Bible Say About Guardian Angels?
1. Angels are not to be worshipped.
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and he delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).
In this Psalm, David writes, “praise will always be on [his] lips,” (Psalm 34:1) to the Lord for answering his prayers and rescuing him. It is unclear if the “angel of the Lord” that he mentioned refers to a single angel, a collection of angels, a leader of an angel army, or even a manifestation of God’s presence. Regardless, David directed his praise to the Lord, not to an angel.
2. Angels keep watch over people.
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
According to Charles Spurgeon in his exposition, The Treasury of David, the protection that’s promised here is broad, keeping us in all our ways. Therefore, we cannot say exactly how God’s angels keep us. We do not know whether they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots, or even ward off the more subtle physical forces of disease. Perhaps one day we will stand amazed at the manifold ways in which angels have served and protected us.
3. Angels minister to believers.
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
According to Matthew Henry: “The saints, at present, are heirs, not yet come into possession. The angels minister to them in opposing the malice and power of evil spirits, in protecting and keeping their bodies, instructing and comforting their souls, under Christ and the Holy Ghost. Angels shall gather all the saints together at the last day, when all whose hearts and hopes are set upon perishing treasures and fading glories, will be driven from Christ's presence into everlasting misery.”
4. Angels are usually unseen by people.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).
That is an interesting thought, isn’t it? Maybe you have met an angel. But if you have, you probably wouldn’t know it. It’s doubtful that an angel would tell you he is an angel. According to Wayne Grudem, “In the Bible, angels can’t usually be seen by humans unless God reveals them (see Numbers 22:31, 2 Kings 6:17, Luke 2:13). However, from time to time angels took on a bodily form and appeared to various people in Scripture (Matthew 28:5; Hebrews 13:2).”
5. Angels are involved in children’s lives.
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
No one can say for certain whether we have guardian angels, but something Jesus said would imply that perhaps children have guardian angels. This is reassuring, knowing how easily children can get themselves into trouble. But even if they don’t have a personalized angel, we can know that angels are involved in their lives.
Angels are involved in the lives of Christians. We have angelic activity around us every day. Angels are at work in our lives, protecting us, guiding us, and sometimes even speaking to us. But they work undercover. We could describe them as God’s secret agents.
Sources:
- BibleHub.com, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, Psalm 34:7.
- Christianity Today, “Why are there female angels in art?”, The Editors, 2008.
- ZondervanAchademic.com, “14 Biblical Facts about Angels,” Wayne Grudem, 2017.
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