The Holy Angels Compared to Watchers

    THE HOLY ANGELS COMPARED TO WATCHERS

    "I saw in the visions of my head, and behold a Watcher" Da 4:13.

    "This matter is by the decree of the Watchers, and the demand by the word of the Holy Ones," Da 4:17.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Watcher, or Watchman, imports such as sleep not, or but little; their business is to watch, which they cannot do unless they keep themselves awake.

    PARALLEL

    I. Angels are not subject to sleep, as men are: they always are awake, beholding the evil and the good, hence said to be "Full of eyes;" Eze 1:18.

    METAPHOR

    II. Watchers import such as have a charge committed to them, of great importance, which they are continually to look after. The Apostle speaking of the care of ministers, saith, "They watch for your souls," &c., Heb 13:17.

    II. Angels have a great charge committed to them, they are employed about great and weighty affairs; and that, first, in reference unto God; secondly, in reference unto saints; thirdly, in reference unto wicked men.

    First. In reference unto God.

    1. They are his courtiers, attending upon him continually for his honour, and to set forth his magnificence. "I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him, on his right hand and on his left hand," 1Ki 22:19.

    2. They wait for his word, and do receive commandment from him.

    3. They oft-times declare God's mind and will to men. Thus they were employed to give the law on mount Sinai, and to reveal God's mind to Abraham, to Hagar, to Lot, to Elijah, to the Virgin Mary, to the shepherds, to the apostles, to Philip, to Paul, to John, &c., Ac 7:33; Ge 16:7; 9:12; 2Ki 1:3; Lu 1:26; Ac 10:3; 1:10; 8:26; 27:23; Re 1:1.

    4. To govern the kingdoms of the world; for it is not to be doubted, but God makes use of them upon this account. Hence they are called princes, yea, glorious princes, and are much above the kings and potentates of the earth, Da 10:13; Ec 5:8.

    5. They are God's warriors, to execute his decrees whether of mercy, as 2Ki 6:17, or of judgment, 2Sa 24:17; 2Ki 19:35; Re 16:7.

    6. They are continually employed in praising God, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts," Isa 6:3; Re 4:8; 7:11-12.

    Secondly; In reference to the Church and people of God, they have a great charge committed to them, and much business and work to do. "He hath given his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways," Ps 91:11.

    1. They are as nurses, to bear up and keep the godly from hurt: "They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest they dash thy foot against a stone," Ps 91:12.

    2. They are as stewards, to provide for the godly in their need. How graciously was "Elijah fed by angels, with a cake baked on coals, and a cruse of water, when he was faint, and ready to die!" 1Ki 19:4-6.

    3. They are employed as physicians, as appears by that passage, Joh 5:4.

    4. As comforters in trouble. How sweetly was poor Hagar comforted by an Angel, when she said, "I will not see the death of the lad!" Ge 21:16. The like was the prophet Isaiah, Isa 6:6-7. Nay, our blessed Saviour refused not to receive comfort from the angels who ministered to him, when he was in his bloody agony in the garden, Lu 22:43.

    5. They arc employed as soldiers to guard them; hence called God's host, Ps 34:7; 2Ki 6:17.

    6. They are encouragers of the saints in their duties: and the Angel said unto Elijah "Go down with him, he not afraid," &c., 2Ki 1:15.

    7. They are employed to rescue, and put the godly out of danger; as appears in the case of Lot. So concerning Daniel, when he was in the lion's den, the Angels shut the mouths of the lions, so that they did Daniel no harm. The angel of the Lord opened the prison door, and brought Peter forth, and delivered him out of the hands of his enemies, Ge 19:16; Da 6:22; Ac 5:19.

    8. As prophets and instructors, to teach the saints. "And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man understand this vision, &c. And he said, I will make thee know what shall be in the last day," &c. Da 8:16; 9:22. They open and reveal hidden mysteries to the saints.

    9. They rejoice with the godly at the conversion of sinners; "Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God in heaven, over one sinner that repenteth," Lu 15:10.

    10. They have a charge to convey the souls of the godly, when they die, through the territories of the prince of darkness, viz., the air, and carry them them safe to heaven. "And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom," Lu 16:22.

    11. To gather all the elect together at the last day.

    12. To separate the evil from the good, the chaff from the wheat. "So shall it be at the end of the world, the angels shall come, and sever the wicked from the just," Mt 13:49.

    Thirdly: they have a charge committed to them, in reference to wicked men,

    1. To blind and infatuate them, that they cannot see how to effect that mischief they would otherwise do.

    2. To stop them in their career, that they cannot pursue their wicked purposes and designs; as appears in Balaam's case, Nu 22:26.

    3. To destroy and cut off the ungodly, when they combine against the Church. One Angel smote in the camp of the Assyrians a multitude of men, 2Ki 19:35.

    METAPHOR

    III. Watchers give warning of approaching dangers.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the angels gave warning to Abraham and Lot, of the approaching judgment that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, Ge 19.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Watchers are very useful, and oftentimes made a great blessing to towns and cities; many imminent dangers by their means have been prevented.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Angels are a great blessing to the church and city of God, and every particular member thereof. How secure was the prophet, whilst he had those fiery chariots and horsemen round about him!

    Quest. But some may say, why doth God in the preservation of his people make use of the ministration of Angels?

    Answ. Not for any necessity, he is all-sufficient of himself to do all things for them: but to declare his abundant love to, and care for his children, in making more excellent creatures than themselves to be their keepers.

    Object. But God's people often fall into danger, and many inconveniences; how then

    are they attended and kept by Angels?

    Answ. They are delivered by them from many evils and dangers that they know not of: for as we have many devils about us, continually to do us mischief; so we have a multitude of blessed angels continually about us, to keep and protect us, Ps 91:11.

    2. If at any time God's children fall into danger, it is because they are out of their way, or rather God's way, and then the good Angels have no charge over them.

    3. If they suffer in the custody of the angels, it is that they may be exercised, tried, and made better thereby: for the angels keep them from evil, or keep them in evil, and at last deliver them out of evil; so that they are made gainers by all, according to that promise, Ro 8:28.

    METAPHOR

    V. Watchers or watchmen go up and down to see what the state and condition of things is; they take strict observation of persons and things.

    PARALLEL

    V. Angels go about, or rather fly up and down in the earth, to see what the state and condition of God's people more especially is. Hence they are said to have wings, which denote their swiftness in their work. "We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest," Ec 1:11.

    INFERENCES.

    I. What infinite grace and favour doth God manifest to his poor people, in giving his angels such a strict charge over them, and to cause such glorious creatures to watch and keep them day and night?

    II. What honour also hath God conferred on his children hereby? every believer hath greater attendance, yea, a more glorious retinue, than the mightiest prince or monarch in the world.