Topical Bible: Angels: Obey the Will of God

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Angels, as divine messengers and servants of God, are depicted throughout the Bible as beings who faithfully execute the will of God. Their obedience is a testament to their role in the divine order and their unwavering commitment to God's purposes.

Nature and Role of Angels

Angels are spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and carry out His commands. They are often seen as intermediaries between God and humanity, delivering messages, providing guidance, and executing divine judgments. The Bible presents angels as powerful and holy beings who exist to glorify God and fulfill His will.

Biblical Examples of Angelic Obedience

1. Annunciation to Mary: In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel is sent by God to the Virgin Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. Gabriel's message is clear and precise, reflecting his obedience to God's directive. "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus'" (Luke 1:30-31).

2. Protection of Daniel: In the Book of Daniel, angels are depicted as protectors of God's faithful servants. When Daniel is thrown into the lions' den, an angel is sent to shut the mouths of the lions, demonstrating God's will to protect His servant. "My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him" (Daniel 6:22).

3. Guidance of the Israelites: During the Exodus, God sends an angel to lead and protect the Israelites as they journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. This angelic presence is a manifestation of God's will to guide His people. "Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared" (Exodus 23:20).

4. Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah: Angels are also agents of God's judgment, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels sent to these cities execute God's will by delivering Lot and his family and bringing judgment upon the wicked. "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens" (Genesis 19:24).

5. Ministering to Jesus: After Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, angels come to minister to Him, fulfilling God's will to provide for His Son. "Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him" (Matthew 4:11).

Characteristics of Angelic Obedience

Angelic obedience is characterized by several key attributes:

· Immediate Response: Angels respond promptly to God's commands, reflecting their readiness to serve without hesitation.
· Faithfulness: Their actions are marked by unwavering faithfulness to God's will, regardless of the task's nature or difficulty.
· Holiness: As holy beings, angels' obedience is rooted in their pure devotion to God and His purposes.
· Power and Authority: Angels carry out God's will with the power and authority granted to them, ensuring the fulfillment of divine plans.

Theological Implications

The obedience of angels serves as a model for believers, illustrating the importance of submission to God's will. Their example encourages Christians to seek alignment with God's purposes and to trust in His divine plan. Through their actions, angels demonstrate the harmony and order of God's creation, where every being has a role in fulfilling His sovereign will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 103:20
Bless the LORD, you his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Those Persons who do not Believe in God, but who are Disobedient ...
... all the sons of God: those only are so who believe in Him and do His will. And those
who do not believe, and do not obey His will, are sons and angels of the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xli those persons who do.htm

Obedience
... his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not the gospel.'
2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. He who refuses to obey God's will in commanding ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

On Angels in General and in Particular
... to assist them, they were enabled to obey the law ... But, concerning the species of
sin which the angels perpetrated, we ... When it is the will of God to employ the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxv on angels in.htm

Again, on the Lord's Prayer, Matt. vi. To the Competentes.
... For His holy Angels obey Him; they do not offend Him; they ... that we too may do the
commands of God in love ... words are understood in another way, "Thy will be done ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon ix again on the.htm

'Thy Will be Done'
... of beings, either higher by creation as angels, or higher ... and from one extremity
of creation to another will be no creature which does not obey and rejoice. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/thy will be done.htm

Seventh Day. Holiness and Obedience.
... here and in glory above, in all the holy angels, in Christ ... will opens itself to accept
and to do the will of God ... To obey His voice is to follow Him as He leads ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/seventh day holiness and obedience.htm

"That those Grievously Sin who Despise or Neglect God's Gracious ...
... the Lord "has prepared for the devil and his angels." [960] Wherefore ... Rightly, then,
to those that have believed and obey, grace will superabound; while ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ix that those grievously sin.htm

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... as do the angels who obey spontaneously. The manner and the end are different, but
still the fact is, that he cannot attempt anything without the will of God. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

Men Chosen --Fallen Angels Rejected
... entire progeny throughout all generations; he said to Adam, as he had said to the
angels, "I give unto thee free-will; thou mayest obey or disobey ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/men chosenfallen angels rejected.htm

"God with Us"
... have retained the glory of heaven, and the homage of the angels. ... He says, "I delight
to do Thy will, O My God ... that it is possible for us also to obey the law of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 1 god with us.htm