Gtcotr/ws071223
In Part 3 of our Angels on Assignment series we focused on a passage of scripture from Acts 12 concerning prayer warriors. In that passage, we studied Luke’s well researched account of the Apostle Peter being delivered from prison in Jerusalem by an angel. The angel entered the prison undetected by others. He woke Peter without waking the sentry, the four squads of soldiers, or the two soldiers between whom Peter was chained. Peter got up and got dressed and followed the angel out of the prison.
When Peter and the angel approached the outer gate, it opened for them of its own accord and Peter found himself outside in the street. At first Peter thought he was dreaming but finally came to himself and realized what had actually taken place. The angel departed and Peter went to the prayer meeting which had been organized by the Church in Jerusalem. It was in a house that belonged to John Mark’s mother, who was also the sister of Barnabas.
Most likely both the young Apostle Paul and the older Barnabas were at that prayer meeting, (Acts 12:25). After Peter quieted the excitement of the prayer group and assured them that he was ok, he told them to go and tell Pastor James and the other Apostles he had been freed from prison by an angel, and then Peter left Jerusalem.
As soon as it was daylight the soldiers began to wake up and they realized Peter was gone. There was no small stir among the soldiers that morning. King Herod, the same King Herod who had recently executed the Apostle James and intended to execute Peter that very week, was informed Peter was missing. Herod ordered his soldiers to search everywhere for Peter, but they were unable to find him. After questioning all of these soldiers once more, Herod had them all executed. Then Herod left Jerusalem and went to the city of Caesarea by the sea.
No doubt King Herod was embarrassed and angry. He was angry with the leaders in Jerusalem, but he was also angry with people from other places as well. The scriptures tell us Herod had been angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. These cities are located along the Mediterranean coastline north of Israel in Lebanon as you travel from Haifa towards Beirut. This region was known for its cedar tree forests. Over 1000 years earlier King David built his palace in Jerusalem with the cedar trees given to him as a gift by King Hiram who ruled this region during David’s time.
We do not know why King Herod was angry to the point of contemplating going to war against these people. But we do know they sought to appease him and in the course of that pursuit, they made friends with one of King Herod’s assistants. It was through him that they requested peace and were invited to attend the Roman theater by the sea in Caesarea in order to hear Herod give a speech.
Let’s read the rest of the account from Acts 12. Luke tells the story much better than I can.
Acts 12 NKJV
20 ¶ Now Herod had been very
angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord,
and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for
peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.
21 So on a set day Herod,
arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people kept
shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
23 Then immediately an angel
of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten
by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Angels are both messengers and ministers, sent by God to deliver and to destroy. The scriptures continually show angels delivering the children of God while destroying their enemies.
From the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation and all in between, angels are on assignment, often silent and sometimes deadly
Herod
killed James, persecuted the Church, imprisoned Peter, and would have no doubt
attacked Tyre and Sidon. It was evident Herod would not repent but was lifted
up with pride and fell prey to the judgment of God.
"No man is flattered by another who has not first flattered himself.”
Josephus says of King Herod that he “did neither rebuke them, [the people,] nor reject their impious flattery. A severe pain arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. And when he was quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and the seventh of his reign.”
Numbers 22 tells the story of the prophet Balaam who faced an angel unaware. The angel determined to kill him Balaam because the angel knew Balaam would hurt God’s children. This angel was a covert agent of God.
2 Chronicles 32
20 Now because of this King
Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.
21 Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria.
This angel was an invisible agent of God’s will, sent to deliver and destroy.
2 Kings 6 NKJV
15 And when the servant of
the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the
city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master!
What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not
fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are
with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Angels are all around us, silently watching over our lives and moving in force to accomplish the will of God when we pray.
They
are determined to deliver the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14), and they stand
ready to destroy wickedness and the works of the devil at the unction of God.
Be kind to strangers, some might just be angels sent to silently watch over and
deliver you. (Hebrews 13:2; Psalms 34:7)
