Jotted down some poems and passages from the Angel book that I read in the library yesterday. Here they are:
From Page 17 (p.17)
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to seek us woe;
His Craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim –
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers –
No thanks to them – abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever! (Martin Luther)
(p.35)
Meaning of the 4-faced cherubim
- Composite animal forms are ideal representatives of redeemed creaturely life, in which man is prominent (Ezekiel 1:5, Revelation 4:7)
- Lion : King of wild animals = undaunted courage & rigor in execution of God’s commands
- Ox: King of dumb creation = unwearied patience and firmness
- Eagle: King of feathered creation = activity, & the incomparable speed which the cherubs execute their divine missions
- Man: King of God’s creation = prudence and compassion, intelligence and strength of reason
(p. 63)
When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own
When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love thee with unsinning heart;
Then, Lord, shall I fully know –
Not till then – how much I owe (Dr. Robert M. M’Cheyne)
(p.82)
To Jordan’s banks the chariot came,
While angels lined the road,
And bore the prophet wrapped in flame,
To his rewarding God. (Leeds)
(p.83)
Thus the prophet’s servant saw,
When the Syrian host assailed,
Every heavenly warrior,
And bright encampment all unveiled.
And from yonder distant sky,
All conflict we shall view.
Turn and see the dangers fly;
And praise God that led us through. (Edmeston)
The Angel of the Covenant = the Son, Jesus Christ
Theopany ( Greek “theos” = God, “pheino” = to appear)
For though he [Christ] was not yet clothed with flesh, he came down, so to speak, as an intermediary, in order to approach believers more intimately. Therefore this closer intercourse have him the name of angel. (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p.133)
(P. 97)
The Son of God in tears,
Angels with wonder see;
Be thou astonished, O my soul,
He shed these tears for thee
He wept that we might weep:
Each sin demands a tear.
In heaven alone no sin is found,
And those’s no weeping there!
Basically got interested in angels, because my church pastors are preaching form the book of Colossians. In it it mentioned the Colassion heresy of both gnosicism and angel worship. Despite all these years of being a Christian, I don't really understand who angels are or what are their place in the scheme of things. Hope above snippets will encourage to go and read the book by Lockyer.
ok, parting shot from Paul, on the superiority of Christ to angels
Hebrews 1
The Son Superior to Angels
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father[a]"[b]? Or again,
"I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son"[c]? 6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him."[d] 7In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire."[e] 8But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy."[f] 10He also says,
"In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end."[g] 13To which of the angels did God ever say,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet"[h]? 14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
(taken from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=1&version=31&context=chapter)
