Nougat 12

So folks,

You know how you’re making plans and get to the point where you figure all is sorted; then God helps you see that there’s one more thing … That’s Today’s Holy Nougat.

“Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Guardian Angels?

I was confident that I’d addressed all I’d been assigned to cover in reference to angels. Then a response from Michelle, which also contained a question, invited reflection on today’s sub-theme: Guardian Angels.

Siblings, the verdict about guardian angels is still pending. But I suspect that the idea originated with this verse and its antecedent. Before we get to Psalm 91 however, I invite us to look keenly once more at who is speaking in Luke. And with Whom they speak.

This pericope (i.e., segment of Scripture) is part of the narrative about the ‘Temptation of Jesus.’ Now, I’ve noted before that this wasn’t the only time that Jesus was tempted. But our Nougat is situated early in Jesus’ ministry, where there were three (3) situations set up by the Devil (who spoke) to test Jesus (Who was spoken to). This is the final of the three, and they occurred while Jesus was fasting in the Wilderness.

So we note –

a) Not only does our Nougat remind us that we can be tempted at any time;

b) Not only does it tell us that if Jesus was tempted by the devil so can we be;

c) But it also invites us to look at what comprised each temptation.

Siblings, the devil opted to use Scripture twice in tempting Jesus. And in the second temptation there’s allusion to the devil’s ownership of resources that the psalmist clearly states belong to the Lord (see Psalm 24:1). When the devil, or anyone for that matter, quotes Scripture we’ve gotta be careful.

The Scripture wasn’t false. But, the way in which it was interpreted was way off in terms of it glorifying God. It was taken out of context. In determining whether guardian angels do exist therefore, we must revert to the original text. The quote comes from one of the better known psalms after Psalm 23, Psalm 91. In verses 11-12 David did state that God has assigned angels to protect us from harm.

He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone

Within the context of the psalm, the angels have the task of keeping watch, being on protective detail … like the shepherds in the field near Bethlehem. We might read it as prophetic, David was speaking directly about Jesus, or we can determine that it was a general word of encouragement for anyone who opted to put their trust in Jesus.

Commentaries tend to see it as the latter. The temptation suggests that it could be either.

Should we interpret that to mean that we have guardian angels assigned to us individually? I’d say no.

Should we interpret that to mean that angels can communicate with us on God’s behalf? I’d say there are other scriptures which indicate that

Should we interpret that to say that angels offer us protection at God’s behest? I’d say possibly

What we can’t take it to say at all, is that we ought to worship angels. No need to worship those who worship God. God alone is worthy of our worship.

I’m still prayerfully pondering this and its further implications. More anon

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May all we seek be found in Christ