St. Michael and all Angels

Psalm 91:11, Revelation 12:7-9

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There was a time when I was out delivering papers on my paper route, I was probably about fourth or fifth grade, and there were some other neighborhood kids, some bullies that would harass me. And one day they even, like, pushed me over, took my newspapers away. I went home and I told my dad and my brother. And so they came with me. And even for the next week or so, as I would go deliver papers, they would ride along with me. And they made sure that those bullies were not going to mess with me. They even told them so. Don’t mess with him any more, or you’re going to have to answer to us.

How comforting it was for me and what confidence that gave to me. It was almost feeling as if I was the president. Here I had my Secret Service agents riding along with me as I was delivering papers. You and I can have that same confidence, really, wherever we go, because you and I have God’s holy angels at our disposal. God speaks about this in His Word, especially in Psalm 91. He says,

Yes, he will give a command to his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)

God’s angels, these ministering spirits, they are a blessing to us. They are sent from heaven to help us in our lives throughout Earth. They are working on God’s behalf for our sake, and that can give us confidence and we can take comfort in knowing that God has these ministering spirits, watching us and being with us, helping him keep and protect us.

Today is actually a special day in the church year. It’s called Saint Michael and All Angels Day. And it’s a day where we really celebrate and rejoice in and thank God for the gift of his angels. And St Michael, of course, comes specifically from this section in Revelation Chapter 12 speaks about how Michael the Archangel fought against the devil and cast him out of heaven. And here it is from Revelation 12.

There was also a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon. The dragon fought back along with his angels, but he was not strong enough. There was no longer a place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down—the ancient serpent, the one called the Devil and Satan, the one who leads the whole inhabited earth astray—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:7-9)

This section should remind us that God and God’s forces are more powerful than even the Devil and all of his evil angels. And that’s a comfort to us. Yes. Here in this world, we understand that the devil might attack us. He might try to make our lives miserable. And yet God provides his gift of his holy angels to help and aid us along the way. And of course, just as God overcame the devil in this war in heaven, he also overcame the devil again when Jesus upon the cross suffered and died for our sins. And there the devil has been completely, utterly defeated. He has lost. Jesus has won the victory. And that’s a victory that’s shared with you and me.

So whenever the devil comes and tries to bully us. We can have comfort in knowing that he can really do nothing against us. We have God on our side, not only as Holy Angels, but Jesus, our Savior Himself who has fought for us. And that one little word of Jesus, our Savior, the one who rescues us. We’ll overthrow the devil.

We pray. Oh, Lord, we thank you for the aid that you give to us throughout life, especially through your holy angels. Let them always be with us. Oh, Lord. Remind us of the fact that you have defeated the devil and that we have nothing to worry about because of him. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

The Lord’s Peace be with you.

Cover image: Grigory Bruev – stock.adobe.com