“An army with horses and chariots was circling the city...‘O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”2 Kings 6:15-17

Angels are God’s messengers. Throughout the history of His people, the Lord intervened by sending angels who displayed unimaginable power to defeat great armies and provide deliverance. When the Arameans surrounded Israel, many reacted with fear. But Elisha knew that God was on His side. And through spiritual eyes he could see the vast angelic army that surrounded them. On another occasion, when Assyrians besieged Judah, many felt hopeless. But, in one night, a single angel struck 185,000 Assyrians, and God’s people were saved (2 Kings 19:35). When Jesus and the disciples were surrounded by Roman soldiers, Peter struck a man with a sword. But Jesus calmly responded “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) We can imagine how many people hoped for these kinds of displays when God’s people were under Roman control. Yet when He did send His angels, it was not as an army. Instead, the angels came as a choir! Rather than being armed with swords, they came with praise. To an unlikely audience of shepherds, this “multitude of the heavenly host” praised God and gave Him glory as they brought a message of peace (Luke 2:13-14). Brothers & Sisters in our lives, we might wish that God would send an angelic army to defeat His enemies and silence those who oppose the Gospel. But instead He often looks for those who are filled with praise, so overwhelmed with His presence that they have no fear or worry. Unable to stop worshiping Him and giving Him glory, we can be confident in the victory that is ours and rejoice that God sent His Son so that we might be saved.