Guardian Angels—Psalm 91:11-12

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

It is hard not to fear as we hear the daily drumbeat of Covid-19 cases and deaths. Though we may have confidence in the loving care of our heavenly Father, we may still tremble and fret. The words of Psalm 91 are clear concerning our security in the Lord, but how can these things be? How does God preserve His people in times like this? Our Father shows us His grace and mercy by stooping to our weakness. We do not readily recognize or trust in His power to make us safe and secure, so He provides vivid illustrations and explanations to bolster our faith. In these verses the Lord shows us one of the instruments He uses for our protection, that is, His holy angels.

Observe in the first place that the Lord cares enough for His people that He charges the army of heaven with their care. It has been said that each believer has a guardian angel. See, for example, Psalm 34. While that would certainly be enough, it is actually a host of angels appointed to care for and defend each child of God. See 2 Kings 6:8-19, and especially verses 16-17. Jesus spoke of this when he said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

Secondly, observe that this is for each and every child of God, that is, all who trust only in Him. His charge to His angels is about “you to guard you in all your ways.” The repetition drives home the point that the Lord has undertaken to ensure the safety and security of each and every one of His children.

Observe in the third place that God’s angels will “guard you in all your ways.” Wherever you go and whatever you do, the host of heaven will be your guard no matter what your circumstances. Now, there is no reason for confidence in this promise if you are not making the Lord’s ways your ways. This was the mistake of Satan when he quoted this verse to Jesus in the temptation (Luke 4:9-12). We are not to presume that this promise is a license to do anything we want. If, however, you are making the Lord’s ways your ways, you may live in full assurance of the guardianship of the angels of God.

In the fourth place, observe that this care is both strong and tender. “They will lift you up in your hands…” The angels of God are mightier than any man. Indeed, in one night one angel killed 185,000 armed soldiers (2 Kings 19:35). If a host of such angels guards you, what is there to fear? The United States Army would be a wonderful protection for one person, but a much stronger army protects God’s children. This mighty care, however, is also tender. “They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” The image is of a father tenderly carrying his child over rough terrain, or even gently picking him up so that he will not even stub his toe.

This brings us to the final observation. This protection is against every danger, no matter how small—“so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” There are temptations and trials that may seem small and trivial, but their ability to trip us up is very great. Through it all, the Lord will maintain His grip on us by His word and Spirit first and foremost, but also by the guardianship of His angels.

It must be said in closing that we only have this protection in Christ. We see the angels ministering to Jesus in Matthew 4:11 and Luke 19:43. Genesis 28:12 and John 1:51 show Jesus to be the ladder upon whom the angels of God ascend and descend. The protection of guardian angels is for those who trust in Christ, who are the children of God, united to Christ through faith in Him.