In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In the last fortnight we’ve been looking at God’s work of creation in regards to angels. We’ve seen that God created angels as spiritual, immortal, holy, knowledgeable, powerful beings. This week I want to continue looking at how God created angels.

God also created angels as ones who execute his commandments. David says: ‘Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will’ (Psalm 103:20-21). And in the New Testament the author of Hebrews tells us (in a rhetorical question) that angels are ones sent by God to serve his people: ‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’ (Hebrews 1:14).

God also created angels to praise his name. And this they do with great gusto. In Isaiah we read about the Seraphim praising God: ‘…I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke’ (Isaiah 6:1-4). When angels praise God, the place literally shakes. Also, in the New Testament we see angels praising God: ‘Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”’ (Revelation 4:6-8). These angels don’t stop their singing – they continuously praise God.

So do you believe in the God who created angels as beings who execute God’s commandments and praise his name? Or do you worship a different god?

Joel Radford.