The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 235

Ver. 22.-.Ang~l-m,_nistratfo_n. :: My GO?- hath sent his angel" (ver. 22). ".A.re they not all mm1stcrmg spmts? (Heb. 1. 14). The text in Daniel suagests the whole doctrine of angel-ministration. That imperilled life guarded by ~ sentinel from heaven is no solitary spectacle. It has many parallels. There had been the ministration of angels before, as there has been a thousand times since. We cannot help looking upon the scene with memories charged with all that has beon revealed of the relation of that higher world to the world of men. It was a remarkable instance of a universal fact in the experience of the Church of God-a fact not limited to particular ages, but existing from the beginning to the end of time. We suppose that the angel in this case may have been invisible to Daniel; Daniel having simply inferred his presence; and further, that the action of the angel may not have been stricUy supernatural,. The occasional supremacy of man over savage beasts may be an illustration of the dominance of the angel. 'fhe subject, then, is-The minis- tration of angels. I. THEIR EXISTENCE. Say there are angels; and some would receive the statement with scepticism. But the evidence is : 1. The analogy of the case. The interdependence of material worlds points to a similar interdependence of moral worlds. The commerce of earth to a commerce between the varied worlds of God. 2. The craving of the human mind. There is a craving for the knowledge of creatures higher than ourselves. The craving universaL It points to an objective satisfaction. 3. The testim011y of Scripture. Previous argument, only presumptive; this conclusive. Fnlness of Scripture on the subject. IL THEIR KA.TUBE. 1. They are spiritual. ".Aie they not all spirits (r11•6µ1m1)?" 2. But ~" dothed Up<YII," with some organization. Of a material kind, for it may become an object of sense; men may see the angel-form. Note: (1) Angels appear in the human form. But: (2) Glorified. (Ch. x. 6.) (3) Men after the resurrection are to become like the angels. (Luke :n. 36.) We may infer that the organism of angels is well adapted to second the life abiding in it. Incorruptible, for the angel never dies; fit servant of high inielligence; offers no obstruction to their mighty power; no impediment to their swiftness; beautiful with immortal youth. '.!.'he angels, like ourselves, are capable of everlasting intellectual and moral progress. III. TBEIB PUBLIC LIFE. Its essential characteristic is given in the question, ".A.re they not all liturgic (A.•1-rovp-y11ea.)?" But what is the meaning? We must go to Athens, the home of the Greek tongue, for the answer. A few words, then, on: 1. The Greek liturgy. It was a public service-a ministration of the citizens to the commonwealth. Certain citizens were bound to contribute money, labour, time, towards making Athens splendid at home, triumphant abroad. Such a contribution was a "liturgy;" it stood for the public service of the Athenian people. 2. The Hebrew liturgy. The word was transferred from things Greek to designate the public ministration of the priests in the temple. .A.s the liturgy of the Athenians was for the glory of the Athenian commonwealth, so the liturgy of Hebrew priest.cl was for the glory of the Hebrew commonwealth-a mitlistration to its awful King. 3. Tl,e lieavenly liturgy. Here thought ascends to a. higher state, to a grander temple, in which angels contribute to the public service. '.!.'heir wealth, energy, time, are give11 for the glory of the Eternal, and for the majesty of his kingdom. ".Are they not all liturgic? Do they not minister to God in the exalted service of the heavenly temple? .A.re they not employed in the administration of the celestial government? Do 11ot ' thousand thousands minister to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand 6tand Lefore him '?" " The chariots of God are twenty thousand," OH, VI, 1-28,) THE BOOK OF DANIET,.