The ANGEL OF THE COVENANT

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.—Psalm 34:7

by C.H. Spurgeon

We cannot see the angels, but it is enough that they can see us. There is one great Angel of the Covenant, whom not having seen we love, and His eye is always upon us both day and night. He has a host of holy ones under Him, and He causes these to be watchers over His saints and to guard them from all ill. If devils do us mischief, shining ones do us service.

Note that the Lord of angels does not come and go and pay us transient visits, but He and His armies encamp around us. The headquarters of the army of salvation is where those live whose trust is in the living God. This camp surrounds the faithful so that they cannot be attacked from any quarter unless the adversary can break through the entrenchments of the Lord of angels. We have a fixed protection, a permanent watch. Sentineled by the messengers of God, we shall not be surprised by sudden assaults nor swallowed up by overwhelming forces.

Deliverance is promised in this verse — deliverance by the great Captain of our salvation, and that deliverance we shall obtain again and again until our warfare is accomplished and we exchange the field of conflict for the home of rest.

Selah.

When Jesus Prayed Three Times

The day Jesus prayed three times and received a "No" is the day He saved the world

  

Jesus went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Mt. 26:44

 PRAYER TO JESUS, GIVING THANKS FOR HIS PRAYER

Jesus, all your prayers for human life and healing were only a matter of a few words; merely the nod of your head, or the assent of your heart would heal a child or stop a storm. And yet... when you prayed in the garden, you prayed three times. Three times you returned to the throne of the Father, asking, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” The horror of the darkness that you would have to carry for humans, the weight of all sin of eternity, the full rebellion of the cosmos that would rest upon your sinless shoulders... the shattering of your perfect Son’s heart, and the separation from the Father... these things you prayed to pass, three times: Let this cup pass, Father! If there be any way, let this cup pass from me!

Jesus, you returned to this prayer the third time. And the third time the Father said, “Son, it is my will. It is my will to crush you, that I might make my chosen children whole. Son, it is my will to bruise you, that I might bind up the wounds of sin in my hurting children, of all time.”

And Jesus, the third time you prayed, and the third time you said, “Not my will, but Thine be done!” And so you bought my salvation in this third prayer. Jesus, your utter faithfulness in the face of the cosmic horror of sin, the dark night of bearing my sin, has saved my soul. Praise you, Jesus! Eternal Son of the Eternal Father, I praise you! Holy Spirit, for mediating this gift, this life of the Father to me, in the Son, I praise you! My Comforter, my Counselor, my God, have your way in me.

Jesus, you prayed the third time, and accepted the "No" of the Father, that I might also pray tonight, and be heard by Him with an eternal "Yes!" Thank you. Words are not enough...

Alleluia!

Amen.