June 19th, 2021

For the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, the Old Testament reading takes a look at the book of Job [38:1-11], and that is certainly a rare occasion. But it is also a helpful one since we have recently looked at both the cherubim and seraphim and their connection to the LORD—whom they both worship. Last week the connection was made between the angels and the tabernacle, and that connection may be seen in other parts of the Old Testament.

The setting of Job that starts everything is when the Satan comes before the LORD when he is in his position of power and authority (Job 1:6), and this is a similar situation to when the LORD has cherubim and seraphim around him. In fact, the text of that verse [in the English Standard Version] goes this way in the Hebrew:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them [Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; used by permission; all rights reserved].

And the very same verse goes this way in a Greek translation (in a somewhat-literal translation into English):

And it happened in that day, and, behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.

A significant difference between the two verses is that those who are ‘sons of God’ in the first translation are called ‘angels of God’ in the second. The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger’, and if a message were truly and extremely important, a king would send his son with the message. And that is exactly what we have in the case of the New Testament.

The position of any king on his throne is an important one. And recently we have seen angels around the throne of the LORD in various ways. And since we are looking at the book of Job this week, why not look at the Psalms, which are right next door?

The Psalter is one of the most important books of the Bible. It is certainly the largest book of the Bible. It is actually made up of five books which connect to the first five books of the Bible. The book is important enough to appear each Sunday within the church’s liturgy. Each Sunday has the Introit and a Psalm attached to it. But a larger picture of the Psalter may be more helpful.

A frequent structure of a book is that which follows the pattern of the tabernacle or temple. The progression of the text toward ‘the most holy place’ or ‘the holy of holies’ is important. It may also be seen in this central and third book of the Psalms, from Psalm 73-89.

The topic of the ‘holy place’ or sanctuary comes up early within this section. The writer of the first Psalm in this section has been focusing on the wicked for a while, but then he has this transition point at Psalm 73:16-17 [in the English Standard Version]:

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

There are two places where this important ‘council’ is mentioned, near the middle of the book and at the final Psalm of the book. Since Psalm 82 is near the middle and quite short—as well as quite clear regarding this ‘council’—it is given in its entirety here [again in the ESV]:

God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!

What should be added, interestingly enough, is that two Psalms before and two Psalms after this Psalm 82, these two Psalms contain the only mentions of ‘hosts’ or ‘armies’ within this section of the Psalter—and this term is usually connected to a group of angels—and there is also one mention of ‘cherubim’ at the very beginning of Psalm 80.

Here are some verses from Psalm 80 [in the ESV]:

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth (verse 1).
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers (verses 3-4)?
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved (verse 7)!
Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself (verses 14-15).
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved (verse 19)!

Here are some [ESV] verses from Psalm 84:

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God (verses 1-3).
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob (verse 8)!
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you (verse 12)!

There is a definite emphasis on angels who are surrounding the LORD. Many people think that the Psalter was quickly put together. But there is a structure here. And it is a structure that points us to the LORD, and that should not be surprising. The primary focus for the angels is on the One who sends them.