ANGELS DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT.
By Wm. Covert
One writer in speaking of the true governing power of all things, says, “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” And to show that the heavenly host recognize and obey that authority, he exclaims, with fervent joy, “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Ps. 103:20. If angels obey, and even those which excel in strength—the higher order of angels—the cherubim do his commandments, and hearken unto the voice of God, surely all things below them should readily do his bidding. Did not our Saviour refer to the loyal attitude of these glorified ones when he taught his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”? Is not this state of universal and unquestioned obedience more to be desired than all things else not yet realized? When the mind of the Infinite is perfectly heeded, then will his ideal of happiness be fully realized. And until this is done, there must be experienced constant friction, discord, sorrow, pain, and death. As an illustration of how the will of God is done by angels and cherubim in heaven, note the prophet’s vision, received at the river Chebar. There, as the heavens were opened, the man of God looked into the holy portals, and beheld the cherubim, as they were directed by the Spirit, doing the bidding of God. He says, “And they went every one straight forward; whither the Spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.” Eze. 1:12. Sweet, pleasant, holy, and happy obedience! With them there was no waiting, neither diverging from the right way into some by-path; but their course was straight forward as the Spirit directed them, and onward too, without turning either to the right or to the left. In speaking of the perfect accord between the Spirit of God and the spirit of these shining ones, the prophet says, “Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go.” Verse 20. They were all drinking into one Spirit, and were in living, loyal touch with the mind of Him who sat on the throne above them. The wonderful alacrity with which they performed the Spirit’s bidding is described by the verse which says, “The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.” Verse 14. This vision shows the marvelous things which are in store for this earth when the Lord’s prayer is fully answered, and the will of God shall be done in the earth as it is now done in heaven. It also shows the mighty power of the Spirit of God, and the infinite detail of its operations. Unfallen beings are so filled with the Spirit of God that they instantly perceive the desire of that mind from whence the Spirit proceeds; and as readily as the electric current answers the proper touch of the button, so do they cheerfully respond to the will of God. With them consecration is perfected. No unsubmitted will remains to lead them into trouble and disobedience. As truly as the planet is drawn by its sun, or the needle turns to the pole, so surely does the spirit of one untouched by sin respond to the Spirit which pervades and upholds all things. When the moral touch of all created intelligences shall be as quick to discern and approve the Spirit of righteousness, as the eye is to discern between light and darkness, then every heart shall truly know the infallible Guide. No spirit of selfishness will then appear to mar the handiwork of God, or to disturb the blessedness of that government which reigns only through the spirit of love. O, the holy sweetness of that Spirit which conquers all its enemies through the power of love! What marvelous strength is that, which is far above all might, and power, and dominion that is named in this world or that which is to come! But the almighty power of this gentle Spirit is that which now directs the holy angels.