As the fifth single of the U2 album “Pop,” which was not a success, and as part of the “City Of Angels” soundtrack, “If God Will Send His Angels” is an example of the frequent musing by U2 on matters of spirituality. The context of “City Of Angels” is a particularly interesting one, the theme being that an angel gives up eternal life for the temporary enjoyment of love with a neurotic woman of the city, someone who must be one of ten millions that can be found in the large cities of the industrialized world. It seems especially puzzling to me how anyone who has any sound grasp of angelology and a knowledge of the intense separation between angels and demons can believe that an angel would give up an opportunity for immortal life in service to those created in the image and likeness of God [1] for a short period of romantic love, or that God would grant a temporary physical life to a fallen being who had rebelled against His will and His rule. Death would be merciful for those beings who otherwise have a lengthy of time of waiting for judgment to come and in the meantime being cut off from the oneness and intimacy of life as part of God’s Kingdom.

Often we tend to think of God sending angels to aid human beings who actions form part of God’s plans. One of the most obvious examples of this is in the life of Elisha, told in 2 Kings 6:16-18: “So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” This sort of angelic intervention is visible to some people, if not everyone, and at the same time it is dramatic and powerful. Sometimes, we see, God does send His angels to protect people and make sure that certain things happen and that certain things do not happen.

We can see as well that among some early believers there was a belief in guardian angels, at least that is what appears to be the case. We can see this, for example, in Acts 12:11-17, when Peter was delivered from Herod Antipas and what appeared to be certain death at the hands of him and the corrupt Jewish leadership: “And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.”

Yet although we see clear examples of angelic involvement in some incidents (the example of Lot in Sodom among them), there are other times where God does not appear to send his angels for protection. The will of God is certainly mysterious and complicated, and it would appear as if God has a hands off policy in general, and only chooses to act in certain ways in certain times for His own purposes. The complications of what sort of involvement would be involved (whether it would even be visible or recognized), and what kind of aid or help is denied and on what grounds and for what reasons, is a matter of deep reflection and pondering. I suppose some day we will know the answers we seek, but for now, we must ponder away, and walk in faith where we cannot walk in sight.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/book-review-how-to-pick-up-a-stripper-and-other-acts-of-kindness/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/hands-to-heaven/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/progress-and-restoration/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/and-are-endowed-by-their-creator-with-certain-unalienable-rights/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/spitting-image/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/if-god-made-you/