One more observation about angels from Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth.

Here’s Gabriel’s appearance to Mary:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary…And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God…For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1.26, 27, 34, 35, 38, ESV)

And now the angels’ message to the shepherds:

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them…And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2.8 – 15, ESV)

Did you see it?

• “And the angel departed from her.”
• “When the angels went away from them…”

Messenger angels don’t hang around. They deliver the message and leave. We’d like them to hang around, yes? Explain the message in more detail. Maybe provide visible protection for us while we carry out the message.

Even the angel who rescued Peter didn’t hang around to tell Peter what to do:

Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. (Acts 12.6 – 11, ESV)

Most of our lives are lived “in the ordinary,” not the spectacular, and if an angel does appear or we have a definite experience with God, it’s likely to be short-lived. As Eugene Peterson entitled his book which we used for our meditations on the Psalms of Ascent, it’s not the spectacular, it’s

A long obedience in the same direction.