Talking To Angels: Is This Scriptural?

Can we summon angels directly, as if we could command and deploy them?

I believe some believers derive their beliefs from the Psalmist’s passage, “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!” (Ps. 103:20). If they are going to claim that this is talking (or praying) to angels, then they must also attribute the same meaning to Psalm 100:1: “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.” Will they now assert that every person on earth is listening to them?” 1

I understand that many believers talk directly to angels in midair by saying, in a position of command, “Angel of the LORD, protect my business establishment in the name of Jesus.” Is this biblically correct? Are they referring to the heavenly hosts of angels from the Lord or the Angel of the LORD? 

First, let’s establish the truth. The description “the Angel of the LORD” was mentioned almost seven hundred times in almost sixty passages in the Old Testament. Who is this “the Angel of the LORD?” Many theologians believed this was a theophany of the second Person in the divine Trinity. This is why they also describe this as Christophany or Christ’s manifestation in the Old Testament, which is different from Christ’s incarnation in the New Testament. Can believers really command “the Angel of the LORD” to do something for them? We can find one instance where three men appeared to Abraham (see Gen. 18:1-3). One turned out to be a theophany of God Himself, while the other two were created angels who manifested like men. (see Gen. 18:13). We’ve seen how the two men went down to Sodom and Gomorrah while Abraham was pleading with the one left behind to spare the cities from divine judgment (see Gen. 18:22-24). In a sense, Abraham was conversing with God, who is the Angel of the LORD. “Angel” in Hebrew means “messenger.” But he was no ordinary created angel; he was the Angel of the LORD, who is Yahweh Himself.

In the Old Testament, there are occasions where many individuals experienced the presence of an angel because they were personally sent by Yahweh. 

Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 

Exodus 23:20

I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 33:2

And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

2 Chronicles 32:21

There is also an instance where people cried out to the Lord, and He sent an angel to minister to them and guide them. 

And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 

Numbers 23:16

In some instances, an angel is sent by God personally to deliver a message, like what happened in the case of Zechariah and Mary.

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

Luke 1:19

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

Luke 1:26

This is because angels are sent by God to us as ministering spirits to assist and help us. 

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

However, I am not aware of any instance in the whole Bible where believers talked directly to an angel by commanding them. We are to talk to God and then ask Him to send His angels to serve His purpose in our lives. This is what Jesus Christ said when He reminded Peter about God’s sovereign power to protect Him. 

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:53

The Lord Jesus stated that He has the authority to ask His Father to send 720,000 angels to assist Him. However, there are some exceptions to the rule. Zechariah and Mary talk to the angel Gabriel directly (see Lk. 1:11-19; 26-38). Obviously, Luke’s account is more trustworthy than anyone else’s claim to have “spoken” directly to angels. Angels are not both omnipresent and omniscient. If the Lord believes there is a need, He may still send His angels. Indeed, the author of Hebrews reminds us that God can send an angel in the form of a total stranger so that our good attitude of being receptive will always surface.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

We must also beware of deceiving angels because every word or message given by legitimate angels should not contradict God’s word. This is what Paul said to the Galatian church when he wrote,

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:8

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14  

At the moment, believers on Earth have divine authority to speak over demons (evil angels) and command them to leave, but not God’s angels. After the second coming of Jesus Christ, believers will judge, rule, and govern over the angels.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Matthew 10:8

Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

1 Corinthians 6:3

In conclusion, let us not attempt to marginalize God by talking with His angels. Many are unaware, but speaking directly to an angel is an insult to the Creator of the universe, who can send twelve legions, or seventy-two thousand angels, to assist and protect us. Why not openly talk to God, who created the hundreds of millions of angels that surround His throne and worship Him? If you desire to refer to “the Angel of the Lord,” who is Jesus, you must use His name, since this Angel of the Lord has a personal human name that is superior to all others. Let the believers maintain their focus on Jesus Christ and not His holy angels. Ultimately, He is worthy.

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:11-12

Footnote:

1 This is a figure of speech that should not be taken literally because we can only speak to God and God alone.