Angels Deliver. Related closely to protection is the concept of deliverance, as the psalmist notes (Psalm 34:7). Scripture indicates that on occasion God uses angels to deliver His people out of dangerous circumstances and situations. At other times, He uses angels to keep them from entering into these perilous conditions.
According to Acts 5:17–21 and 12:6–10, an angel appeared to deliver the apostle Peter on two separate occasions. In the frst instance, other apostles were with him when an angel came into the jail where they were imprisoned and delivered them. However, on the second occasion the authorities imprisoned Peter alone, and once again an angel delivered him. In these two cases, God used an angel to deliver His servants out of dangerous circumstances.
Delivering His people from times of peril is also a way in which God uses angels. This He did when He executed judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1–29). According to the narrative, one of the angels said to Lot, “But flee there quickly [to a town nearby to which Lot was fleeing], because I cannot do anything until you reach it” (v. 22). Psalm 91:11–12 supports the idea that God can use angels to deliver His people from danger. So whether it is deliverance out of or from danger, God clearly uses angels to rescue His people. This is just another aspect of their ministry to people.