But Rather Who
Psalm 104:4
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
What a perfectly odd thing for the Lord to say. I am aware as maybe are you of the traditional interpretation of the wind and the flame. But how many know that wind and fire mixed together produces some truly devastating results. Maybe you heard how the recent wildfires spread out of control from just the slightest breath. Maybe you have tried starting a campfire to keep warm only to find the wind blew out the embers during the night. God forbid the four winds of Heaven should agitate violently all at once as Daniel once told. Have you any idea who we are talking of here. This is the Lord who builds the foundations of his house upon the waters. Such things do not make sense by any stretch of the imagination. Just think that God is building something out of your trouble and mine. I can see him now taking the pain and the sorrow and laying it down as it were the foundations and the pillars of his dwelling place. You might be tempted to say along with Mary "how shall these things be." Could it be that we like Moses have lost sight of him amid the fire and the wind.
Perhaps you too need a reminder that the ground on which he stands is holy. Thus, is it not to be entered into lightly. So often you and I see the angels as ministers and forget about all else. Look with me at this thing here. You might be wondering 'what about the bad fire.' Well, you are partly right. Remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal who cried for hours for the fire to fall upon the altars of their own. But none came to those who had refused to listen to the Lord or walk in his ways. Indeed, they strove with Baal to the point of offering themselves, yet none heard. Then Elijah cried unto the Lord and the fire fell upon the altar first. Leaping outside its bounds as though by the wind, it devoured them all. See now the dangers of no fire or even of false fire.
The tongue in James is another example of the problem that comes of showing up to God's house with your own fire in hand. So then, it should be seen that the flaming fire of his ministers is under his control. For he alone can wield it to accomplish all his purposes like no other. Now see the wind. The wind of the Lord blows through the domain of Satan. Once he was referred to as an angel of light, the son of the morning, and even the prince of the power of the air. How then could God use the very tools of another's domain to build up his own. Moreover, see how he makes even the clouds swift to obey him. So then they take him wherever he will as his own chariot would. There is the danger found of a wind coming from the wrong places. Paul called his the Euroclyden. Maybe yours has similar names of despair, torment, struggle, loss, and grief.
Not all his created angels are holy, nor yet have some remained righteous. Look now how God uses even these to accomplish all his will. They go, these servants, as though by his breath. See, the demons do believe and tremble for it. So, ought you, if you also lived by every Word that comes from his mouth. For in his breath is found the very Word itself. Unless, of course, you are in the habit of thinking the two-edged flaming fire is just for fun. See him who makes the angels serve high and lifted up. Now how much more should not his ministers rather also obey him. Just think then what damage a minister under the influence of the wrong spirit could do. Imagine the influence of a minister who is not truly the Lord's nor yet under his control. Now if you are hard pressed for examples, think of the impact of the minister under the control of God's wind, his Spirit, and the angels. How much different the world would appear then to such a one. So then you can rest in the assurance that if he has called you, so also will he keep you. Know then that all things even so work together for the good of these his children.