McKnight - The Hum of Angels

Books on the angelic in the Bible are usually of varying qualityso fluffy and story filled they lack a coherent basis in Scripture, or so impenetrably philosophical one cant apply them to the normal Christian life. Scot McKnights The Hum of Angels carefully avoids all these pitfalls and presents a sound and balanced biblical vision of Gods angelic realm and its work. He helpfully reimagines the ministry of angels, while keeping his work rooted in and framed by Scripture. The Hum of Angels is a worthy addition to the library of anyone wanting a solid, insightful, and scriptural view of Gods angelic ministers.

J ONATHAN M ACY , author of In the Shadow of His Wings and minister in the Church of England

Angels are everywhere! Until I read this book, I must confess that even as a Bible teacher Id missed how ever present angels are at key junctures and in critical ways throughout the biblical story. As a pastor, Id been mostly blind to the angels all around us (which most people in our church body, statistics show, more readily see). This wonderful book opened not only my eyes but my ears to the beautiful hum of angels surrounding usa harmony that points us to the melody of Jesus at the center.

J OSHUA R YAN B UTLER , pastor at Imago Dei Community, Portland, OR; author of The Skeletons in Gods Closet and The Pursuing God

I make a practice of reading everything Scot McKnight writes because I learn so much from his bright mind and generous spirit. His work exemplifies an intelligent, rich way of understanding the Bible; and this wonderful book is no exception. After having read The Hum of Angels, Ill walk through my day with more awareness of Gods loving presence and comfort, and more hope because of it.

S HAUNA N IEQUIST , New York Times best-selling author of Present over Perfect

In The Hum of Angels, Scot McKnight invites us to consider the active and significant role angels play on the pages of Scripture and in fulfilling the purposes of God todaynot for the sake of information, but for the sake of hope. How easy it is for us, from our ground-level perspective, to give discouragement and despair the upper hand. This reminder of the powerful activity of myriads of Gods angels on our behalf is one more reason for hope to thrive in the future of Gods ultimate victory over evil. This book is an eye-opening, reassuring, and hope-filled read.

C AROLYN C USTIS J AMES , author of Half the Church: Recapturing Gods Global Vision for Women and Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World

The Heaven Promise: Engaging the Bibles Truths About Life to Come

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others

Embracing Grace: Discovering the Gospel that Restores Us to God, Creation, and Ourselves

Praying with the Church: Following Jesus Daily, Hourly, Today

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible

Fasting

One Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited

Kingdom Conspiracy: Returning to the Radical Mission of the Local Church

A Fellowship of Differents: Showing the World Gods Design for Life Together

T HE H UM OF A NGELS

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked ( NRSV ) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Hardcover ISBN9781601426314

Ebook ISBN9781601426338

Copyright 2017 by Scot McKnight

Cover design by Kristopher K. Orr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

W ATER B ROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: McKnight, Scot, author.

Title: The hum of angels : listening for the messengers of God around us / Scot Mcknight.

Description: First Edition. | Colorado Springs, Colorado : WaterBrook, 2017. Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016040290 (print) | LCCN 2016049191 (ebook) | ISBN9781601426314 (hardcover) | ISBN9781601426338 (electronic)

Subjects: LCSH: Angels.

Classification: LCC BT966.3 .M36 2017 (print) | LCC BT966.3 (ebook) | DDC 235/.3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016040290

Most WaterBrook books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, and special-interest groups. Custom imprinting or excerpting can also be done to fit special needs. For information, please e-mail or call 1-800-603-7051.

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For Gil and Lesley Smith

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

T HE B OOK OF C OMMON P RAYER, P REFACE AND THE S ANCTUS

I was visiting a bird-supplies store when I mentioned to the owner that my wife and I had owned a hummingbird feeder but had never once seen a hummer at the feeder, so we tossed it out. I concluded that there were no hummers near our home.

The shop owner asked where we lived, I told him, and then he said, They are there. Not only do some of your neighbors have hummers on their feeders, but hummers are all over the village. What he said next was the take-home line: You just have to have eyes to see them. Once you do, you will see them everywhere. They are small and fast and camouflaged, but they are not that hard to spot.