Are Angels Kindly or Only Powerful?

Hi. I'm wondering whether there are any instances in the Bible of angels actually being kind to humans or whether the reality is that angels are all about being awe-inspiring rather than being kindly and genuinely comforting. People often tend to talk about 'healing angels', but it occurs to me that I don't recall reading about anything like that in the Bible. Angels seem to be messengers, warriors, members of the heavenly host etc. and can do things like free God's servants from prison if required, but are they loving and kindly in a way that goes beyond simply saying 'Fear not' when interacting with humankind?

The angels which Lorna Byrne describes in her book Angels in My Hair are so kind and loving and attentive, but although that's what we all want to hear, does it hang right with the Bible? Also, I was watching the YouTube video Why Bible-Accurate Angels Are So Creepy (which mainly relates to the Old Testament) and it made me realise even more that there appears to be quite a big gulf between how angels are popularly perceived and how they're depicted in the Bible.

Is there anyone here with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Biblical angels, who can put me straight on whether angels are actually kind and loving or not?

Thanks.

Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

PS~ I do not have encyclopedic knowledge

I think angels are kind and loving and strong. I do not believe people should seek out experiences with angels or try to communicate with them.

I would say that there are instances in the Bible where angels behaved kindly towards people, but we must remember that it is ultimately God's kindness being displayed in that they're just following his orders.

That said, I think that we see some kindness being displayed by an angel here towards the prophet Elijah:

I Kings chapter 19

[1] And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
[2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
[3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
[4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
[5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
[6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
[7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
[8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

I also believe that we see some kindness being shown by an angel here in relation to people being healed:

John chapter 5

[1] After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
[2] Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
[3] In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
[4] For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Just a couple of examples...

Since they are primarily messengers from God and Christ, their responsibility is to deliver messages to men (and sometimes protect God's people). But the angel who visited Daniel appeared to be kind. An angel was also sent to Christ to strengthen Him in Gethsemane.

And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. (Dan 10:10)

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, (Dan 10:18)

At the same time angels are not sent to coddle snowflakes.

depends on the angel.
if he's sent from God, he does as God has told him to do.

if he's from the other 1/3, he is a liar and deceiver and a murderer. i.e. not kind

you should not trust any source about angels other than the Bible
guess which kind of angels the world talks about, fallen or unfallen? or just complete rubbish?
well i would guess fallen. and they are liars and deceivers. so every book you find on them is rubbish. your Laura Byrne writes books about things fallen angels a.k.a. demons taught her. you can't trust what demons say. therefore you can't trust what she says. burn that book, my advice. roast some sausages or marshmallows over it


i suggest go to any Bible website like biblegateway.com ((for example))
type "angel" in the search bar
read the whole chapter or so around every result you find

then you may gain encyclopedic knowledge

then do the same thing for "seraphim"
then do the same thing for "cherubim"

Angel sticks up for a donkey here

Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.

Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

Angel asks how long God will not show mercy

Zech 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

And here he sent one to destroy Jersusalem and ended up having to command him to cease

1Ch 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David was afraid after see that

1Ch 21:30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

They announce children being conceived.

Theres quite a few examples, they can bring news of great joy, they can bring strength, insight, and judgment and strike fear into you.

This is sort of ironic (I know its not talking about Balaam) but here it says

Psalm 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Then here is an example of the Angel of the Lord who appears because Balaam's way was perverse before him and his foot is crushed

Numbers 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall

Even when the Angel of the Lord was sent to stand in Balaam's way because his was peverse

Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

Its just "the lest at anytime thou dash thy foot against a stone" there and Balaams foot gets crushed against a wall while the Angel in charge stands in his way. lol

I never noticed that before

Many thanks for all your responses, people. Greatly appreciated. It was kind of you to take the time to focus your thoughts.

Great question. I do agree with others that if one wants to know more search the word and pray. For me this falls into the "gifts" not something I seek out...oh desire YES but I don't seek them out. Christ always first. If I looked at what has happen in others (believers) life with angels compared to my life.. they don't come to chat. They are doing something for the Father and listen to how we speak. In that I mean speak HIS WORD.