Touch Not My Anointed

 

This phrase is often echoed by those in the charismatic movement. When their Pastor / Elder / Bishop is criticized for unbiblical teaching, they will cry out, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm!” This phrase is referenced in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15. Who was in view when this phrase was uttered? Was it the Pastor Elder or Bishop? No. Let’s examine 1 Chronicles 16:22 in context.

Starting at 1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (Amplified Version) we read from King David “When they (the nation of Israel, parentheses mine), were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it; when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes. He reproved kings for their sakes (Gen 12:17; 20:3; Exod 7:15-18). Saying touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm” (Gen 20:7). David is praising God and giving a brief history of his people; how they began very small in number when they were in Canaan.

Psalm 105:12-15 repeats the same language.

So the anointed discussed above are the patriarchs and the prophets specifically. God warned the enemies of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to leave them alone because they belonged to Him. God prevented Gentile nations from harming them. The Hebrews are a chosen people because God decided of His own un-influenced will to make a covenant with one man, Abram (name later changed to Abraham Gen 17:5).

David recognized that his enemy and father-in-law King Saul was the Lord’s anointed. David on two occasions had opportunity to kill him when Saul was pursuing David and wanted to kill him. David refused to take Saul’s life stating to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? Surely as the Lord lives, the Lord Himself will strike him down. But the Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Sam 24:6; 26:9-11).

David understood that vengeance belongs to the Lord, not him (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19).

Paul Rebukes Peter

In Galatians 2:11-16 we read:

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain men came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when the were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you being a Jew live in a manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

We see that Peter was rebuked for his hypocrisy by Paul to his face in public although Peter was anointed of God. Why? Because Peter and Barnabas along with other Jews were being two faced regarding the gospel. When Peter and others were with Gentiles they behaved like them, but when the Jews came around they withdrew from the Gentiles.  

Although Peter was a leader in the Church, he was not beyond correction. He of all people knew better. What Peter probably was expressing is that Gentiles had to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul reminded Peter and those with him that no one is justified by works of the law but faith in Jesus Christ only (sola Christos)[1]

David Spares Saul’s Life and desires God judge between he and Saul

In 1 Samuel 24:8-15 we read:

David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My Lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul; “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm?’ Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand!

For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil or rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.

After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue?

A dog? A flea?

Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case and deliver me out of your hand.”’

David knew Saul was the Lord’s anointed, but he pled his case against Saul because Saul was wrong in trying to kill David. The point I am making again are those who are anointed of God are never beyond rebuke. In a recent video clip T.D. Jakes states that no one can, put their mouth on God’s anointed; implying he is anointed. I respectfully disagree with T.D. Jakes; the anointed of God do sin occasionally and if necessary should be lovingly corrected, including him. This recent video is most likely in connection with recent allegations of indiscretions he is being accused of. If he is found guilty (and I truly hope he is innocent for his sake and his family), he will suffer the consequences of his actions just like any of us should.

Everyone that is saved is God’s anointed (1 John 2:20). The world could care less about that. God can and does sovereignly protect us. He also can warn the unbeliever not to harm us if He chooses. But in keeping matters in context, the Church cannot lay claim to that same Abrahamic Covenantal promise. Touch not my anointed was literally dealing with not harming or killing the king or the Lord’s prophets. We have to learn to stop playing fast and loose with the Biblical text. Those that are unskilled in handling God’s word often will insert themselves into passages that do not pertain to them because they fail to carefully examine the text within its context. Touch not my anointed is one of those that has been misused to uselessly insulate Pastors from constructive scrutiny when they are in error. Just because one is anointed does not make them like the Pope when he speaks ex-cathedra.[2] Anyone of us that are in error should be lovingly corrected as the word of God teaches (2 Timothy 3:16).

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[1] Latin means Christ alone

[2] Ex cathedra is a Latin phrase which means “from the chair.” It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world. The writer’s brief commentary: With all due respect to the Catholic Church the Pope has never nor will he ever speak infallibly. He is a sinner like all men and thus is fallible.