TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED!

 


“Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

– Psalm 105:15, KJV

I bet you have heard this short sentence too many times it sounds cliché now. I bet you have heard it quoted numerously by pastors and church members alike. I bet you have heard it quoted by church members in defence of their Pastors when a controversial issue crops up, or when the people at the centre of discussion are church leaders. And I bet you did not know that this verse was in Psalm 105 (oh I can bet my salary lots of people do not know where it is in the Bible).

The whole of Psalm 105 details the history of Israel, the people set apart (or chosen) by God. It recounts how God kept the promise he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob about giving them the land of Canaan; “Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance” (Psalm 105:11). Verses 12 to 14 recount how as a small group (ostensibly in the days of Abraham), they moved from place to place. Indeed verse 14 recounts how God stopped people from doing them wrong and rebuked kings for their sake. Then verse 15 makes the bold proclamation: “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm”. Simply put, in the original context, the verse REFERRED TO THE ISRAELITES! Well, not just verse 15, but the whole Psalm 105 refers to the Israelites!

But wait. In the modern application, does this verse and the words “anointed” and “prophets” refer only to pastors or prophets or church leaders? Let’s go to 1 Peter 2:9.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Indeed the 1 Peter 2 describes how we have come to Christ and what our behaviour should be as Christians, as a chosen people. In this regard therefore, the word “anointed” refers to us. Prophets in the old testament were often seers, even they spoke as they were moved by God (2 Peter 1:20-21). How less those of us who speak the God-breathed word? A prophet refers to one who speaks the word of God and not necessarily a seer. In this regard then, to the extent that we are messengers of God, we are prophets! Thus Psalm 105:15 does not refer to pastors only. We are the “anointed” and the “prophets”. And we are not to touch each other, nor do each other harm. Love one another as I have loved you!

I’m not advocating disrespect for Pastors or pastoral authority or even suggesting equality in any way. By all means let us honour and respect our pastors. And when they go wrong, let no one pull up this bible passage as the defence.

Remember, you are also the Lord’s anointed, and a prophet. Shalom!

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