From Hiubert Zamora: Do Not Touch the Lord’s Anointed- Misinterpretation Debunked!

What does it mean to not touch the Lords Anointed? This popular scripture is the go-to defense in many religious evangelical circles from the person in charge or the person with the microphone. We see this particular scripture in two places in the Bible (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15). The more we go into the depth and context of these scriptures, the more you will realize this in no way represents the comparison of a modern day Pastor, Minister, Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, Teacher, or religious figure getting questioned, contradicted, called to give an account, or even criticized. 

When quoting a scripture we must always understand the context of the whole chapter, story or outline. In Psalm 105 it is simply a wonderful song of praise testifying to God’s faithfulness and protection over Abraham, Isaac,Jacob and their descendants. God protected His anointed ones from the hand of their enemies and allowed no one to harm them or oppress them. It is basically a Celebration of Israels history; a recounting of how God delivered Israel from their bondage in Egypt. In the rest of the chapter the song emphasized God’s works and miracles in favor of Moses and the people of Israel. He clearly says “he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”- Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ESV

Psalm 105:1-15 is the exact same song from 1 Chronicles 16:8-2 with the same context and same ending: “saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”- ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭22‬ ESV

It is very clear that the word used in these verses is: touch. There’s a big difference between touching with the intention of harming versus speaking in regards to someone. Imagine if you are a father and your son or daughter comes home from school and says “Daddy, a kid named David spoke about me!” Vs “Daddy, a kid named David touched me!”. That word touched, will register and trigger in you a completely different reaction than the word “spoke” or “talked” or even “criticized” me. Let’s not change the word clearly quoted in scripture which is “Touch”.

Speaking of touching lets look at the other scriptures where a similar term is emphasized yet instead of using the word “touch” we will now see when David various times use the expression “stretch/put out my hand” in the story of David and Saul. Saul was jealous of David, after all the praise David was getting after killing Goliath. The Lord had already departed from Saul, and Saul in his jealousy threw his spear at David twice. 

“The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”- 1 Samuel 18:10-12 ESV

This picture illustrates to us a King that is in authority and anointed by God, yet the Lord had departed from Him. Then we see that this clearly is not just a fight of words, a debate or a back and forth conversation. This was no modern day YouTube/Social media reaction video or debate, or heated text message argument. This was no where close to a Pastor throwing shots at one of his trouble making members from the altar (which happens very often). Neither a church member speaking to others about their disagreements or unfortunate negative personal experience with a leader figure. 

Have any of your leaders ever thrown a knife at you? This was no knife, this was a real -physical spear-. Please go type “Spear” on Google Images and come back to this blog. Did you see that? That’s the modern day equivalent of your leader pulling out his pistol and firing a warning shot at you. One badly aimed shot and you’d be dead or badly wounded.

Saul clearly became an enemy of David and wanted him dead on his account, by the hand of the Philistines or by his own son Jonathan and his servants. 

“And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Saul’s son Jonathan did everything to convince his father not to kill David. So Saul swore to God that he would not kill him.

“Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause? “And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Just moments later in that same chapter, Saul the corrupt king completely disregarded his fake vow not to kill David:

“Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning.”‭‭- 1 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Here we ago again with the spear throwing. Not once, but on two occasions. In modern day law, this already became assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, attempted manslaughter, attempted first degree murder and then murder for hire. David escaped from his cynical leader and remained on the run for many years. Saul later sets out with about 3,000 of his men to pursue David. David with just a mere fraction of that, had 600 men by his side. With a clear mismatch of power, the tides eventually turned on Saul and David gets his first opportunity to kill him. Saul walks into a cave to apparently use the bathroom not knowing that David was in that cave with his men. Saul was caught in a vulnerable position and David’s men saw this as a good sign from above for sweet vengeance.

“And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”– 1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬

He had the chance to cut off Saul’s head, but rather chose to cut off a piece of his robe. This was not a debate, this was kill or be killed. Notice the words in scripture: “put out my hand” against the Lord’s anointed, he didn’t say lift up my voice, he clearly and repeatedly emphasized the lifting of his hand. Let’s not forget the track record of when David lifted his hand as a skilled killer who at a young age killed a hungry lion and a bear, and then killed a giant and cut off his head. Let us also not forget that David was also anointed by the same prophet that anointed Saul because the Lord had already rejected Saul from being King and departed from him. This stemming from another passage of scripture that also gets misquoted or misdirected quite often: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Which the context of that scripture was directly referring to Saul the King, the leader, the person in authority. Nowadays How often is rebellion directed only at servants? Completely disregarding how in the Bible the original rebuke was to the King-thus individuals in a position of high authority. 

‬“Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”-1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As we read above David then respectfully confronts Saul, and questions him about his fierce pursuit to kill him and verbally leaves the matter to God’s hands.

David did what many “anointed men” discourage people under their authority to do, by misusing the term “touch not the anointed”  to provoke fear to not question nor confront them on any matter. David clearly confronted with respect and honor while holding evidence in his hand that he could’ve killed him and questioned his leader with an assertive tone knowing that before the Lord there was no wickedness in his heart!  (1 Samuel 24:11-15) 

After this confrontation Saul gave an emotional rant of un repented empathy and both men continued in separate ways.

Then again in chapter 26, David gets a second opportunity to kill Saul and repeats the same phrase 3 more times.

“But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

On this occasion David bravely headed with his nephew Abishai to where Saul was and caught him and his army in a deep sleep, with Saul’s spear stuck in the ground by his head. Possibly the same spear that was thrown at him 3 times before. That could of been once again the sweetest revenge, yet David did the righteous decision before the Lord, sparing Saul and demonstrating love and mercy while trusting in what God had already promised him. His nephew Abishai even volunteered to kill Saul for him, yet David remained firm in his conviction, proving he truly loved his father in law Saul. Could it be that David loved Saul but did not like Saul? We are commanded to love people, but not necessarily commanded to like people. He may have loved Saul, but probably didn’t like Saul. Who likes getting spears thrown at them and being man hunted for 10 years? Who likes serving under a lying, narcissistic ego driven leader? No one! Yet love is patient and long suffering, yet it comes a point where enough is enough.

“Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”- 1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After a second act of mercy from David and a second respectful confrontation, Saul finally admitted that he sinned and acted foolishly and asked David to return with him. Yet David wasn’t fooled by Saul’s words who were always followed by a track record of terrible character. He gave him back his spear and went his way apart from Saul. 16 months later Saul was badly wounded by the Philistine archers, and Saul fell on his own sword and died as well as his three sons (including Jonathan who was David’s good friend); on the same day. A tragic ending for God’s anointed one and his family.

As we can clearly see these scriptures about “touching or putting out your hand against Gods anointed” in no way symbolize speaking against a Pastor or “anointed” man or woman of God. It does not put any authority figure above biblical evaluation, criticism, rebuke, or accountability. David actually did confront his authority Saul about his sin, and did it in a respectful way as the Bible commands us. What David did not do, was literally kill Saul nor harm him; and that is what the context of these scriptures reveal and warn against. Later when David was King, Nathan also rebuked David and confronted him on his sin, and David did not use this expression to defend himself nor to shut Nathan’s mouth. Neither should respectful confrontation or questioning always be considered as persecution. This article in no way is to justify any type of ungodly, unwise, and unnecessary behavior against people in authority, but rather to bring awareness and education of the context. 

In the New Testament we don’t see this scripture at all. On the contrary we see anointed men of God being touched, harmed, stoned, beheaded, martyred, flogged and killed, including our Lord Jesus Christ. We see the Apostles rejoicing in their suffering and taking pleasure when they got beat down, persecuted and dishonored. 

“and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”- Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”- II Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not only did the apostles suffer persecution, it also written to us that we will suffer persecution as well.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”- ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yet Jesus calls us blessed when we do get persecuted falsely and for His sake.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”- Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 We also see that all true believers who are born again are anointed and sealed with the Holy Spirit. As believers we are all sons of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. In the Old Testament there were selected men anointed for that time to serve as kings and priests; yet after Christ we as believers are all kings and priests.“and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”- Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. 

So let’s bring that scripture to the present, should we touch, lift our hand with the intention of physically harming or killing an anointed of God? Absolutely not! That goes for everyone, not just ministers who have a great following or who in their eyes see themselves greater than others due to their accomplishments. Nevertheless we should honor, respect and remember those who guide us in the faith and pray for them as well. I believe that God also protects His children from such harm and avenges on behalf of His children for such harm, yet that is up to His sovereignty. Should we confront with respect, ask questions, express disagreements, concerns, and feedback to authority figures? Absolutely yes. If you consider it being necessary or are led by God to do it, do it! There are many scriptures that guide us on how to do it and also wise counsel that you can receive on how to proceed.  Just be watchful to not accept nor tolerate any type of fear, shame, intimidation or threats using God’s name or God’s word to discourage you from healthy communication or healthy confrontation. If this is the case in your life, consider it a huge red flag! When in doubt, always go back to the word of God, study the context of the scriptures, ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of what you are studying and if necessary also be open to listen to other credible interpretations or commentary. I believe and pray that in every situation the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of Truth will lead you to all truth.