Touch Not “The Lord’s Anointed”

How many times have you heard the phrase “touch not the Lord’s anointed?”  This phrase is usually said in reference to someone openly complaining or verbally attacking their pastor or some other full time Christian servant.  This phrase is usually said as a way to chide or threaten the one “complaining” in those situations.  But what is the real usage of this phrase and does it apply today?

First, the context is found in 1 Samuel 20 - 24.  This passage is where David is having to flee for his life from King Saul who is overtaken by fear and jealousy of David.  When Saul lays down one night, David quietly enters the camp and cuts off a piece of Saul’s robe (2 Samuel 24:4) and then afterwards regrets cutting the robe because Saul is “the Lord’s anointed” (2 Samuel 24:5).

Now it is true that Saul was the Lord’s anointed but only at the request of the people (1 Samuel 8:7).  But Saul still was the king of Israel and thus David felt wrong in doing him shame in cutting the robe but also kept from killing Saul because he was “the Lord’s anointed.”  That is the context of the phrase.

So now we come to the second part, the application of this thought regarding today.

We must start by saying that Pastors and full time Christian servants are not the kings of the land, as Saul was, and thus the direct application is not exactly the same.  However, it is true that IF the Lord has anointed the Christian servant then they certainly are “the Lord’s anointed” but keep in mind if anyone is saved then aren’t they also “the Lord’s anointed” too?  Being saved is equivalent to being “the Lord’s anointed.”

The real heart of the issue is whether each “anointed” person is in the center of God’s will and only then does being “the Lord’s anointed” carry real biblical authority.  In the case of Saul, he may have been God’s “anointed” but he was most certainly out of the will of God by trying to kill David.  Yet God saw to it that David was able to flee from Saul at every turn and even prospered David with a group of men who, though less than notable (2 Samuel 22:1-2), still sought to protect David and to protect Israel as a nation.  So even though Saul was out of the will of God, David still felt it wrong to do him harm and that is where we must look for application today.

There are times that pastors and Christian leaders make common mistakes and unfortunately there are a few isolated situations where these men do very wickedly.  We must be honest enough to admit that there are times that supposed “men of God” have committed acts that are heinous and these sinful events clearly must be dealt with.  We cannot and must not ignore that fact.  I have seen a very few times when preachers, missionaries, or other Christian leaders have tried to cover up sin by saying “touch not the Lord’s anointed” but that is no excuse for clear wickedness being ignored.  God made it clear that sin is sin and must be death with wherever it is found. 

But we must also admit that there are a few people who because of some deep seated bitterness in their hearts have become judgmental of Christian leaders in such a way that the pastor in front of them can do no right and continually find fault.  These people bristle at the phrase “touch not the Lord’s anointed” and even grow more bitter and embolden at their behavior because of it.  Unfortunately there are a very few who see wrong in everything their leadership does and cannot get beyond their bitterness to see that the “Lord’s anointed” in front of them is being used by God even though that leader is imperfect.  It is because of the weakness of the flesh, and the greatness of God’s ministry, that Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:19 that we are to have extra proof before accusing an elder of wrong doing.

Let me say with clarity that neither of these situations are biblically right to ignore as each can easily assault the name of God and the misusing the idea of “touch not the Lord’s anointed.”  So how do we deal with these situations today:

1. Make sure that the wrong doing is serious sin and not some personal opinion.  If the pastor wants to buy a crystal pulpit that does not mean he’s wicked, but, if he is stealing money from the church accounts that is clearly sin.  Know the difference between sin and personal opinions.
2. Be sure that everyone involved is seeking to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and that all are going to be lead by the Word of God.  In other words, do you have direct scripture and have you prayed for God to direct the situation?  Have you, pastor, prayed with the person who has the concern?  Have you prayed with your pastor about your concerns?
3. If you have concerns, seek to lovingly go to the leadership in private with your concerns.  If you go out of control angry or if you go in a manner to humiliate then something is clearly wrong with you regardless of the situation you are confronting.  If they refuse to see your point then prayerfully determine if the situation warrants getting someone else involved (1 Timothy 5:19).
4. As the leader, receive the “admonition” with a sweet spirit.  It is easy to get in the flesh, but if you are the “Lord’s anointed,” as you claim, then shouldn’t you be able to be Holy Spirit directed in your reactions?
5. Finally, see the big picture.  David knew he was the next king of Israel and so did Saul.  The cause of the division was because Saul did not want what God had ordained.  You see by the time the events of 1 Samuel 20-24 took place, both men had been “anointed” and thus the situation was really one of “the Lord’s anointed” seeking to destroy another of “the Lord’s anointed.”  Saul refused to see the will of God was more important than his will.

When we have conflict in our ministries today are we seeing that the cause of Christ is larger than our petty differences and views?  Can we be honest enough to admit there are “men of God” who abuse their positions and MUST be dealt with?  The real issue with “touch not the Lord’s anointed” is THE LORD and His cause and purposes.  Let’s get our eyes on Him and deal with “the Lord’s anointed” for His sake not ours!