Touch Not God’s Anointed?

Many in the church today toss around the phrase “touch not God’s anointed” when someone exposes their favorite false teacher. However, these folks are simply parroting a phrase they’ve heard but don’t understand, and thus, twisting and misusing the scriptures to defend an enemy of the Cross. God said that his people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) and that there would be a famine in the land for hearing the Word of God (Amos 8:11). We are witnessing this right now.

So, what does “touch not God’s anointed” really mean?

1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15 both say, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”.

If you take a look at the preceding verses (in both Chronicles and Psalms) you will notice that “touch not my anointed” is referring to God’s protection over the nation of Israel and its prophets.

Look at Psalm 105:10-15 – The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac. Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance,”
When they were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers in it.
And they wandered about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes:
“Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”

Nowhere in this passage of scripture does it say that we are not permitted to expose a false preacher/prophet and rebuke them. This passage has absolutely nothing to do with that issue. What this passage IS talking about is God’s protection over His people Israel, that He would not allow harm to come to them. And this means physical harm. The Hebrew word naga used in this verse and elsewhere in the bible with regards to “touching Israel” means physically touch, laying a hand upon (for any purpose). This Hebrew word naga, or touch, is also used in Gen. 32:25, Ex. 19:12, and Lev. 5:2-3, for example, and all refer to physical touching.

David also used this word naga, or touch, in 1 Samuel 24:4-13, when he refused to touch (or kill) King Saul, because Saul was God’s anointed king over Israel, saying, “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed”. David then repeats it a second time in 1 Samuel 26:9-11 and 23-24, and repeats it a third time in 2 Samuel 1:13-16. David had three opportunities to kill King Saul, and all three times he said he would not touch (kill) God’s anointed king.

Again, this has nothing to do with naming and exposing false teachers who are preaching a false gospel and a counterfeit “Jesus”.

In fact, it is an absolute perversion of scripture when people attempt to use “touch not God’s anointed” to defend a wold in sheep’s clothing. These mislead and unlearned people believe it’s a crime to criticize those who are preaching or prophesying falsely. But, in fact, the bible says the exact opposite:

• Matthew 7:15 – Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
• Matthew 24:4-5 – See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
• Acts 20:28-30 – Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
• Romans 16:17 – Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
• 2 John 1:9-11 – Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil works.
• Galatians 1:8-10 – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
• Isaiah 8:20 – To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

A little bible study, a little prayer, and a little discernment goes a long way. I highly recommend that people stop listening to the TV charlatans and start listening to the voice of God through His Word.