A Few Thoughts on Psalm 105:15

 

Don’t touch God’s anointed

 

These words occur in two passages:

B1 Psalm 105:15 KJV [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

B2 1 Chronicles 16:22 KJV [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

 

An example:

 https://twitter.com/FakeSermon/status/1300757049458995202?s=20

B1 I’m not criticizing this particular preacher.

B2 It just happens that he does use this passage in his preaching.

B3 The context is not known.

B4 He may be showing an example that is completely opposite of what we hear.

B5 I needed an example of someone preaching this idea.

 

This Psalm was written partly by David. We do not know who wrote the rest.

1 Chronicles is the setting for the part David wrote.

 

The setting:

B1 David is the King of Israel.

B2 The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22) was brought into Jerusalem.

B3 The festivities and events that occurred when it was carried by the priests.

B4 For this occasion of rejoicing, David writes this song (1 Chronicles 16:7-36).

B5 Psalm 105 is an expanded version.

B6 Most include Psalm 106 with 105 and 106 forming one unit.

B7 Most feel that the expanded version of Psalm 105 was written by unknown people and sung at the restoration of the Temple after the Babylonian Captivity.

B8 Comments:

This and the following psalm are companions. They reveal the two sides of the relation between God and His people during a long period. This one sings the song of His faithfulness and power; while the next tells the sad story of repeated failure and rebellion on the part of His people. (Source)

 

The anointed ones in the context refer to the children of Israel:

B1 Psalms 105:5-6 NRSV Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, 6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

B2 Psalms 105:12-15 NRSV When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.

 

The anointed prophets refer to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. They don’t refer to today’s Man of God (MOG) nor modern day so-called prophets or prophetesses.

B1 Psalms 105:9-10 NRSV the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

B2 Genesis 20:7 NRSV Now then, return the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.

 

Others anointed in the Old Testament:

B1 High Priest: Exodus 29:5-7 NKJV Then you shall take the garments, put the tunic on Aaron, and the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the intricately woven band of the ephod. 6 You shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.

B2 King of Israel: 2 Samuel 23:1 NRSV Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel.

B3 Other kings:

C1 Cyrus: Isaiah 45:1 NRSV Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him—and the gates shall not be closed.

C2 Hazael: 1 Kings 19:15 NKJV Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.

B4 Satan before he rebelled and sinned: Ezekiel 28:14 ESV You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

B5 Messiah: Isaiah 61:1 ESV The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

 

Those anointed in the New Testament:

B1 Messiah: Luke 4:18 Daniel Mace New Testament The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

B2 All believers: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 EMTV Now He who establishes us together with you in Christ and who has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

B3 Believers who are sick: James 5:14 HCSB Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.

B4 Also there are those who anointed Jesus and others.

 

Pastors are not any more anointed than another believer.

All believers have a gift given by the Holy Spirit to minister to the believers. See 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

 

We are commanded to

B1 Test apostles: Revelation 2:2 ESV I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

B2 Confront erring elders: 1 Timothy 5:19-21 ESV Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

B3 Erring teachers must be confronted and silenced: Titus 1:10-11 ESV For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

 

Nowhere in Scriptures is any type of church leader considered anointed with reference to Psalm 105:15.

 

Don’t be intimidated by these controlling people.

 

We are to respect them:

B1 Hebrews 13:17 WEL Be persuadable to those who lead you and yield yourselves, because they watch over your souls as those who must give an answer [and] so that they may do it with joy and not grieving, because that would not be profitable for you.

B2 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 WEL We plead with you, brothers, to recognize those who are working among you, leading you in the Lord, and warning you. 13 Also to highly respect them in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

 

We do not have to OBEY them.

B1 They are undershepherds. Jesus is Lord.

B2 Elders are brothers and sisters, not masters to obey.

B3 We are to listen closely to their counsel and advice.

B4 They are responsible to God to watch over us and help us not fall into error of doctrine or lifestyle.

B5 Bible verses

C1 2 Corinthians 1:24 NIV Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

C2 2 Corinthians 4:5 NLT You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake.

C3 1 Peter 5:3 NLT Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.

D1 The Greek word for lord it is κατακυριεύω katakyrieúō.

D2 It means to lord it over, gain dominion over, subdue; in some contexts there is an implication that this exercise of authority is harsh. (Source)

D2 Also used in Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42, and Acts 19:16.

B6 A Pastor's Authority by Ray C. Stedman might be helpful.

 

Matthew 11:29-30 GNB Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. 30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.