What does the Scripture mean when it says not to touch Yahuah’s anointed?
The command to touch not Yahuah’s anointed is found in two places in Scripture: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15). These passages are sometimes used in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles to defend certain preachers from criticism. Preachers who promote themselves or their ministries as “anointed” warn their would-be critics, “Do not touch God’s anointed!” Of course, this helps to insulate them from scrutiny and allows them to spread falsehood and bad theology unrestrained.
Others take Yahuah’s command “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” to mean that Christians are promised protection from all bad things.
Both of the above interpretations of “Do not touch my anointed ones” ignore the context of the passages in question. The “anointed ones” in these passages are not modern-day Pentecostal preachers. And the Scripture never promises that Yahuah’s prophets, anointed ones, children, or other faithful believers will never suffer harm from evil people. As Yahusha explained to the Pharisees, “Yahuah in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute’” (Luke 11:49).
Here is the context of 1 Chronicles 16:22: David is publicly praising Yahuah by giving a condensed review of the miraculous history of Yisrael. He cites some of the miracles Yahuah performed to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (1 Chronicles 16:15–18, referencing Genesis 50:24 and Exodus 2:24). Through these miracles, Yahuah created a nation of Abraham’s descendants that would bless the entire world (see Genesis 12:1–3). No one and nothing could prevent Yahuah’s promise from being fulfilled, even against all odds.
In the verses leading up to Yahuah’s command “Do not touch my anointed ones,” we read this:
“When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings” (1 Chronicles 16:19–21).
This passage refers to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When “they” (the patriarchs) were few in number, they lived as wandering strangers in a strange land (see Hebrews 11:9). Through all their travels and travails, Yahuah protected them, increased their number, and prevented the powerful rulers of the lands where they stayed from harming them.
For example, Yahuah protected Abraham twice while staying in hostile nations whose kings lusted after his wife. Neither king laid a finger on Abraham or Sarah but instead sent the couple away unharmed and even enriched them (Genesis 12 and 20). The same happened to Isaac (Genesis 26). Jacob arrived in Paddan Aram with nothing, but he left with vast riches (Genesis 31); after all his dealings with his unscrupulous Uncle Laban, Jacob said, “Yahuah has not allowed him to harm me” (verse 7).
So the point of 1 Chronicles 16:22 (and Psalm 105:15) is that nothing and no one can derail Yahuah’s will; Yahuah had a plan for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He refused to let the kings of Canaan and Egypt injure them: “For their sake he rebuked kings: ‘Do not touch my anointed ones’” (1 Chronicles 16:21–22). The patriarchs were His prophets. They were His “anointed ones”; that is, Yahuah chose them to accomplish a specific work in the world.
David, who orchestrated the praise of 1 Chronicles 16, applied Yahuah’s command not to injure Yahuah’s anointed to his own situation. King Saul was trying to kill David at one time, and David and his men were on the run. One night, David’s men came upon Saul and his army while they were sleeping. Abishai rejoiced that they had the advantage over their enemies and suggested they kill Saul then and there. But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can lift a hand against Yahuah’s anointed and be guiltless? . . . As surely as Yahuah lives, Yahuah Himself will strike him down. . . . But Yahuah forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Yahuah’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:9–11). It is Yahuah who takes vengeance, not we (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).
The command from Yahuah “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” was for a specific group of people for a specific time: Yahuah preserved the patriarchs from physical harm. The prophets of the Old Testament have given way to teachers in the New (see 2 Peter 2:1). No one today can properly quote 1 Chronicles 16:22 to deflect criticism or silence challengers. No apostle in the New Testament ever told anyone “Do not touch Yahuah’s anointed” as a means of insulating himself from critique.
The fact is that all believers today are Yahuah’s anointed. We are all Set-Apart for the work Yahuah is accomplishing in this world (1 John 2:20). “Now He who establishes us with you in Messiah and has anointed us is Yahuah, who also has sealed us and given us the Ruach (Spirit) in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22).
Since all believers are Yahuah’s anointed, does this mean that His command “Do not touch my anointed ones” keeps us from all harm? No, believers still suffer the effects of living in a fallen world. But, at the same time, believers know that Yahuah is 100 percent in control, and He can easily protect His children. Whatever happens to them is allowed by Him. Satan himself can’t lay a finger on Yahuah’s children without Yahuah’s explicit permission (see Job 1:12; 2:6). So we trust Yahuah in everything. No matter what happens in our lives, we trust that Yahuah is in control and will equip, empower, and protect us to complete His plan for us: “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Yahusha HaMashiach” (Philippians 1:6, ESV).
15 Saying, Touch not My anointed and do My neviim no harm. [3884]
Psalms (Tehillim) 105:15 RSTNE 7th Edition
Foot Note:
[3884] This verse often misquoted, when taken in proper context means Yisrael the nation is YAHUAH’s anointed, not some Pentecostal preacher on TV.Glossary of Hebrew Words:
Neviim (H) Used With Upper Case “N”; Prophets (Plural), Or The Books Of The Prophets
neviim (H) Used With Lower Case “n”; Any Combination Of The Prophets As A Whole
Restoration Scriptures True Name 7th Edition
Source:
https://www.gotquestions.org/touch-not-Gods-anointed.html
