Touch not mine anointed • Deshen Daily

He suffered no man to do them wrong: Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, And do my prophets no harm (Psalm 105:14–15, KJV)

Who are the “anointed” and “prophets” mentioned in this passage? And what does this mean to us today?

As always, effective Bible study mandates accurate interpretation first, before application. Interpretation answers the question, “Who did the author have in mind when he wrote ‘mine anointed’ and ‘my prophets’ in this verse?” Application involves applying this truth to our lives here and now as believers in Christ.

Let’s begin with the accurate interpretation. The context gives us the meaning very clearly. The author narrates the lives of Abraham and his offspring, Isaac and Jacob—It is a chronological narrative. From verse 16, we see he discusses the period of the famine, Jacob and Joseph. So, the author had in mind that the anointed and prophets were Abraham and his offspring as they journeyed to the promised land.

But something is fascinating about this scripture. This is the only place in the Old Testament (with its companion 1 Chronicles 16:22) where the scripture uses the plural for “anointed one.” Typically, the anointed one is singular, often referring to the king or in anticipation of the coming anointed one, the Messiah. So, using the plural for anointed one (anointed ones) and prophet (prophets) is quite intriguing.

Once the correct interpretation is achieved, the next step is applying the verse to our lives today. So we ask, “How does this passage apply to the Church today?” Who are God’s anointed prophets in mind in the era of His Spirit today?

Growing up in Church, I was taught that the anointed and prophets in this verse refer to pastors, prophets, apostles, and other ministers. Instead of restricting this verse to ministers, it refers to Abraham’s spiritual descendants, that is, all of God’s people. The plural, as noted above, is particularly moving. When God poured out His Spirit upon His people, He essentially anointed all of them and made them prophets (Joel 2:28), starkly contrasting how the Old Testament operated. Yes, there is still the unique ministerial anointing and calling that we each receive distinct from each other, but the foundation remains steadfast. In this era of the Spirit, the anointed ones and prophets (plural) do not refer to ministers only but to God’s people.

Think about this—God calls you His anointed and prophet. He wants you to see yourself in Christ the way He sees you. Renew your mind to accept His Word for you, no matter how you feel!

Meditate

How is Biblical interpretation different from the application as discussed above?

Apply the Word

Would you dare to believe what you just read above? I want you to take the scripture above, meditate upon it repeatedly, believe what God says about you, and make it a reality in your life! God means what He said!