Psalms 105:14-15 , "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."
"Touch not the Lord's anointed" is a badly abused phrase today. Errant pastors and leaders of churches and Seminaries and Bible colleges have hidden behind this biblical adage to resist discipline and rebuke by fellow Christian leaders. Are these "men of God" really untouchable even when they teach wrong doctrines and commit sins blatantly and publicly? The word "anointed" in Hebrew is "meshiach" from which we get the word Messiah. The Greek equivalent is the word "Christ".
Before we look at the biblical understanding, let us begin by looking at the words of David before he became king. When David told his men that they must not touch the LORD's anointed (referring to King Saul who was hunting David down like an animal because King Saul did not want David to be the next king after him even though he knew that it was God's will), it was within the context of "not disobeying God". This truth has been blatantly ignored by leaders today who hide behind God's teaching to champion their own man/men or their own cause regardless of the fact that these men have sinned and these causes are against the perfect Word of God.
In the case of David, he was anointed by God to be the next king of Israel but God did not tell David to kill Saul in order to be the next king the way that God told Jehu to wipe out the family of King Ahab to become the next king. In other words, David was not told the method or the time regarding how or when he would be the next king. David had to wait patiently for God's timing and did not rush ahead of God. Hence David said these words to his men in 1 Samuel 26:9-11a , "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: . . . .." David did not condone King Saul's sin at all. He said that the LORD would smite him in His time.
The context of Psalm 105:14-15 refers to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) in the Land of Canaan. While they stayed there according to God's will, kings like Abimelech of the Philistines and Pharaoh of the Egyptians were rebuked by God so that God's will in the lives of His servants, the patriarchs, was not thwarted. God's plan was that they were the chosen ones through whom the Messiah would finally come. The nation of Israel would be born through them. In other words, God was fulfilling His prophesies in the lives of these men and until their duties were done they would not die. Once their duties were done, the LORD would call them home. They were "indestructible" until the work God had for them was done. But that does not mean that when they sinned they were not rebuked. A case in point was the lie of Abraham when he went into Gerar and lied about his relationship with Sarah. "Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. . . . And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved (Genesis 20:9 , 15-16 )." [Emphasis added] A heathen king said that Abraham was to Sarah, and all those around him including his servant, "a covering of the eyes", which means a most shameful person!
God demands a high standard of holiness from His anointed, not a low one. When His servants sin they must be rebuked and many times openly so that all may learn and fear God! This is true in both the OT and NT. When an ordained elder (including a pastor) sins, he is to be rebuked and if he refuses to repent then he must be disciplined. Even after he has repented, he must still confess his sins before the congregation, who had elected him into the highest office in the church, for having betrayed their trust in him. The Bible says in 1Timothy 5:19-20 , "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."
No one is above the Law of God, even His perfect and Holy Word. A higher standard of holiness is expected of all believers because they have been converted and illuminated by the Spirit of God who indwells every believer. An even higher standard is expected of every leader in God's church especially pastors and elders. For them to hide behind the phrase "touch not the LORD's anointed" is not only shameful but a gross abuse of Holy Scriptures. It is like saying that God will condone the sins of His "anointed" servant who has done so much for Him! This would make God a sinner for He would be charged with partiality in His judgement. Moses was rebuked immediately by God and barred from entering the Promised Land even after he had led the people of Israel for 39 faithful years in the wilderness. Although Moses prayed for God to let him enter, God told him to stop praying because His decision was final!
The phrase "touch not the LORD's anointed" is applied to all who are serving the LORD and not just to a select few leaders! As long as you are anointed by God to start a ministry such as the Teens Fellowship or any other ministry for His glory, you are the LORD's anointed for that particular ministry. It does not mean you do not make mistakes or are faultless. But you will be protected by God till your task in that ministry is completed. In the case of the pastor, his ministry is the flock of Christ i.e. the entire church! The only difference is in the size or scope of ministry.
Just because one is anointed for a service, it does not mean that the person is definitely saved or a child of God. It simply means that the God of the Bible is a sovereign God Who can "anoint" anyone to do His sovereign will. King Saul was anointed to be king of Israel and it had nothing to do with his salvation. Another example is Hazael, the Syrian king whom God had anointed to punish Israel. Jehu, a wicked king was anointed by God to punish Ahab. 1 Kings 19:15-16 says, "And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." Do not confuse service in a ministry with salvation!
In the case of Jesus of Nazareth, He was anointed as the Saviour of the world and hence He alone can bear the Name and title, Jesus (Saviour) Christ (anointed). He is the Anointed (Christ or Messiah) Saviour! In our case, it is for service but anointed nonetheless.
Every servant of God needs to have accountability and therefore is not above the Law of God, including those who are anointed by God! AMEN.