He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:14-15)

Continuing in the notion that God does not allow the nations to harm His chosen servants, the psalmists “quotes” God as saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” Rather than allowing that to happen, God intervenes on behalf of His people and rebukes kings and rulers who have overstepped their bounds. For instance, when Abimelech took Sarah from Abraham, God visited Him in a dream saying, “you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken; … restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.” (Genesis 20:3, 7). When it appeared that Laban was about to overtake Jacob, he also was visited in the night; God warned him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad” (Genesis 31:24).

Those that God has anointed have also been appointed to serve a particular role in the plan of God. Therefore, anyone who would try and subvert the plan of God by assaulting or persecuting His anointed will find themselves on thin ice. Furthermore, if God has anointed someone for a role, it is for God and Him alone to decide when that person is to be released or removed from that role. In spite of the fact that David was continually persecuted by Saul, David dared not to lay his hand against Saul saying, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord” (1 Samuel 24:6).

Thus we are reminded that if we exhibit disregard and disrespect for those God has placed in authority, whether we agree with them or not, we might find ourselves in direct opposition to the Almighty. It is not for us to pass judgment on whether He made the right decision when He placed them in that position; it is for us to honor Him by respecting them. We would do well to remember the admonition offered by the esteemed sage, Gamaliel who said to those persecuting the early believers: “Now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39).

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill