This Bible verse or subject has been one of the most abused or misconceived verses in scripture. It is recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:22 which states that touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm. This is repeated in Psalms 105:15.
God made this statement with reference to His covenant with Abraham where he swore a promise to Isaac his son, and confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel that He would give the land of Canaan as their portion for an inheritance forever, 1 Chronicles 16:14-18. At the time they were few in number, wanderers of little account and sojourners from one nation to another, from kingdom to another. Because Abraham was faithful to God, God allowed no one to oppress them. God rebuked kings on their account and issued this warning to all that He God was their protector.
Who then is God’s anointed?
From the above, it stands to reason that God’s anointed must have the character and attitude of Abraham, or Christ Jesus, which are faithfulness and obedience to God. Merely claiming to be God’s anointed or being perceived as such by others without the substance of God or the true character of Abraham or Christ Jesus cannot make us God’s anointed. It is for those who are set apart for God by His Spirit in faithfulness and obedience, not by self- appointment or elevation before God.
God’s anointed in the bible included Kings, prophets of God, his messengers, God’s chosen in any sphere of life, profession or career. In those days, Kings were chosen by God through the prophets and it was the same for other positions of public trust because they were servants of God. Their appointments were preceded by a public ceremony which was attended by all the assembly of Israel as witnesses to God’s confirmation by God’s presence and confirmation.
God’s chosen were anointed with special oil from their heads running down their beard to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit and his cleansing power of God. The level of God’s anointing upon us depends on our relationship with him as well as our respective missions entrusted to us by God.
Covenant with God’s anointed
The covenants represented an acceptance of the task and a commitment to discharge that obligation at all times without fail. It was believed that if one would recall the event and the presence of God with him, then the challenge of the call was not that of the chosen but remained that of God and as long as one remained faithful to God, God will remain faithful to His promises. The purity of God’s cleansing by the ceremony was against blemish on one part and the visitation or presence of the Holy Spirit on the other part always. Our meditation today is to ask ourselves if we are God’s anointed.
David said in Psalms 23:5 that thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. David meant that because he was faithful to God, even in the presence of his enemies God would not renege on his covenant to protect him for he has been sanctified by God. The sanctification by the anointing was likened to setting a table of sumptuous meal before him just as kings did in pleasant and happy times. God protected the entire Israel because of Abraham’s faithfulness and God will do the same for us as a people, family, nation, the world and the body of Christ if we are faithful to him. Do we feel God’s anointing upon our lives as his chosen?
Effect of God’s anointing
God said I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves, Genesis 12:3. We are part of the families which God has mentioned above subject to our conduct. In like manner, if we are not faithful to God, we read from Exodus 20:5-6 that God will visit the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, by showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
1 Peter 2:4 also says that come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to be based on after spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Living stone means Christ is imperishable. God has chosen Jesus as precious so who is man to reject him? Jesus is the spiritual house and we must be part of that house as living stones which means holy priesthood devoid of sin. The spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God are a contrite and a broken heart, Psalms 51: 16-17. What is the state of our hearts before God and what is the quality of sacrifice to him?
Just through the faithfulness of one person Abraham, his entire generations of Israel after him were protected by God with a dire warning to all not to touch His anointed. Just through the faithfulness of one person Jesus Christ, the whole world of mankind was restored to God. Jesus is God’s anointed and he gives a dire warning to us that he who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me, Luke 10:16.
Our accountability and reward
Now, we are accountable for what happens to generations after us based on our relationship with God as Abraham and Christ Jesus did. Are we faithful to God and so qualify to be God’s anointed? Revelation 2:10 says be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. This is the reward of God’s anointed. Be God’s anointed today in the name of Christ Jesus our precious and blessed Lord and saviour. Call today on the Holy Spirit through the name of Jesus Christ to assist you to be faithful to God and to be God’s anointed, he will not fail you.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, please heal our unfaithfulness and anoint us among your anointed to work for you in your vineyard. In your holy name and through your blood we pray, Amen!!!
