HEBREW WORD STUDY – ANOINTED – MASHACH  משׁח

Psalms 105:14,  “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.”

Do not touch God’s anointed is a favorite line of many preachers used to silence their critics.  I often wondered why preacher’s get a pass. Politicians have no such defense, teachers have no such defense, managers and bosses have no such defense.  It seems only preachers get to use this defense because they are God’s anointed or at least that what they claim for themselves.  Another thing what makes them think criticism fits the definition of touching. 

The word  for  touch in Hebrew is naga’ which  really means to reach out and do physical violence.   David was pretty clear about this in I Samuel 24:6, he said he would not stretch forth his hand.  This is an old Hebrew idiom which means to do physical violence. However, in its Semitic root naga’ has its origins in a Persian word which was used for a leper touching someone else causing them to become a leper. They were passing their leprosy onto someone else.   I believe what God is saying is, “Don’t pass your uncleanness off unto my anointed ones.”  Don’t spew  your hateful comments, your threats to destroy the reputation of God’s anointed causing them to lose that anointing by firing back.  I’ve noticed worship teams are the warlords of the church as everyone with a hit of talent tries to find a place on that team.

Psalms 105:14 in its context is a warning against kings who touch God’s anointed. A king is one who can exercise control over someone.  The word touch in Hebrew is naga’ which has its origins in a Persian word which was used for a leper touching someone else causing them to become a leper. They were passing their leprosy onto someone else.   I believe what God is saying is, “Don’t pass your uncleanness off unto my anointed ones.”  

What are the anointed. It seems in evangelical circles it is: “I am anointed because I say I am anointed and I have a church and congregation to prove it so don’t question me.”  Actually there is one anointed one – mashach or the Messiah – Jesus.  Romans 8:11 tells us that the Spirit of Jesus lives inside of us.  So your preacher has not cornered the market on this anointing business. If we have  the Spirit of the anointed one living inside of us then you have just as much anointing as your preacher.  If the good reverend decides to criticize a member of his congregation, he is just as guilty of touching God’s anointed as someone, who follows his definition of touching an anointed. For all believers have The Anointed One living inside of them. 

If you are child of God who has Jesus living inside of you, don’t bother using Psalms 105:14 to stem the criticism leveled against you, use it for that person who encourages you to cheat on your taxes, or shares a dirty joke, or tries to get you drunk or, more commonly to men of the cloth, seduce you.  To them you will use Psalm 105:14 and say,  “Jesus The Anointed One lives inside of me, don’t touch, nega, infect me with you uncleanness.”