Don’t touch the Lord’s Anointed?

It’s an interesting way to say “don’t question or confront leaders because they are above you”. When David refused to kill his murderous mentor, he set a bar for humility, trust and honor. What he did not set a bar for was inequality, elitism or a lack of relational connection and accountability.

So it becomes a bit strange when this story from 1 Samuel gets carried into the new covenant we have in Jesus, particularly into the context of a power-and-value differential. Here’s why:

In the New Testament Jesus is the only individual who is anointed. “Anointing” is never mentioned again after him—not Paul, not Peter, not any disciple or follower. Why? Because in Jesus we are all the Lord’s anointed. We are all called by him, all given gifts, all brought into a family with one Father. The anointing in the Old Testament represented the Spirit of God resting on a person; through Christ we now have the Spirit of God resting in his people.

So you can’t accurately say “don’t touch the Lord’s anointed” unless you’re saying “don’t touch any of his children.” But we know that’s not the context this is used in. Rather it’s in contexts where leaders don’t want to be challenged, questioned or confronted. In the worst cases this turns into a spiritualized threat where those who challenge a leader are said to be empowered by the demonic.

But you gotta be careful with that one. Just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s true. This is what the pharisees did when Jesus challenged them. They accused him of this very thing: “It’s by the prince of demons that You…”

Jesus’ marks of leadership for the family of God haven’t changed. It’s still humility, lowliness, child-likeness and a servant-heart. Inserting a power-and-value differential between “the Lord’s anointed” and the rest of God’s kids just wasn’t part of the Kingdom he brought and it really needs to stop.

Unity based on relationship is more powerful than unity based on knowledge. Unity that is based on relationship doesn’t weaken in the context of disagreement—instead it *strengthens*. The opposite is true when unity is based on knowledge; in that context as soon as enough disagreement comes, division comes. And if there is any form of hierarchy in place, relational unity becomes an impossibility because power-differentials prevent authentic, healthy peer relationships—one will always have power over another.

But Kingdom leadership is not about being above others; it is about becoming like Jesus in his lowliness and becoming someone who sacrifices in order to exalt others.

Sacrificial love is the mark of Kingdom leadership. Not “power”. Not “authority”. Not “anointing”. Jesus himself addresses this. “Lord, did we not do all these powerful, spiritual things in your Name?” And what did he say? Pretty sure it was that they had no relationship with him…

Let’s be all done with “don’t touch the Lord’s anointed” and focus on how we can love sacrificially, level the field of honor, and lift others above ourselves.