DO NOT HARM THE LORD'S ANOINTED PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.  The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on The Lord’s anointed.  As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”  1 Samuel 26:23-24 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After David had spared King Saul’s life and Saul had thanked him, (1 Samuel 24:18-19) they parted company. (1 Samuel 24:22)  However, later the people went to Saul urged him to again pursue David and he did. (1 Samuel 26:1-2)  When Saul and his army had made camp and gone to sleep, David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David would not let him.  They just took Saul’s spear and water jug and left. (1 Samuel 26:8-12)  When he was safely some distance away, David called out to Saul and told him what he had done. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  For the second time David had the opportunity to kill Saul but he would not harm The Lord God’s anointed King. (1 Samuel 24:11 and 26:23) 

APPLICATION

There are people in this world who wish to do us harm even though we have done nothing to them, nor have we wronged them in any way.  The Lord God will protect us and deliver us from those evil doers. (Psalm 18:17 and 18:48)  And, as hard as this is for us to do, we are taught to love and to pray for our enemies, those who curse us, those who hate us, those who despitefully use us, and those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, and Luke 6:35)  We are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)  We are definitely not to lay hands on, hurt, or harm any of The Lord God’s anointed individuals. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  He will take care of all those who have wronged us.  “Vengeance is Mine, and I will repay, saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30)  We also are not to rejoice when bad things happen to our enemy. (Proverbs 24:17)  Pray for them.