Do not touch My anointed ones

“Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:15)

It is very clear from the preceding text that this Psalm is referring to the Jewish people.

The warning to not touch His anointed – or as another Biblical metaphor describes them, the “apple of God’s eye” (Zech 2:8, Psalm 17:8) – teaches us two things.

Firstly, it describes God’s deep love and care for Israel and indicates the special plan and purpose that He has in choosing Israel from among the nations as a cherished people – blessed and a blessing – through which God’s covenants would be revealed for all mankind.

Secondly, it exposes the nature of those who seek to harm Israel. To “touch His anointed” is to stand in opposition not just to a people, but to the One who chose and defends them. It is to set oneself against God’s declared purpose in history (Psalm 83:1–4).

This week, a tragic example of such enmity unfolded: a young pregnant mother in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), on her way to the hospital to give birth, was shot and killed by a Palestinian terrorist. Her unborn child was delivered by emergency caesarean section and remains in a serious but stable condition. This atrocity—a cold-blooded murder of an innocent woman and harm to her child—cannot be justified or excused. There are simply no words to describe the evil and the heartache. The terrorist murdered an innocent life for the sickening cause of their evil ideology.

However, it is unlikely that you have heard about this tragedy on the mainstream news. Rather, it is Israel that is labelled as the aggressor. But there is no moral equivalence between Israel’s military operation against terrorists in Gaza and the deliberate targeting of a civilians – in this case a pregnant mother in labour.

Do not touch my anointed, the Word of the Lord commands, saying that for this reason He “rebuked kings for their sakes”. Yes, God holds to account all those in seats of power and authority who are complicit in harming the Jewish people. Complicity can come in many forms: by perpetrating violence, by condoning it, or by failing to condemn it. For example, in 2024, the UN General Assembly passed 17 resolutions targeting Israel and only 6 resolutions for other countries, including North Korea, Iran, Syria, Myanmar and Russia. No condemnations were issued to Hamas.

This moral imbalance is not just political; it’s spiritual. The murder of innocent Israelis is evidential of the characteristics of Israel’s enemies. They have not only positioned themselves against Israel; they have also positioned themselves against God Himself. To oppose Israel is, in a real sense, to oppose God’s covenantal plan.

Psalm 105 is rich with reminders of God’s promises:

“O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! … He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105:6, 8)

God’s covenant with Abraham was confirmed to Isaac, reaffirmed to Jacob, and established with Israel as an everlasting statute. And crucially, this covenant includes the land:

“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance.” (Psalm 105:11)

As Christians we must completely reject every act of antisemitism – whether it be the horrendous acts of terror perpetrated by Israel’s enemies, or when political establishments undermine Israel’s sovereignty over the land, or when church leaders mislead their flock through the deception of replacement theology.

God commands us to love and support His people. As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.” (Romans 15:27)

We must be those who bless His anointed, pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), and walk in gratitude for the Jewish roots of our faith.

Let us stand unwaveringly—with compassion, truth, and boldness—for Israel and the Jewish people. Now and always.