ROOTED - Thursday, March 5, 2026

1 Samuel 26:23

 23   The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed.

Reflection: Care with God’s Anointed

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

David, the rightful King of Israel, was being pursued by Saul. Amazing how jealous Saul became, as the crowds chanted “Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands.” Ever since Goliath, Saul wanted David dead and he would pursue him into every cave to kill him. Despite the fact that David was best friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and despite the fact that Samuel had told Saul that his kingly anointing had been removed… Saul set his mind to kill the rightful king. David had two opportunities to kill Saul (with good reason, and justifiably) but he refused. And what was David’s reason to not kill Saul? He said it two times (chapters 24 and 26)… “I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed.” David would put himself at risk before he would raise his hand against the anointed of God.

Having served as a pastor for my career, I reflect and see how God has been so gracious to me. However, I have a pastor friend a few years ago who was always under attack by people in his church. Of course they were not trying to kill him, but church people intentionally made his life miserable until he resigned. They were hurtful and unloving. I won’t share the stories, but it was a sad thing to hear from him over the course of a few years. I only really had one time in ministry where I was “attacked” like that. A person tried to falsely and maliciously malign and discredit me. This was easily the hardest season of ministry for me and my family. 

As I reflect on this, I have a very high regard for the pastoral ministry and for pastors. One should be exceedingly careful not to try and malign and hurt the gospel ministry of (I use the following term with humility) “God’s anointed.” While, obviously, no one today would think of killing their pastoral leadership, the church should take special care to put in high regard those who minister in their care, honoring them. I don’t write this self-servingly, but as an encouragement from scripture to hold in high esteem those God anoints over us. King David gives for us a great example of respect for the anointed of God.

Prayer

Bless those who serve over us, the anointed of God. May we maintain a high regard for them and support their gospel work.