THE LORD'S ANOINTED by Julia H. Duffie

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 43.

THE LORD'S ANOINTED.

By Julia H. Duffie

AMONG the admirable traits in David's character was the respect and veneration with which he ever regarded those whom the Lord had placed in important positions. That this respect did not incline him to imitate the human frailties and mistakes of those thus situated is also apparent. However low such an one might fall morally or spiritually, David never forgot to honor the instrument because of the position in which God had placed him.

Thus when Saul, after the most unreasonable and persistent persecution of David, fell into the hands of his intended victim, David declared that he could not "stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed." Although a man of war himself, and accustomed to scenes of violence and bloodshed, he ever sought to protect those whom God had openly chosen and placed in responsible positions; and when those under him neglected to heed this regulation, they met with immediate and severe retribution.

To some who sought to gain his favor by injuring those who were cruelly seeking his life, he says in dismay, "How wast not thou afraid to stretch forth thine hand against the Lord's anointed?" The first thought with him seemed ever to be that these men were in an especial sense God's instruments, and hence sacred.

He knew that Saul was in great darkness, and had wandered far from God and right. He would not have followed his example or taken him in any way for a spiritual guide, yet this did not lessen his loyalty to him as one whom God had appointed over his people. May we not from these things learn a practical lesson in regard to our attitude toward those whom we find placed over us spiritually? While we should render them all honor because of the position they occupy, must we therefore take them as infallible guides? I once heard a professed Protestant say: "We must unquestionably follow our church leaders, no matter if we know they are going contrary to the Bible and contrary to our own conscience. It is a bad conscience that would lead us to differ with them even in thought. God will take care of the consequences."

Is this loyalty to God? Is not this the very principle underlying the great apostasy? What safety can there be for one following such a principle? Some who have unmistakably been chosen and led out of God have finally departed from him and ended their course in despair. What then must be the result to those following them? In one case at least they were scattered as sheep without a shepherd.

It also sometimes occurs that divinely appointed leaders, who evidently have not lost the favor of God, are still permitted to make conspicuous mistakes, undoubtedly for the benefit of those who are in danger of putting the human leader in place of the divine. Of those who make this sad exchange, God says they "shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land not inhabited." Jer. 17: 6. Surely in this time, when God is pouring out the refreshing showers of the latter rain, who would wish to remain in a parched or salt land? So the loving Shepherd takes every means to bring us into that relationship with himself in which we can receive these rich blessings, to teach us that the human agent is simply the imperfect channel through which His voice reaches us. He suffers them to prove their own human shortsightedness. Thus we are brought to rely more fully upon God and his word.

"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed," etc. "And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." "I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm," etc.

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." Oh, how much these precious texts mean to those who have proved them!

Yet as the Lord shakes us loose from all undue human dependencies, and we accept his invitation to sup with him, will we lightly esteem the agencies through whom he has worked?—Oh, no, all the more will we honor them because God has honored them! The more closely will we watch for God's word through them, and gladly accept the food they bring us, although it may be closely associated with human weaknesses; yet will we remember that the time is very near when "the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, . . . and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."