Here’s the most common response you get when you speak against false prophets. We are reminded, and most of the time, it’s the false prophets themselves who try to intimidate us into silence, that the Bible says, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” That statement was made by David in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and repeated in Psalms 105:15. It was actually a psalm of praise on the occasion of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Jerusalem. A careful reading of these passages show that David was not talking about an individual; he was talking about a nation, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The incident between David and King Saul is taken out of context. David sparing Saul’s life was an individual decision he made. Saul had once been anointed, but at this point, “The Spirit of the Lord had departed from him.” When the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, an evil spirit entered. (1 Samuel 16:14) This has nothing to do with a false prophet.

So, how do we respond to false prophets? Please hear this. I believe we should respond carefully, making sure we are approaching the subject or the individual from a sound Biblical stance, but false doctrine and false prophets cannot be ignored. We must not allow threats of intimidation to prevent us from standing for the truth. Not only is the false prophet in danger of eternal damnation, but so are all who listen to them.

Paul said in Romans 16:17-18, “I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

In a day when media brings programs into our homes of individuals that we have no personal contact with, we can certainly avoid them by just changing the channel. But we cannot avoid false doctrines and false prophets if we do not know the truth. Study the Bible. “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”