“Because I Say So”

Do you remember those words from your childhood? I do. There were those times for many of us when our parents told us either to do or not to do something and the reason given was “because I say so.”  And I suppose most of us have at times said the same to our children. It simply means “I’m the parent you are the child, so do as you are told.” Similarly, God sometimes reinforces His commands by saying, “I am the Lord.”

In the Book of Leviticus chapter 19 there is a long series of diverse commands given. It’s this chapter that contains the statements “Ye shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy” which the apostle Peter quotes for us. (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16) Also it’s in this chapter that we have, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” which Jesus said was the second greatest commandment. (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39)

How did God reinforce these commands? He said, “I am the Lord your God.” This statement or a variation of it is found according to my count 15 times in that one chapter. The point is that we need to do what God says just because He is God. He is the Lord, therefore, obey Him.

Claude