Because I Said So

2 Samuel 16:23

“Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.”

Parenting is power. We dictate house rules, we can withhold privileges, we can command our kids to our will, and yes, we can even make mistakes and pretend it never happened. One time, my boy challenged me with a ‘why’ when I told him to keep his toys. My first-in-mind, unguarded, unedited reply was ‘Because I said so!’ I did bit my tongue after. But the proud me was unwilling then to admit I was wrong. Our kids should obey us not because we said so. It should be because God said so. We have to make sure our house rules are based on His rules of order, responsibility and diligence. Not because we hold the authority as parents. We are merely God’s stewards of our children. We don’t dictate. We implement. That makes us under His rule as well.

Ahithophel was the highly regarded adviser of King David. Although his name means brother of foolishness, his wisdom was considered equal to God’s word. Absalom made sure he was on his side when he conspired against his father. David could have been threatened as well for he prayed specifically and even sent Hushai to frustrate Ahithophel’s advice. Some believed this man was Bathsheba’s grandfather taking advantage of the situation for his personal vendetta against David. It could also be that his eye is on the throne thus his volunteering to lead twelve thousand men to strike David himself. If he could bring the mighty David down, he sure can overthrow the son. But whether if it was for his reputation or his ambition, he was obviously never pro-God. For the sake of power, his ill-advise to Absalom were adultery and murder. We may call him a strategist or a politician, but please, never wise. He could not even manage his own disappointment when Absalom called for Hushai’s second opinion and voted for it. Either he knew defeat was coming, or he just can’t bear this disgrace to his pride. It was not wisdom that hanged him in his hometown. His foolishness deceived him to thinking his wit can manipulate these kings. He overlooked the fact that David and Absalom and himself were just stewards - - all under the rule of One.

In our inexperience and limitations, we oftentimes seek experts to help us get across. We attend seminars and read their books to make us thoroughly informed and well rounded. We bank on their success stories and the testimonies of their followers. We see them as authority figures. But hopefully not the final authority. We have to be like the Bereans who took time (everyday!) to find out for themselves if all that the apostle Paul was preaching were true. They’d only follow him if he truly follows Christ. Professionals, professors, pastors, even parents are all stewards of His wisdom. We don’t say yes to them because ‘they said so’. We seek their advice and obey their disciplines only when God said so. It is no wonder why God commanded the ancient Jews to diligently teach His word to the children. It is a prerequisite to all practice, our reference in all reviews, and a standard for us stewards. Our end goal is not for them to obey us, but to obey Christ. Because He said so!

*P.S. 

Don’t take my word for it, check the Word yourself :>