Don't skip the "Thus saith the Lord"

I used to wonder why God included the "Thus saith the Lord" statements all over the Bible. I mean, of course we know it’s Him speaking, right?

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens. (Isaiah 42:8-9)

I get the weird fortunes in the fortune cookies. Anyone else have that problem? Everyone else around the table c…