How We Approach God Matters (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

Introduction

Going to the house of God for worship is the highlight of the week, a foretaste of worshipping God in heaven for eternity. How we approach and worship God reflects our heart condition and our relationship with God.  Unlike the previous four chapters, God is mentioned six times in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, which specifically warns us that how we approach God matters, for He is in heaven, the creator, ruler, and judge of all things, and we are mere creatures.     

Approach God in holiness to hear Him and His Word (Ecclesiastes 5:1)

¹ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

“Keep thy foot” means to keep the worship of God holy, for He is holy; and the house of God is holy, for God is in the midst during worship. Think of Moses meeting God at the burning bush. God told him to take off his shoes, for the ground that he stood on was holy ground (Exo 3:5).  “The house of God” refers to the temple in Jerusalem that Solomon built nearly a thousand years before the time of Jesus, and the places designated for the worship of God in our time. Holiness in worship is crucial. Any contemporary songs, music, musical instruments, and the ways of the world should never be allowed in the worship of God. Worshippers should come with hearts prepared: with clean hands and a pure heart; a heart that is careful, discerning, and governed by the truth of God’s Word; a heart filled with gratitude and thanksgiving; a heart that is humble and teachable, ready to hear God’s Word.  The word “hear” conveys a combined meaning of “pay attention” and “obey”. It is a “focused hearing” of God’s Word preached that leads to drawing closer to God, putting into remembrance, transforming hearts, obeying, and doing His Word. This is what God desires of His children. Worshipping God without “focused hearing”, with unconfessed and unrepented sin will be in vain even though the hymns may be sung wonderfully, and the tithes and offerings given generously. Solomon labelled them as “the sacrifice of fools”.

Approach God with a guarded mouth and heart (Ecclesiastes 5:2-3)

² Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. ³ For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

A good understanding of God’s holiness, goodness, and greatness will govern how we approach Him in worship. God is in heaven, and we are on earth. This reminds us of His gloriousness and majesty, He is infinite and we are limited, He is the creator and we are His creatures. It is a wonderful privilege to worship Him. These understandings should cause us to be reverent and careful when we enter into His holy presence. Solomon counselled us to guard that our mouth be not rash and our heart not hasty - to be careful with what we say in our prayers and promises made before God. This divine rule applies to all prayers and supplications, not just corporate worship. Proverbs 20:25 condemns worshippers making hasty vows to God, “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.” Solomon further advised us “let thy words be few” - control every word and promise that originates from our heart and comes out from our mouth, for God holds us accountable for every word we say and all we do. A reverent worshipper is few of words and much in thoughts and meditation.

Verse 3 is saying: “A dream comes through much business (i.e. effort or activity), and a fool’s voice is known by his many careless words”. Careless words are likened to dreams that are of no real value. Solomon rightly described the human tendency to speak without thinking before God and others. It is foolish to speak too much and hear too little in God’s presence.

Approach God with thoughtful vows (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7)

⁴ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵ Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. ⁶ Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? ⁷ For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Solomon warned against making vows to God and then failing to keep them. God is not pleased with foolish persons who do so. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not pay. Do not allow your mouth to cause you to sin, and do not say before the angel (messenger) that it was an error. God will surely be angry with your excuse and destroy (reject) your work.

In Israel, making vows was a common feature in Jewish worship and a serious matter. Vows were voluntary promises to God, but once made were unbreakable. Breaking them was a sin: “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.” (Deut 23:21).  In our context, examples of vows are vows made during holy matrimony, adult baptism, infant baptism (by parents), New Year resolutions, promises before God and the Dean Burgeon Oath made on Dedication Sunday. Solomon rightly pointed out that it is important for God’s people to regard their failure to keep vows as a serious matter, and that great effort should be put into keeping vows and not regard the failure to keep them as simply an error or a thoughtless mistake. This divine requirement is applicable to promises made and contracts signed between men.

Please note verse 5 is not a prohibition of vows, or an excuse to never commit to anything, for there are legitimate vows such as marriage and membership vows. The teaching is to make vows thoughtfully and commit to fulfil them fully. In this context, public invitations are not biblical because they prompt worshippers to make impulsive hasty “vows” to God.

To sum up, verse 7 says, “For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities”, and the remedy is “fear thou God”. We are to fear God in awe of His greatness, power, justice and righteousness. Instead of many words, fear God. Fear is not cowering in terror. It is recognizing who God is and entering His presence with reverence and awe.

Conclusion

Considering the holiness, majesty and glory of God, we ought to worship Him in holiness. Come before His holy presence with heart and mind prepared, pay attention to hear and obey His Word. Watch that our mouths are not rash and guard our hearts so as not to be hasty in prayers and making promises to God. Vows to God (and man) are to be made carefully and thoughtfully. We are dealing with a God in heaven who is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent, and He expects us to keep our vows, for He is a covenant keeping God. Failure to do so is a sin. Fear God, for He hates sin and unfaithfulness, and come before Him in awe and with reverence. AMEN.