1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.3 As a dream comes through many cares,
so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

Did you notice the change of tone at the beginning of chapter 5? In chapters 1 to 4, the Teacher has been observing how difficult life is in this world which is under God’s curse because of our rebellion. Work is frustrating. Nothing lasts. Death reigns. So much seems meaningless. But in chapter 5 he moves to wise instruction. In this fallen world where nothing lasts what’s important is how we relate to the everlasting God.

And how should we relate to the everlasting God? By listening to him and then listening some more. ‘Draw near to listen’ says the Teacher. God speaks to us by his Holy Spirit as we read his word or listen to it being read or preached. But are we listening? Are we paying attention? If not, our prayers could actually be offensive to God. The teacher says, ‘Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.’ What is the sacrifice of fools? One example is long prayers that are not based on God’s Word but based only on our selfish desires.

The Teacher says, ‘Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God.’ He is not discouraging us from praying, he’s saying to listen carefully to God’s word before you pray. Pray in the light of God’s word. Then your prayers will be pleasing to God.

The reason we should do this is, according to the Teacher, is that God is in heaven and we are on earth, that is, God is King and we are his subjects. Would you barge into the boss’s office and let fly with all your complaints before you’ve tried to understand the boss’s perspective? How much more should we listen to God before we speak to him.

So, having just listened to God, keep his word in mind as you speak to him now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assisant Ministers.