In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, the Preacher (Qoholeth) warns us not to approach God in a cavalier manner. Over and over, we see examples in the Scriptures about how men approach God by simply going through the motions, but not out of the heart.
In these short verses, Derek Kidner notes that this passage is for the “well-meaning person who likes a good sing and turns up cheerfully to church; but who listens with half an ear, and never gets around to what he has volunteered to do for God.”
“To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil” (5:1b). We learn to walk with our ears—meaning that we learn what our Christian lives are to be by hearing the Word of God. We do not know what do to, what to think, or where to go unless we have listened to His Word.
The Preacher here is informing us that coming into a place of worship (be it a tabernacle, temple, church) is not like coming to any other place there is. It is holy ground, because God is present in His Word and His people. To come before God with our hearts unprepared, just simply marking time and checking off the checklist of our rituals and traditions, is to invoke God’s hatred toward these actions—even if those actions are prescribed by God (see Amos 5:21-24).
Watch What You Say
In our fallen nature, we tend to be more interested in speaking our words than listening to God’s Word. “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Jesus warned the people about those who pray “empty words” (ESV) and having “meaningless repetition” (NASB) in their public prayers, simply wanting to be heard by men. Yet, God already knows our situation—we do not need to inform Him, we need to petition Him (Matthew 6:5-8).
In this aspect, we understand the omnipresence of God (he is everywhere), the omniscience of God (He is all-knowing), and the omnipotence of God (He is all-powerful). Understanding the character of God fuels how we approach God. We must know His place and ours (“God is in heaven and you are on earth”). This is why Jesus began the Model Prayer with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9)—our lives, and especially our approaching Him, must always have His character in full view.
Thus, was not James correct in that we should be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19)? We are living under the banner of the sovereignty of God, especially in our times of worship, where every word counts. Be economical with your words—do not waste one.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Jesus, from Matthew 12:33-37).
