Ecclesiastes 5 English Standard Version

Fear God

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of 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. 2 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. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Read all of Ecclesiastes and you may come away with a sense that vanity is the problem. Here in the opening verses there is that all important but. God deserves to be feared in a manner worthy of this relationship we have where we are allowed to come before Him. Respect must be paid. That is in the second verse, be not rash with our words.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

This differential fear is just the beginning of wisdom, not its end. The second part of that verse means that when you have a respectful relationship with God we know the truth.

Here is a word of secular wisdom that seems appropriate at this time. “Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.” – Maurice Switzer, 1907

Verse 2 talks of the hasty heart. God knows our hearts better than we do, He sits on the throne of heaven and we mere mortals are earth bound. The lessons of others can be learned but to practice them takes at least an understanding of why they are needed.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

A rightful application of wisdom.

Psalm 4:4

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Differ to God’s Word.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

There are churches that make grace their primary focus. Every sermon, every teaching, circles around grace. They focus on how to love one another by being gracious.

If we do not recognize that God’s good graciousness only comes through faith we will be in danger of giving sin permission to hide behind our good intentions.

Acts 20:27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

The Word of God is the whole truth and not just one truth. Every aspect of this life with Christ works in unison supporting every part of the body of Christ.

Grace without repentance is permission to sin. That is unacceptable.

• 1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
• 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

When Paul states all things are lawful he only means that our final salvation is secure and we are bound to receive eternal life with God. Consequences for sin still exist.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Notice closely that grace is not mentioned in those two verses even though grace is at work in their members.

It may be that in focusing strictly on grace that a sense of fear is lost in those conversations.