Nancy Walker

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (The Message)

Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good. Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better. 

Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool.

When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.

Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation? 

But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk there’s always this rock foundation: Fear God!

Reflection:

Without a doubt, Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon according to many biblical scholars, is a difficult book to understand. This passage covers a lot of ground and is particularly offensive to our modern ears. Solomon offers much instruction about how one should enter the Temple- in reverence and humility.

Before we dig into this scripture, walk back in time with me, back to the newly constructed “house of God”. The first sentence mentions entering this house, the first real wood and stone Temple in Jerusalem. Up until its construction, Israelites had focused their worship on the tent that Moses developed while they were wandering in the desert. David had wanted to build the Temple for his God, but that job was given to Solomon. He used the finest materials and the most skilled craftsmen to create the Temple. It was beautiful and it was holy. However, one did not go to the Temple, sit down in a pew, hear a great choir and listen to an inspirational sermon. People could pray in the Temple or listen to a rabbi teach in a corner. There was a court for women and one for men. They could also offer a burnt offering to God—a little dove or pigeon, a lamb, a goat, or a huge ox. Visiting the temple was a meaningful, spiritual experience when entered into with a reverent posture.

Now let us move to our own Sunday worship experiences. We do have pews, great choirs, exceptionally inspirational sermons. Amidst all of the wonderful surroundings are we intentional about how we enter?  Do we bring our own agenda or do we come in reverently: to learn, to worship, and to grow our faith? Are we present or just going through the motions? Are we there to just talk and visit with friends or make meaningful connections through which Jesus’ love can edify? Fellowship is a wonderful part of being a Christian. However, it is not the main reason we are there. 

This passage ends with one thing to remember: to fear God. Through Jesus Christ, God showed love for all mankind. It is because of this that we can honor and love God, entering God’s house with reverence and humility. Worshiping God brings contentment!

Prayer:
Dear Lord God,
May I worship you with reverence and humility while I also stand in awe of your love and care for every individual. Your faithfulness to each one of us brings our faith to new levels when we worship with reverence and humility. Amen.