Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
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Summary
- Watch your attitude toward God!!!
Details and/or Comments
- This passage is relevant in all situations in life; but the specific context focuses on the oppression and injustice that occur in the world.
- In previous chapters, we read that God will judge both the righteous and the wicked - injustice will not go on forever (see 3:17). However, that time of judgment has not yet arrived.
- We also read that the root cause of oppression is something that can be present in anyone, whether oppressor or oppressed: envy and greed (see chapter 4).
- For either of these reasons (the fact that judgment hasn't yet arrived, or because of various desires hidden within our own hearts), we may be tempted to "use" God get us what we want.
- Before we begin making demands of God, or even "bribing" him with promises (perhaps trying to get him to change our situation), we need to consider this passage in chapter 5.
Scripture
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
- In this Old Testament context, the promises and vows would have been made at the temple, in the presence of a priest (the temple "messenger" - compare to v. 6).
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Ecc 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.
Ecc 5:2 Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. Ecc 5:3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words. |
Be quiet and listen to God, rather than demanding that he listen to you! Remember who God is, and don't make empty promises or vows. |
| Ecc 5:4 When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
Ecc 5:5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Ecc 5:6 Don't allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don't protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? Ecc 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God. |
If you do make any promises, make sure you keep them! It would be better to not promise anything, than to bring judgment upon yourself. Don't let your dreams (perhaps dreams of better circumstances) cause you to sin.
The only proper attitude toward God is to fear him. |
Scripture Passages
(Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.)
Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy • Joshua • Judges • Ruth • 1 Samuel • 2 Samuel • 1 Kings • 2 Kings • 1 Chronicles • 2 Chronicles • Ezra • Nehemiah • Esther • Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel • Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation |
—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
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The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
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Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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