Ecclesiastes 5
Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes 5
It is hard to believe that time passed so quickly and we are now re-reading Ecclesiastes once again. Reading back what TreasureInEarthenVessel wrote last year on this passage (http://closerdaybyday.info/2009/11/poetry-ecclesiastes-5-6/) makes me feel that I have still yet to learn the lesson of letting my words be few.
Go Near To Listen
Indeed, it is an opportune time on a Sabbath to once again consider this… in the middle of Solomon’s observations on the worship of wealth and advancement, we find this reflection on the worship of God.
The worshipper’s first task is to “go near to listen” (v. 1 NIV) with a view of obeying the voice of our Lord God.
The contrasting activity that Solomn has for us is offering “the sacrifice of fools”. What is the sacrifice of fools? This can be anything that is not of worshipping God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24) and may be found in our careless worship of God based on our customs, traditions, peer pressure or worst still… habits.
This kind of religious worship was frequently attacked by the prophets (cf. Isa 1:10-20). What about us today?
So on this Sabbath, let us really go near to listen. Listen with the intention to obey God’s voice. Listen with your heart and mind…. and not just with your ears alone. Find out what God really wants you to know today….
How To Listen If I Talk All The Time?
Silence is undervalued in our noisy, intrusive world. We have made it had for ourselves in our technological sophistication to “be still and know that I am God” (Psa 46:10).
I know this more than anyone. When there is silence, I always try to fill the vacumn. When there are pauses in a conversation, I will try and mumble something or give a short laugh. Anything! Anything to fill the void.
And the more nervous I get… the more I talk…. non stop!
But Silence is necessary! Even essential in our walk of faith.
Why?
Silence gives us time to think. Deliberate reflection and inactivity is necesary.
And thinking raises awkward questions in our minds. Thinking challenges us. Thinking gives us a chance to put things into perspective. And this is something that I need to learn… very much so from those who always think 🙂
As as come to church, we need to hear God’s words as Moses heard in Exodus 3:5… “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
But to hear the word of God… we need to stop talking!
I am going to take the advice of Solomon to “let my words be few” today and stop here 🙂 Partly because Eccl 5:8 onwards should be read and reflected together with the whole of Chapter 6 (which I would leave for BelovedOfTheLord to share tomorrow. But also partly because its late and I have run of things to say (now that’s a first!).
Be happy in the Lord! Blessed Sabbath.
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PS
The preacher had come into the temple of God.
As he continued to ponder, he recalled the story of Saul and Samuel told to him many years back.
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying(听从) the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey (听命) is better than sacrifice,
And to heed( 顺从) than the fat of rams.”
“Walk prudentially when you go to the house of God;
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they do evil.”(Ecclesiastes 5:1)
May be if Saul had walked softer, he might hear God’s assurance that “I am with My people.” (1 Sam 15:2).
Walk softer, draw closer and listen more attentively===> Revere God (Ecclesiastes 5:7)
(Bro Nicholas shared beautiful testitmonies of the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in the establishment of the church in bible study this afternoon. He spoke so that his listeners could hear.
Once Bro “Zerubbbabel” shared that we do not know how much we have missed out in our relationship with God and we do not know how good the relationship with God can be. To him, he might be babbling, to me-young-in-faith, he inspired me to ask, seek and find.)