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Ecclesiastes 5
Haystack bible commentary"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."
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==ecclesiastes 5:1:
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Walk prudently 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.
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The verse advises that in God's presence, one should be careful and attentive, prioritizing understanding over rash speech, and recognizing the vast difference between God in heaven and humanity on earth.
The first imperative is to "Walk prudently" signifies a need for caution and attentiveness when approaching God's presence. It's better to "draw near to listen" than to offer "the sacrifice of fools," which are made without understanding or genuine reverence for God. Fools offer sacrifices without knowing they are doing evil, revealing a lack of wisdom and a distorted understanding of worship. The verse reminds the worshiper of the immense difference between God in heaven and humanity on earth, urging that words be few and thoughts be focused. |
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. --Proverbs 18:2
“The heaviest rain runs off parched ground, unless it has been first softened by a gentle fall of moisture. Hearts that have no dew of previous meditation to make them receptive are not likely to drink in much of the showers of blessing which may be falling round them. --Matthew Henry
Do not offer the sacrifice of fools. What is that? The context would indicate that the sacrifice of fools is a lot of empty words. Rash religious talk without much thought behind it. Fools come to church and get caught up in what everyone else is doing, and they jump on board verbally without thinking through whether they really mean what they are saying. They are quick to speak and slow to listen and they offer God thoughtless worship. True worship starts with listening to God’s Word, and then responds to that. If you try to respond before listening, you end up offering God the sacrifice of fools, which is thoughtless worship. --Darrell Ferguson; Food For Your Soul
==ecclesiastes 5:2:
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“Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth: therefore let your words be few.”
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When we make a commitment, unless we find it to be a sinful one, we are to carry out that commitment. The great example we have is God’s commitment to sinners.
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==ecclesiastes 5:13-17:
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“There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.
14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 1 5 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? 17 Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.” |
Solomon calls miserly behavior a grievous evil, literally a “sick” evil. He uses the phrase under the sun as a recurring description of life on earth. This wounded wickedness is riches being hoarded by their owner to his own hurt. Someone is amassing riches and the riches lead to self-destruction. In this case, the self-destruction comes about through hoarding. The word for hurt is “ra’,” the same word used for evil earlier in the verse.
Hoarded riches is typically a symptom of a warped perspective that we can control circumstances. Believing that having a pile of money or possessions makes us safe or happy. All the while declining to actually enjoy the wealth or do any good with it. It is noteworthy that Solomon declares hoarding to lead to our own hurt. |