Approaching a Fearsome God

Eccl 5:1–7 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.

What does it look like to fear God?

Approach him seriously

Know who you are talking to and the significance of his righteousness

Characteristics of the Wise Approach

Sincerity

Eccl 5:1–7 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.

“Guard/Watch your steps”

You watch because you are aware of the consequences

Landmines

“When you go to the house of God”

The temple, but more

We should not equate OT temple with NT church (locations/buildings

The NT temple is the gathered assembly

Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

“To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools”

A parallel from biblical history

1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

The approach to sacrifice was not merely mechanical

Sacrifices without obedience were offensive to God

“They do not know they are doing evil”

Fools who think their approach to God can be satisfied by heartless ritual are in for a surprise

Israel often got caught up in this

Is 1:11–14 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

Hos 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Where are we at risk of doing this?

Is your Christianity

a useful diversion?

a cultural identity?

a social tradition?

When you open God’s word are you looking for

confirmation?

encouragement?

Don’t try to use God for your glory!

Humility

Ecc 5:2 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.

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God”

The reason gives insight into what is meant by the command

God is in heaven and you are on earth

Under v. Over the Sun

“For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.”

It’s likely a proverb

Just like worry gives bad dreams, a fools voice gives many words

Specifically, consider your prayers

How should we think as we pray?

God is worthy of reverence as king over the Sun

God is worthy of trust

Honesty

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.

Do not make rash promises to God

Jephthah

The problem with Jephthah’s rash vow is that he would not take God at his word.

We make rash and difficult vows to God when we don’t trust him or fear him

The result of such a rash promise is God’s anger

He does not take pleasure in fools

He will be angry and destroy the work of your hands

Today?

If you do this, I’ll…

Marriage

Sham repentance

Conclusion

Context

Sincerity, humility, and honesty all counteract the vanity of Ecclesiastes

Fear God in this vain world

Don’t resort to evil to counteract vanity

Trust that God establishes the seasons.

When you pray, do it humbly.

Don’t try to manipulate God through dishonesty.

The vanity of this world presses in on us, but God is above it

A Reassurance

Lest we take this text as a discouragement from prayer, let’s turn to the New Testament

Heb 4:14–16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

While the presence of God is fearsome and entrance there demands our obedience, humility, and honesty, we nonetheless can go boldly in the name of Christ

This is not excuse to take approaching the house of God lightly

It is reason to be bold

So,

Approach God in prayer and worship

With sincerity, humility, and honesty

With absolute confidence in Christ