Wisdom and the Fear of God

Opening Prayer

"Father in heaven, we come before You today with reverence and awe. Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which instructs us in wisdom and draws us closer to You. As we open Ecclesiastes 5, help us to understand what it means to approach You with a heart full of humility and fear. May Your Spirit guide us as we learn to honor You in our worship, words, and lives. Transform us today, Lord, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."

Introduction

"Good morning, church! We’re continuing our series titled 'The Pursuit of Meaning: A Journey Through Ecclesiastes.' So far, we’ve seen how Solomon, reflecting on life without God at the center, found it empty and meaningless. Yet within his reflections, we also find deep truths about how to live a life that honors God.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 5:1–7, where Solomon gives us practical wisdom about worship and the fear of God. He reminds us that how we approach God matters. Worship isn’t just about external actions—it’s about the attitude of our hearts. When we fear God rightly, we honor Him in everything we do.

The fear of God is described as a fundamental aspect of wisdom and reverence towards the Creator. It involves having a deep sense of awe, respect, and honor for God, recognizing Him as the sovereign authority over our lives.

This reverence motivates believers to worship, serve, and walk in God's ways, as highlighted in scriptures like

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Deuteronomy 10:12 ““And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

The fear of God is a significant concept in both the Old and New Testaments, mentioned 278 times throughout the Bible. This fear is not rooted in terror, but rather in understanding our accountability to God and His control over our eternal destiny. Fearing God means realizing we are on His earth, breathing His air, and living according to His allotted time for us.

Importantly, the fear of God is associated with numerous blessings in scripture, including God's favor, deliverance, and blessings for those who fear Him.

The fear of God is closely linked to worship and obedience, encompassing the whole of one's service to God. Interestingly, fearing God liberates a person from other fears, while the absence of God-fearing leads to fearing everything else.

Let’s dive into today’s passage and discover what it means to walk in wisdom and live in the fear of God."

Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 ESV

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. 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. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 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? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

I. Approach God with Reverence: (Eccl. 5:1-2)

"Solomon begins by saying, 'Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.' This is a call to approach God with care and humility, not casually or thoughtlessly.

He contrasts two kinds of people:

The Wise Worshiper

The Foolish Worshiper

The Wise Worshiper: Someone who draws near to listen and obey.

The Foolish Worshiper: Someone who offers empty sacrifices and hasty words.

This teaches us that true worship begins with a heart that listens to God rather than simply going through the motions. Solomon warns us in verse 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.' This reminds us of God’s greatness and our smallness.

Cross-References:

Psalm 46:10: 'Be still, and know that I am God.' True reverence begins with stillness before God.

Micah 6:6–8: God desires justice, mercy, and humility, not empty rituals.

II. Speak with Wisdom (Eccl. 5:3–5)

"Next, Solomon warns us about careless words and empty promises. In verse 3, he says, 'A dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.' In other words, just as a busy mind produces restless dreams, a careless heart produces rash words.

"Let My Words Be Few" by Matt Redman:

Verse 1: You are God in heaven And here am I on earth So I'll let my words be few Jesus, I am so in love with You

Chorus: And I'll stand in awe of You Yes, I'll stand in awe of You And I'll let my words be few Jesus, I am so in love with You

Verse 2: The simplest of all love songs I want to bring to You So I'll let my words be few Jesus, I am so in love with You

Solomon goes on to address making vows to God. He says, 'When you vow a vow to God, do not delay in paying it, for He has no pleasure in fools.' In ancient Israel, making a vow was a serious matter—it was a binding promise made to God. Breaking it was seen as dishonoring to Him.

Cross-References:

Matthew 5:37: Jesus said, 'Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.'

James 1:19: 'Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.'

Application: "Think before you speak to God. Are you making promises you can’t keep? Let your words be few, and let them reflect a heart of sincerity."

III. Fear God Above All (Eccl. 5:6–7)

"Finally, Solomon reminds us of the importance of fearing God. He warns us not to let our mouth lead us into sin and not to treat our words lightly. In verse 7, he says, 'For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.'

The fear of God is not about being afraid of Him but having a deep respect and awe for His holiness, power, and authority. When we fear God rightly, it shapes how we live, how we worship, and how we speak.

Cross-References:

Proverbs 9:10: 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'

Isaiah 66:2: 'This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.'

Which leads to the question “How is the Fear of the Lord produced in my heart?”

1. A Revelation of God's Holiness - (Is. 6:1-5; Ps 99:1-3)

Isaiah 6:1-5: When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne, high and exalted, he was overwhelmed by God's holiness and his own sinfulness. This revelation led him to fear the Lord.

Psalm 99:1-3: “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble... Holy is He!”

2. Understanding God’s Power and Sovereignty - (Job 38-40; Prov. 8:13)

Job 38–42: When God revealed His power and control over creation to Job, Job responded in humility and fear.

Proverbs 8:13: "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."

Key Idea: Seeing God's control over all things and His hatred of sin produces a reverent fear.

3. Recognition of God’s Justice - (Heb. 10:30-31; Eccl. 12:13-14)

Hebrews 10:30-31: "The Lord will judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment..."

Key Idea: Knowing that God is a righteous Judge cultivates a healthy fear of accountability.

4. An Awareness of God’s Mercy and Love - (Ps. 130:3-4; Luke 7:36-50)

Psalm 130:3-4: "If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared."

Luke 7:36-50: The sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet feared Him because she experienced His forgiveness and love.

Key Idea: God's mercy and forgiveness inspire a fear grounded in gratitude and love.

5. Meditating on God's Word - (Prov. 2:1-5; Ps. 19:9)

Proverbs 2:1-5: "If you seek [wisdom] like silver... then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Psalm 19:9: "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether."

Key Idea: Scripture reveals God’s character, teaching us to fear Him rightly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Solomon’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true worship and meaningful living. It calls us to approach God with reverence, speak with wisdom, and live with hearts aligned to His will. The fear of the Lord is not about terror but about awe, respect, and love for the One who holds our lives in His hands. It is produced in our hearts as we encounter His holiness, power, justice, mercy, and truth through His Word and Spirit.

Let us guard our steps as we draw near to God, ensuring our worship is sincere and our words reflect hearts that truly honor Him. When we live in the fear of the Lord, we are freed from lesser fears and empowered to walk in wisdom and joy.

May our lives reflect this reverence for God, not only in how we worship but in how we live every day. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “God is the one you must fear.” Let us live in this truth, honoring Him in all we say and do.

Closing Prayer

"Lord, thank You for the wisdom You’ve given us in Ecclesiastes. Help us to approach You with reverence, speak with wisdom, and live in the fear of Your greatness. Forgive us for the times we’ve been careless in our worship or words. Thank You for Jesus, who made it possible for us to come boldly before You. Teach us to live in a way that honors You in all we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."