Sermon Tone Analysis

Stop Thief!

Koheleth has been proving his hypothesis that everything is “vanity of vanities under the sun.”

From the courtroom to the market place, from the highway and the palace he now comes to the temple, the place of worship.

He has been explaining his conclusion and may we look at what we have seen previously.

His conclusion is based on his personal experience (Ecc1:1-2:26)

His conclusion is based on his personal observations (Ecc3:1-6:12)

We have looked at the inexplicable purpose of God

The injustice and oppression of man; God see’s and will deal with

The vanity of skillful labor that comes from strife and envy

Wisdom offered for living “under the sun” (Ecc3:12-13; 4:9-10)

Make the most out of life, enjoy God’s provisions

Appreciate the value of friends

Our passage this week and the next couple of weeks will look at some more wisdom being offered for life “under the sun” today it is looking at worship and what Koheleth sees is vanity of many who worship and offers some bold admonitions.

Regarding reverence (Ecc5:1)

Regarding prayer (Ecc5:2-3)

Regarding vows (Ecc5:4-7)

Regarding faith (Ecc5:8-10)

Admonition regarding reverence

Do people today have reverence for God anymore?

Do we know what reverence truly means?

Koheleth takes on the problem of reverence and the solution too.

Reverence defined

Noun: deep respect for someone or something

Verb: regard or treat with deep respect

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

When you go to worship, guard your foot, guard your steps (Ecc5:1; Isa29:13-14; Mt15:7-9)

It is implied here that it was common to go to the temple for worship, but common practice does not necessarily mean sincerity of worship.

We can see examples of that in the Bible, doing the right thing but with the wrong heart.

That was a problem in the O.T. and in the N.T. and today.

And then looking at the words of Jesus

The worship of God is the highest ministry of the Church (the people, for today we are the church) and it must come from a place of devoted hearts and yielded will’s.

Yielded will has no room for unconfessed, unrepentant sin.

For you cannot worship God while harboring these things, we are opening the door for an open rebuke from the Lord as He did to Israel.

When you go and you offer sacrifice, the best sacrifice you can offer is your ears; listen and obey (Rom12:1-2; Rom15:14-16; Php4:18; Heb13:15-16; Ps51:17; Ps141:1-2)

We are priests of God as believers today and we do offer up spiritual sacrifices.

We do that through our body, by the renewing of our mind as seen there in Rom12:1-2.

We do it through people we lead to Him through the Gospel

Yes, by our financial contributions, sacrifices

By our good works

That is the praise of our lips and our good deeds

Another act that is acceptable worship is a broken and contrite heart

and just one more for the moment, of acceptable worship

Prayers of faith

As worshipers, offering acceptable worship, we must be more ready to hear, that is to hear with hearts, hands and life of obedience.

Sacrifices are not a substitude for obedience.

The unacceptable sacrifice is offering up an offering, a sacrifice without a heart of faith and obedience, then it is the “sacrifice of fools” as noted in (v.1).

May we remember they were going to the temple and the worship was not acceptable, we are the temple and if we don’t “guard your steps” then we too can be offering a sacrifice of fools.

Empty ritualism, coming to assembly because that is just what you do, without the heart of coming to hear from God, to meet with God, to worship God in spirit and in truth we are then worshipping in vain, we are not reverencing God and giving him the praise, honor and glory due to His name.

Regarding prayer

Prayer, like worship needs to come from the heart.

Koheleth admonishes those who were going to the temple for the pious prayers that are repetitious but not reverent or heartfelt.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Prayer is serious business.

Don’t rob God by entering into prayer lightly or flippantly.

But we need to enter carefully and soberly in reverence to God.

Koheleth says don’t be too quick in thought before words (Mt12:34-37; Ps141:1-2)

Share with you a secret I read, but don’t tell anyone: A key to acceptable praying is a prepared heart.

For we do need to remember who we are calling on when we are praying

Remember we are dealing with God, let our words be few (Mt6:7; Lk18:11)

John Bunyan said:

“In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.”

C. J. Spurgeon said:

“It is not the length of our prayers, but the strength of our prayers, that makes the difference.”

May our prayer life be done in reverence to the Lord and be acceptable and not done in vane and be unacceptable.

Just one more quick example

Koheleth has gone from guarding your food (v.1) to guarding your mouth (vv.2-3)

He is going to continue with mouth and actions next.

Regarding vows

Vows were not demanded in worship.

They were introduced at a later time by man, not by God.

Many vows were made hastily and without reverence to God when being made.

Koheleth advise, admonition here is some general advise that is good for today is it was then.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

If you make a voluntary vow, keep it (Deu23:21-23)

what can we know about God and vows here in (Deu23:21-23)

When you vow to the Lord keep your word and do not delay, for if you do it is sin

If you vow to the Lord He requires that you keep your word

Vows that are spoken should be fulfilled, so be careful what you say, don’t make vows you don’t intend to keep.

Vows without actions are empty words and makes empty worship (Ecc5:7)

Resolve to do what you say and say what you do (Ps66:13-14)

Acceptable worship is in spirit and in truth (Jn4:24) so be honest

God is Spirit, God is truth, and if God is in us we have truth and should proclaim truth, say what we mean and mean what we say.

IT is better not to make an oath, make a promise or vow than to make one and not keep it.

A couple of broken, foolish vows, exampled (Jud11:30-35; Mk9:23-26)

what was the results of the vow that was promised?

- it was to be death of daughter.

What did he try to do? - take it back, and when it is made it is sealed and there is no taking it back or it was done in vane and that is unacceptable to God

Look at (v.26) what was the outcome, what was the feeling Herod had here?

So be careful what you say, don’t say it if you are not ready to fully commit to it and keep it.

Keep your word, keep your vows, keep your promises

Regarding faith

Faith can be shaken and we can get discouraged when we see the oppression or the evil that man does to one another.

Koheleth sees the oppression being put on people by the government and gives some thoughts.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Do not be shocked (surprised) what you see

Koheleth has already mentioned this previously (Ecc3:16; Ecc4:1)

Its a dog eat dog world, one tries to take from the other

All you have to do is turn on the TV and you can see the government doing that to itself even, each working against and trying to take from one another.

God is over all and knows and sees all things

May we remember that there is a day coming, a day of judgment and all social injustice, all oppression and evil will be dealt with