Ecc 5:1 | KingComments | STEP | Up to and including the verse of the last chapter it is about types of fellowship between people, or the absence of such fellowship. From of this chapter, our focus is on the need for a larger and better type of fellowship: the fellowship with God. The Preacher does not say that searching for that is ‘vanity’ and ‘striving after wind’. He does say that it should happen in the right way, in the knowledge of Who God is and who man is in comparison to Him. It is about drawing near to God appropriately (cf. ; ; ). He who draws near to God in His house must guard his steps ( ). Of course such a man should guard his heart, but the condition of the heart becomes visible in the path which those steps go (cf. ). He who goes to God’s house must be aware that he is not approaching an ordinary house. The house of God is at every place where God reveals Himself ( ), but it is certainly also the temple, which will be meant here. The Preacher is focused on the man who is a worshiper. Up to now he has addressed his audience in the first person “I”, from his position as an observer. In the following section he gives exhortations. Just like the prophets he is calling to genuine service of God. He addresses people who have good intentions, but who are guilty of ignorance about God. These are the people who love singing and love to go to church, but who listen with half an ear and hardly ever get around to do what they have intended to do for God. You’d better come “to listen”, than “to offer a sacrifice” – only for the appearance, without being involved with your heart – as a fool or in a foolish way. ‘To listen’ has the dual meaning of ‘to pay careful attention to’ and ‘to obey’. Those aspects are both more important to God than any sacrifice ( ; ). The sacrifice is a sacrificial animal that has been killed to sacrifice to God and thereafter to serve as a fellowship meal. That is a peace offering. A sacrifice can devalue to a food feast, where people do not consider God at all. The Preacher might possibly have had this in mind when he made this remark. He does not mean that people should not bring sacrifices anymore, but that it should happen appropriately. The grace of God, no matter how great it may be, should never be an excuse to make a mockery of Him. People do not take God seriously if they think that they can draw near to Him with pious, though empty words and added to that even dealing with holy things in a careless way (cf. ; ). They have no idea that they are doing evil, and play the innocent when the hypocrisy of their attitude is pointed out to them. However, there is no innocent ignorance, but they are guilty of dishonoring God. They should have known better.

‏ Ecclesiastes 5:1

Draw Near to God to Listen

Up to and including the verse of the last chapter it is about types of fellowship between people, or the absence of such fellowship. From Ecc 5:1 of this chapter, our focus is on the need for a larger and better type of fellowship: the fellowship with God. The Preacher does not say that searching for that is ‘vanity’ and ‘striving after wind’. He does say that it should happen in the right way, in the knowledge of Who God is and who man is in comparison to Him. It is about drawing near to God appropriately (cf. Exo 3:5; Jos 5:13-15; Jn 4:23-24).

He who draws near to God in His house must guard his steps (Ecc 5:1). Of course such a man should guard his heart, but the condition of the heart becomes visible in the path which those steps go (cf. Pro 1:15 ; Pro 4:26-27). He who goes to God’s house must be aware that he is not approaching an ordinary house. The house of God is at every place where God reveals Himself (Gen 28:17 ; 22), but it is certainly also the temple, which will be meant here.

The Preacher is focused on the man who is a worshiper. Up to now he has addressed his audience in the first person “I”, from his position as an observer. In the following section he gives exhortations. Just like the prophets he is calling to genuine service of God. He addresses people who have good intentions, but who are guilty of ignorance about God. These are the people who love singing and love to go to church, but who listen with half an ear and hardly ever get around to do what they have intended to do for God.

You’d better come “to listen”, than “to offer a sacrifice” – only for the appearance, without being involved with your heart – as a fool or in a foolish way. ‘To listen’ has the dual meaning of ‘to pay careful attention to’ and ‘to obey’. Those aspects are both more important to God than any sacrifice (1Sam 15:22; Pro 21:3).

The sacrifice is a sacrificial animal that has been killed to sacrifice to God and thereafter to serve as a fellowship meal. That is a peace offering. A sacrifice can devalue to a food feast, where people do not consider God at all. The Preacher might possibly have had this in mind when he made this remark. He does not mean that people should not bring sacrifices anymore, but that it should happen appropriately.

The grace of God, no matter how great it may be, should never be an excuse to make a mockery of Him. People do not take God seriously if they think that they can draw near to Him with pious, though empty words and added to that even dealing with holy things in a careless way (cf. Mt 7:21-23 ; Mt 23:16-18; 1Kgs 11:27-29). They have no idea that they are doing evil, and play the innocent when the hypocrisy of their attitude is pointed out to them. However, there is no innocent ignorance, but they are guilty of dishonoring God. They should have known better.