When You Go to the House of God - Ecclesiastes 5:1

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit”, and in chapter five and verse one of his book Solomon shared what to do, “when you go to the house of God”, where we read,

Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, 

than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

The verse reads, “Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, …” Solomon began with the words, “keep your foot” or “observe, guard and take heed to your physical foot” “when you go” which means “at the time and moment you, the readers of Solomon’s words, walk, proceed and depart” “to the house of God” or “toward the abode, dwelling place and habitation belonging to the Supreme Deity”. Solomon instructed his readers to pay attention at the time and moment they proceed toward the dwelling place of the Supreme Deity.

The verse goes on to say, “and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.” Solomon continued with the words, “and be more ready to hear” or “and exist as prepared to listen and perceive to a greater degree”, “than to give” which means “compared to bestowing, granting, consecrating and dedicating” “the sacrifice of fools” or “the offering belonging to dullards, simpletons, arrogant ones and stupid fellows”: “for they consider not” which means “because, since and on account that they, the fools, in no way perceive, discern, discriminate or distinguish” “that they do evil” or “that they, the fools, perform and produce bad, disagreeableness, malignancy and wickedness.” Solomon instructed his readers to be prepared to listen rather than to present offerings belonging to dullards and simpletons because simpletons do not discern that they perform bad and wickedness. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how we are to be when we enter the sacred worship places belonging to Jehovah God. We are to be prepared to listen rather than to present offerings like simpletons. People who are foolish do not think that they perform any wickedness or wrong, and until a person recognizes their need for salvation and change, they will continue in their religious rote and routine. God wants us to yield ourselves to Him and His ways through belief and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith in Him , He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will help up to be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath”. (See James 1:19)

Next time Solomon says, “be not rash with your mouth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".