Ecclesiastes 5:1-7--Caution in God’s Presence

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
​Christian Standard Bible

Caution in God’s Presence
5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5 Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

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I find it interesting that a book written from an "under the sun" perspective would even mention God in this way, but the Israelites went to the Tabernacle and later to the Temple (both called "the house of God") to bring sacrifices and offerings and to hear from God individually and corporately.  At least three times a year their attendance was required for the high holy days.  Solomon tells the people that God desires obedience more than sacrifice.  The people should not continue in intentional sin and bring sacrifices for atonement as if they fell into unintentional sin.  They should make a choice to stop rebelling and start obeying.

They should be quiet before the LORD and listen to what He has to say to them instead of speaking hastily and irreverently.  If the fool says too much, everyone knows he is a fool.  Be careful with the vows you make to the LORD, for it is a sin to break them, even if you regret them later.  It is better to not take a vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.  If you do, your words will make you guilty and you will not be able to say that you make a mistake.  That will not absolve you.  Do not vow unless you are ready for the punishment that comes for breaking the vow, for God will not let such foolishness pass without judgment.  Fear God and do not try to flatter Him with many words.  He is not fooled by them.