the sacrifice of fools

Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor

Grace Church, Sunday Worship

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

January 16th, 2011

 

Overview of Ecclesiastes

(Taken from Douglas Wilson’s Joy at the End of the Tether)

  1. Hymn Metaphor – 4 Verses (parts) with 2 Refrains or Choruses

                                      i.      Satisfaction is outside the power or competence of people in this vain world

                                    ii.      God is sovereign over everything including the vanity (and deals with the problems people have with this)

                                  iii.      The sovereign God gives to those who fear Him the power to enjoy this vanity. (contentment)

                                   iv.      He addresses objections, discouragements and practical concerns.

REFRAIN

1.      All is Vanity under the Sun  - (beware of location amnesia)

2.      The great gift of God is enjoyment in this vanity (calling us to hope, trust, have faith, optimism, = that thinks

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN

1:1-3               All is Vanity, what do we profit in our toil – Sandcastles by a tide

1:4-11             The treadmill of nature tells us this – sun, wind, waters – nothing new

1:12-2:23       From experience – 7 dead ends to satisfaction and joy

·        Philosophy

·        Study/knowledge

·        Pleasure

·        Drugs/Alcohol

·        Accomplishment

·        Clean living

·        Legacy

2:24-26           Its not in man to find enjoyment…two distinct gifts from God – things and ability to enjoy.

3:1-15             God is absolutely sovereign, this is good and hard (at times) and he is wise and this requires faith…but brings joy

3:16-4:16       The tapestry that God is making has many tangles from our perspective ..he lists many of the things we deal with and are called to trust Him with:

·        Injustice

·        Death

·        Oppression

·        Envy and Laziness

·        Loneliness

·        Fleeting approval

TO OUR TEXT – 5:1-7

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.  (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. Therefore let your words be few.  (3)  For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.  (4)  When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.  (5)  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.  (6)  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?  (7)  For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

4 Admonitions Regarding Worship

  1. Guard Your Steps – It is better to Listen

  2. Be Not Rash With Your Mouth – Be careful in your prayers

  3. Don’t Vow unless you mean it – Take your promising seriously

  4. Let Not Your Mouth Lead You into Sin

Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV  Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  (29)  for our God is a consuming fire.