June 16 – Ecclesiastes 5

June 16 – Ecclesiastes 5

Dear Father, we come before You in praise and with thanksgiving for You give us our ‘But God’ moments. You orchestrate our lives for Your glory. May we in our quiet time recognize You for who You are: our Lord God, the God of Israel.

First, do your own quiet time and 4R journaling.  When you are completed, come back here for the lesson.

Request Gods’ help

Read  Ecclesiastes 5

Record a verse that stands out to you

Respond to God

But God is the One you should fear

The Bible is never short on instruction of how we Jesus followers should live.  And in our quiet time this morning, we found another one!  What does it say?  We are to live a life that brings glory to God that it would be pleasing to Him.  With a healthy fear of God we should be doing the following: guarding our steps as we enter God’s house, drawing near to listen, our mouths should not be rash, we should not have a hastily spoken heart and our words should be few.  Phew.  Easy peasy right?  Well, not so much!

Back in the days when Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, offerings were given that were displeasing to God so much so that God said silence would be better!  He would much prefer His people to just go to Him and simply listen.  Historically, I think we can all share stories and experiences of when people go to worship and yet are not actually worshiping at all.

I know for myself the best worship I have is when I am on my own or at a worship time where I am comfortable and distraction free. And, quite honestly, Sunday mornings usually aren’t that. I have kids to wrangle, there are distractions of people in the sanctuary talking or chewing loudly, or people in the welcome area talking and laughing loudly. There are babies crying, the A/C is blowing. And I see people I really need to connect with; the list goes on!  Evidently, I get easily distracted. And so, on Sundays, I am not able to go to worship with the worshipful heart that I really, really want to go with.  I just can’t switch into the mode of worshipful worship.

Yet, it is amazing to me that the God I MUST fear is also the one who says, “Just come and listen.”  These verses lay out clearly the description of those who do and do not fear Him.  Because it is a ‘but God’ moment, we should expect that.  Here now or in your own time, grab a piece of paper and make two columns.   In one column write down all the descriptions listed in these verses that describe one who fears God and in the other column list the ones that describe those who do not.  Soon, you will have a lovely list of what it looks like to live as a fear full God follower. And you will also see that this kind of fear, reverent fear, is actually really comforting.

Let’s take a look at the word ‘fear’ here really quickly.  The particular word in Hebrews that is used in this verse is ‘yārē’’.  And it’s a verb, a transitive verb to be exact, meaning it is in reference to a direct object. That direct object is God. We are to morally revere God. Not fearing of Him, but fearing to Him, so to speak.  For us God followers, that kind of fear draws us to Him, draws us in and causes us to worship Him.

The same God who blotted humans from the earth is the same God who saved the remnant.  The same God who created the earth, will destroy it. The same God who provided a way to redemption is the same God who did it and defeated death.

But God.

“Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Exodus 3:5

(Further Reading: Mark 12:28-34; Psalm 76:11)

God, the God that we fear, You are worthy of our worship and You are worthy of our listening ears. We come to You and kneel before you.

What’s next?

As the Spirit leads, in the comment section below, share what He has laid on your heart.

Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.

My Verse: Ecclesiastes 5:7, ” For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but  God is the one you must fear.”