Walk prudently when you
go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice
of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
King Solomon's warning
against levity, to those who would approach the temple in his
day, still resonates in our day. There is helpful instruction here, if we
would take heed.
Today, "going
to church" is so commonplace an exercise, that multitudes
of people go about it (whether haphazardly or routinely),
without earnestly considering what they're doing. As we explore
this text, my aim is to provoke Biblical self-examination in each
reader, with regard to the worship of God. I want us all to be more awake. I
want to exhort true Christians to approach every aspect of
their worship (particularly the church gathering) with more careful
thought, so that God's glory would be more zealously sought after. I also
want those who are Christians in name only, to honestly assess their
religious activities, recognize God's displeasure with hypocrisy,
and repent, unto true belief of the Gospel.
If Christ is absent from your Christianity, what good is it? Why not be real with God,
and get true saving faith, which He is willing to give? If God is dissatisfied
with mere religion, we ought also to be. Why settle for that which
is counterfeit, when we can have that which is authentic? Religious
pretense is a worthless stock, and a poor investment for one's eternal soul.
"Walk prudently
when you go"
The old King James translation
reads: "Keep thy foot," which we can also understand as
"watch your step" or "tread carefully." Don't have a
flippant attitude with this. Be sober-minded. Consider the magnitude of
whose presence you're supposing to approach: God Almighty!
We carry
ourselves respectfully, when coming into the presence of human
dignitaries. When invited into the homes of our friends, we behave
ourselves sensibly. Shall we come with less reverence, into the
symbolic house of God, our Creator and Holy Judge? We've not rightly
understood His awesomeness, if we're not awe-inspired
by His Person. Our thoughts about God will dictate
our steps toward Him.
"to the house of
God"
When this book of
Ecclesiastes was written, the term "house of God" referred to the
temple, where the Jews worshipped. In Christendom, the term "house
of God," has typically been understood as a "church"
or place where people gather for the supposed purpose of worshipping God.
Both of these renderings are to be accompanied by the realization that the
omnipresent God doesn't dwell in buildings made with hands (See Acts 7:47-49).
Still, we see the
appropriateness of the term, as it is used in the Scriptures. Christ, Himself,
described the temple as "My Father's house," when he drove the
moneychangers out of it (See John 2:13-15). And in doing so, He reminded
us of the honor that it deserved. During that time, it was a place of worship,
and He, being consumed with zeal for its true glory, would not
tolerate their turning that "house of prayer" into "a den
of thieves" (See Mark 11:16-18).
Would He be less serious
about the Christian church, which came from the actual fulfillment of
everything that the Old Testament temple represented? No. In fact, He taught
that the temple in Jerusalem would eventually be destroyed (Luke 21:5-6),
and that He, the true Temple of God, would Himself, die and rise again
(John 2:19-21).
His risen body is now, spiritually, called "The
Church" (See Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians
4:11-13). It consists of those who worship God in spirit and truth (See
John 4:21-24). Its members are the true "house of God,"
since we have God, by His Spirit, dwelling within us, and among us - both
individually and collectively (See 1 Corinthians 6:19, John 14:15-18 and
Matthew 18:20). He purchased this church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). Thus,
any mockery of it is an affront to Him. Any counterfeit of it will eventually
be exposed and destroyed.
So, as we examine this
subject of approaching God in worship, within the context of the Gospel of
Christ's death and resurrection, let's be helped by Solomon's wise
counsel in Ecclesiastes: "Walk prudently when you go to the house
of God."
"and draw near to
hear"
Faith comes by hearing
the word of God, preached by God-sent messengers. (See Romans
10:13-17). What else would we go to church for, if not to
hear from God? Indeed, it's a delight to be taught by God; to hear
His Gospel preached, by way of His Scriptures being expounded (See 1 Peter
1:25 and 2 Timothy 3: 14-17).
There are multitudes of
church-going people, for whom this is neither the priority,
nor the intended focus of their religious exercises. Rather than
drawing near to hear from God, perhaps they go to hear from an
entertaining preacher or choir, for an emotional lift. Rather than drawing near
to hear from God, perhaps they go for discourse that caters to their
political and social preferences. Rather than drawing near to hear from God,
perhaps they go as a matter of duty, figuring that they should attend
church, to "earn some points" with God, as a form of works-based
righteousness. There's a myriad of other wrong reasons that people go to
church. Instead of getting into an endless list of them, let's look further
into our text, and see their danger.
"rather than to
give the sacrifice of fools"
Solomon is using
"either/or" language here. If someone is not drawing near to hear
from God, then they are giving the sacrifice of fools. Fools say no to God (See
Psalm 14:1). They proceed to go their own way; maneuver under their
own direction; live as they see fit; with allegiance to their own chosen
lifestyles. Religious activity (specifically under the guise of Christianity),
apart from faith in Christ, is the sacrifice of fools. There is no
greater folly on earth than for a person to pay lip service to God, while
the life is bent in a totally different direction. (See Matthew 15:7-9)
"for they do not
know that they do evil"
The tragedy
of religious delusion is that many people actually do not know that what
they're doing is evil. They think that they're doing good, but they are blind
followers of the blind (see Matthew 15:13). However sincere they may be in
their own minds, if their religion is not founded upon the rock of the truth of
Christ, it is a lie that will cause them to sink, unto destruction (See Matthew
7:24-27). There are many examples in Scripture, where religious folly is
uprooted, by God, who sees everyone's heart. Perhaps the clearest and most
stunningly frightful example is found in Matthew 7, when Jesus says:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
These were religious
people, who called Jesus "Lord" with their mouths, and did many
religious works, by which they, no doubt, impressed other people. But God
wasn't impressed. They trusted in themselves, and their own goodness. But they
did not know that they were doing evil, until it was brought to their attention
at the day of reckoning.
Let us avoid this! Let's get the grace of
God, to approach the worship of God the right way, both publicly and privately.
Let's walk with God, in obedience to His word, so as to be able to function as
members of that true church, which Christ died for. Let's ask Him for His
Spirit, without which, we can accomplish nothing spiritual. Let's live in the
presence of God, so that our Christian duties can be found pleasing, as they
are done by looking to Christ.
Christ's work is a sweet
smelling savor to God; a soothing aroma to His holy nostrils (See Ephesians
5:2). Anything else is an offensive stench, which He calls evil, and will
punish. Believers, by faith in Christ, are able to lovingly offer fragrant
sacrifices (prayers and deeds), that are acceptable and well-pleasing to God
(Philippians 4:18; Revelation 8:3-4). Those who will hold onto false piety
are only capable of giving the sacrifice of fools.
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