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Solomon warns against careless, hasty, or superficial worship. Worship must be marked by deliberate reverence, thoughtful speech, and faithful follow-through on vows. Rather than trust in religious formality, one must fear God.

Enter Worship with Reverence, Not Rashness (Ecclesiastes 5:1)

The command, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God,” is a metaphorical warning to approach worship with deliberate care and spiritual attentiveness (cf. Proverbs 4:26; Psalm 119:59).
In ancient rabbinical tradition, physical preparation (e.g., emptying one’s pockets, bodily cleanliness, avoiding high places in prayer) reinforced internal reverence.
The physical layout of the Second Temple—especially its uneven southern steps—embodied this principle, forcing worshipers to slow down and pay attention with each movement toward God’s house.
The Temple was less than a generation old in Solomon’s day, and expectations for sacred space were still new. His instruction would have carried both immediate and long-term significance for worshipers.
The “house of God” was not a place for careless entry or rote tradition. The example of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–2) illustrates the danger of irreverence in sacred settings—even priests could die for casual worship.
To “hear” in Hebrew (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ) includes obedience, not just listening. This is the same word used in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel,” and 1 Samuel 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” It implies a readiness to submit rather than perform.
The “sacrifice of fools” refers to those who offer worship without thought, sincerity, or obedience. It echoes Isaiah 1:11–13 and Malachi 1:10, where God rejects sacrifices not grounded in obedience or respect.
In the age of grace, while we no longer enter a physical Temple, Paul teaches that the assembly of believers is God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16–17). We must ensure that what we do corporately in worship is thoughtful, meaningful, and not empty ritual (cf. Colossians 2:20–23).

Guard Your Words in God's Presence (Ecclesiastes 5:2–3)

Solomon cautions against rash speech in prayer or worship: “Be not rash with thy mouth... let thy words be few.” Worshipers were to speak thoughtfully, acknowledging that they stood before the Sovereign God (cf. Job 40:4–5; Habakkuk 2:20).
The command touches both the mouth and the heart: “let not thine heart be hasty.” Rash vows and careless prayers reflect a failure to ponder the seriousness of addressing the Most High.
The rationale is theological: “God is in heaven, and thou upon earth.” This speaks not to distance but to hierarchy. God reigns from a place of perfect understanding and holiness; man is lowly, finite, and ignorant (Isaiah 55:8–9; Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Jewish tradition’s use of the kippah (head covering) visually reinforces this separation, reminding the worshiper of God’s superior position.
The command to let words be “few” specifically applies to worship, not to all conversation. Solomon is not promoting stoicism or introversion but a guarded reverence when addressing the Lord.
The warning against verbosity finds parallel in Jesus’ teaching: “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do” (Matthew 6:7). Pagan prayers relied on word count; biblical prayer relies on sincerity (cf. Luke 18:10–14).
The phrase “a dream cometh through the multitude of business” refers to disordered thoughts born from mental overexertion and anxiety. These dreams are confusing, unhelpful, and indicative of unrest rather than revelation.

Keep the Vows You Make (Ecclesiastes 5:4–6)