There is a tremendous amount of application in all of Ecclesiastes. But, as I read chapter 5, it reminds me less of the old, backslidden Solomon, and more of the middle-aged, wise Solomon. One day, we'll read our own stories. The ups and downs. The ebbs and flows. We’ll read the paragraphs where life smeared the ink and the pages stuck together with pain. I'm confident that when we read our story — cover to cover — we'll finish it knowing God was magnificently at work. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Solomon spent time in the marketplace, in the palace, in the courtroom, and other places "under the sun." In this chapter, Solomon meets us on the Temple mount, observing the life of the worshiper. 

You may be wearing your sandals today. The summer is still hot here in Missouri, and I'm cautious not to burn my feet while I sit (mostly) in the shade. This week's study may make you wish you had opted for steel-toed boots. Nevertheless, we will continue to traverse the Scriptures verse-by-verse together and see what unctions the Holy Spirit has for us to ponder. 

Precious Father, open my heart so that I can experience the fullness of Your teaching. Help me to see past the pages of Solomon's own life, and be able to see the resemblances to my own.

Fear God

1 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.

• The first word of this chapter is "guard." To guard something means to watch over it; to protect or control. I'm not sure about you, but I need a big helping of protection and control...over my mouth. Psalm 141 was penned by Solomon's father, David. The whole chapter is fruitful for the soul, but I especially love verse 3 and pray it often: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" Solomon reminds us upfront how our hearts are to be right before the Lord. And, I'd imagine Solomon knew his heart wasn't. But, through God's divine patience and revelation, we begin to see God work in Solomon's sin-soiled soul.

• The prophet Samuel had to teach King Saul (1 Samuel 15) a harsh lesson after Saul's disobedience. You can read the history of it in 1 Samuel 14-15. The bottom line is that Samuel's correction stands true today: "And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

• As Solomon watched people come and go from the Temple, he recognized a pattern: salvation is a lifestyle, not a prayer.  

TIME AND REFLECTION

• Because of Jesus' perfect and complete sacrifice, we're not required to bring burnt offerings (Hebrews 10:1-14). What God does desire is obedience. What the mouth speaks, the heart contains (Wiersbe). What areas in your own life exhibit disobedience to the Lord? This isn't a time to sit and feel guilty. It is a time to prepare your heart and speak to God about that struggle. In coming to Him consistently with your sin, you will receive His strength. Over time, He will give you a new heart. 

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.

• I'm going to call these verses out mid-text because we talked about this last week, and it's worth repeating.

• Part 1 of your homework last week was to watch the movie Just Mercy. Again, it will bring these passages to life in a way and help you understand modern-day oppression if you haven't directly experienced it yourself. 

• Solomon was a wise and just king (1 Kings 3:16-28). However, even the most righteous earthly king can have power-hungry leaders in the ranks. As long as sin exists in mankind, there will be oppression, political corruption, and sorrow of innocent people. Life isn't fair on this earth.

• This doesn't mean we are to sit apathetically as believers. 1 Timothy 2:1-6 provides us with a direction in terms of politics, systems, and the like:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

TIME AND REFLECTION

• Spend time praying for those who are oppressed, and for the leaders around us. 

Heavenly King, we lift up our earthly leaders. Those in high positions and have influence over our systems. God, we cry out that their hearts would turn to You. We ask that this nation and world would lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified. Let it start with me, Lord. In my heart. In my home. In my work each day. Let the change begin in me. 

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

• We can rob God (v1-7), we can rob others (v8-9), and we can rob ourselves (v10-20). You will reap what you sow in this world. Our human heart cannot be satisfied by a temporal tool. And, that's what money is: a tool. It's a tool given by God, just like our spiritual gifts are given by God. They have one purpose alone: to advance His Kingdom. 

• "But I'd love a new house, Tiffany." I know. There is nothing wrong with the desire to have a home, but ensure that the attraction is sanctified through Him. Hold those dreams loosely in your hands, friends, whatever those dreams are. I have thoughts and ponderings in my soul. Things I want. A future I desire. God deposits desires in us (not all of them, but some of them are of Him), but He also gives them to us in His timing and in His way. Usually, that's because those desires need time to be sanctified. 

• Over the last year, my husband and I have had several examples where we weren't sure of God's guidance on some desires. We didn't hear a "No," from God, but there wasn't a precise "Yes," either. So, we took a few steps out onto the water to see what happened. Guess what...there were five opportunities where he or I (or both of us) stepped out, and only one of them worked out so far. Now that I'm on the other side of it, I can see how it was God's absolute best, and He graciously said, "No, no, no, no..." so that He could save His best "Yes!" for us. I’m grateful we didn’t rob God of His best for us. Don't be afraid to step out of the boat and test the waters. But, also be okay when He tells you to get back in! 

TIME AND REFLECTION

• God desires for us to enjoy our possessions. Our hearts often only think of the "next thing" or the more refined version of those possessions. How can you be grateful for today? I remember one day I was doing laundry, and it was baseball season. I was removing grass stains and dirt from the uniform (again). God impressed on my heart that I shouldn't focus on the monotonous laundry, but remember the life that was lived while the laundry was created. I wasn't there doing laundry, I was there to watch Rowen bat. I was there to hear Liam turn the corner of third base with a wide smile. I was there to cheer. I was there. Amen.