Ecclesiastes: Take a Look Part 2

Taking up.where we left off... We learned prudence is wise godly living in all areas of our lives!

Reading still the first verse....though I provided 1-5 for you to have context.

Ecclesiastes 5 New King James Version (NKJV)

Fear God, Keep Your Vows

1 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.

2 Do not be rash with your mouth,

And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.

For God is in heaven, and you on earth;

Therefore let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes through much activity,

And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;

For He has no pleasure in fools.

Pay what you have vowed—

5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

After the new depth of awareness of prudence and how we use what we've been gifted by our Father....

Then I got to pondering the part ‘drawing near to hear’ and have read many variations and commentaries. Just as far as my finite understanding has drawn this conclusion; that in several areas the Bible uses hear and obey interchangeably. Also, hear means harken, listen and obey. Listening means you are seeking understanding and clarity so when you obey you understand what is to be done and clear that it is intended to honor Abba, even if there is no other clarification provided. This is enough, to honor Abba in all things, seek to know, understand, and act in His service according to His Word.

The Hebrew word here is Shema (shmah). This word is used for hearing, listening, and obeying. Even deeper though was that Hebraic inflection and culture assumed listening and hearing were geared toward acting and doing. Today, especially in Westernized cultures, we are geared for and assume hearing and listening to equate mere mental activities. We must be able to utilize both the mental activities and the action/doing as in Jesus’ day.