Keeping Your Vows Series

Keeping Your Vows

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Rev. Brian Bill

August 24-25, 2024

Many years ago, Beth and I attended a large church in another community. On that particular day, as a way to celebrate the start of summer, a number of members came running on to the platform holding beach balls which they simultaneously launched into the congregation. We were instructed to keep the balls in the air by not letting them hit the ground during the singing time.

We started looking for the exits but were trapped in the middle of a row. Apparently, this is a fairly common practice because we found similar videos online. Here’s a brief clip.

While there’s nothing wrong with rejoicing in what God has done, this goes way too far because we’re called to be reverent in light of who He is.

As we learned last week, we’ve been wired for relationships. We were challenged to be intentional about connecting with others because we are made for community. Many of you put this into practice after the service by reaching out to people you didn’t know. When I called one of our guests this week, she remarked that an Edgewood member came up and introduced herself and then invited her to one of our Growth Groups. She went to the group and said she loved it. Let’s keep reaching out to people.

I was also very humbled by the participation in the prayer walks at schools last Sunday night. My guess is we had Edgewood prayer warriors at 15 different schools! Jessica Lang, who prayed with her husband Patrick and daughter Emma at two different schools, posted this: “We walked around the schools, touching every entrance, praying for the students and staff who walk through those doors every day…”

Beth and I love Edgewood and what God is doing here for His glory! Let’s continue praying Psalm 85:6: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you.”

Pastor Chad opened our service by reading Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, reminding us of the importance of being reverent when we gather together. Let me draw our attention to the beginning and the ending of this passage: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God…God is the one you must fear.”

Let’s make a couple observations.

• In contrast to chapter 4, where God’s name is not used at all, God is referenced by name six times in seven verses in this passage. In fact, this is the highest concentration of God’s name in the entire book of Ecclesiastes.

• Solomon has been using the pronouns “I,” “me,” and “myself” throughout the book. Now, for the first time, he uses the second person “you” and “your” to communicate imperatives for each of us to follow.

The mood changes from sharing what Solomon had learned the hard way to preaching to others, so we don’t have to learn the hard way. I’m reminded of the story of two women who were sitting together in the front row of a church listening to a fiery preacher. When he condemned the sin of stealing, they cried out at the tops of their lungs, “AMEN, BROTHER.” When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they shouted again, “PREACH IT, REVEREND.” When he condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and exclaimed, “RIGHT ON, BROTHER, TELL IT LIKE IT IS!” But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two became very quiet. One turned to the other and said, “He’s done quit preaching and now he’s meddlin’!”

This sermon may meddle with you today. It’s already done that for me. Here’s what I’m hoping we learn: Be on guard when you worship God by drawing near to revere Him.

I see five urgent imperatives.

1. Be careful when you go to worship. Verse 1 begins with a warning: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God…” The word “guard” has the idea of “paying close attention and watching carefully over.” In Numbers 1:53, we read, “The Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” The word “steps” refers to our conduct or behavior. Literally, we’re to “ponder the path of our feet.” Solomon is calling us to tiptoe into the presence of God, doing so with care and caution.

As I was reflecting on this verse this week, I kept thinking of “caution tape,” which is put up to keep people from something dangerous or hazardous to their health. This bright yellow tape is designed to warn us about something, to tell us to proceed with caution. In a similar way, God is not to be trifled with. One pastor put it this way: “Sometimes I think that all religious sites should be posted with signs reading, ‘Beware the God.’” We’re called to be intentionally humble when we come before an incredibly holy God.