The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 15 Keep Your Foot, Before Entering House Of God

Solomon's design, in causing us to flee from the world by showing its vanity, is to drive us to God and to our duty. Why? So that we don't walk in the ways of the world. 

Our great need is to be taught and learn to walk by God's rules. We must learn to depend upon Jehovah rather than our wealth or status. 

Keep your foot when going to God's house!

Ecclesiastes 5:1  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 

The Preacher, King Solomon now turns his attention to religious vanities and he includes some warnings, even for believing people. 

There are pitfalls or vanities which one may fall into while serving the King of kings or worshipping the Creator.

Solomon used a well known Hebrew expression in telling us we must "Keep thy foot" when we go to the house of God. 

"Keep thy foot" is much more than taking our shoes off. 

Exodus 3:4-5  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5)  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 

When saints of the Old Testament drew near to God's presence, they were commanded to put off their footwear, because of His holiness. 

Moses turned aside to see the burning bush and Jehovah spoke, commanding him to take off his shoes, because the ground he stood on was holy. 

Joshua 5:13-15  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14)  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15)  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

Joshua drew near to a mighty warrior holding a sword, only to discover that it was Jehovah going forth to fight as the Captain of the host of Jehovah. 

This captain was one of the theophanies or appearances of God in the Old Testament, and the captain was the pre-incarnate Christ. This is why Joshua fell down to worship, for angels cannot receive worship. 

Notice what God said to Joshua. Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, because wherever God stands is holy ground. 

This reminds us that no man made things are welcome in the presence of God. It reminds us that salvation is all of God. 

We cannot add anything to what God has done for us through the Lord Jesus Christ, the cross, His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. 

Keeping thy foot is receiving cleansing from sin.

What does "Keep thy foot" mean for Christians today? It reminds us that we become defiled by the world's corrupt influences and our own sins. 

Therefore, we must confess our sins so that the blood of Jesus Christ can be applied to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (See 1 John 1:7 to 2:2). 

Leviticus 20:7  Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

Taking off our shoes is a metaphor to remind us to have clean hearts before God when we come into His presence. This is good for us to know. 

The priests and Levites were required to wash their hands and feet prior to entering the Tabernacle to serve Jehovah (See Exodus 30:19). 

This command pictures confessing sins, forsaking them to the best of our abilities, and seeking forgiveness and cleansing that only God can provide. 

Confess sins before seeking to serve God.

1 Corinthians 11:28-30  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29)  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30)  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 

The apostle Paul dealt with many sin issues in the church of Corinth. One issue was that some believers took the Lord's supper (communion) with unconfessed sin in their lives. 

God judged them for bringing sin in to the celebration of Christ's sacrifice for our sins. As a result some of those Christians suffered bodily illness and some died. 

Be more ready to hear from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.  

This is the second great truth Solomon communicates. It is our need to have hearts that are ready and willing to hear His word taught and preached. 

Psalm 32:8-9  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9)  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.  

Jehovah promises to instruct us and teach us in the way that we should walk. His eye is upon His redeemed people and He will guide us in right paths. 

Through His prophet Jeremiah, Jehovah counseled rebellious Israel to stand and ask for the old ways and the good path that God wants us to walk on. 

Jesus called this entering in through the straight, restricted  gate, and walking on the narrow way that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:12-14).

John 10:27-28  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

Jesus made it clear that those who are truly children of God, will hear and heed His voice. They will follow Jesus by keeping His commands and He grants eternal life to all who believe. 

What does the phrase "sacrifice of fools" mean? This connects back to the Christians at Corinth partaking of the Lord's supper with unconfessed sin. 

That person is like a fool offering a sacrifice thinking that God is pleased with him, even though he persists in sin. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

In the first verse of Ecclesiastes 5, Solomon was guided by the Spirit of God to give us some very potent truth.

We must be diligent to confess our sins and forsake them, before we come into the presence of God to worship, or to hear His word preached. 

God gave us clear pictures that He does not accept us when we are so spiritually slothful, that we do not make the effort to confess our sins. 

When we have come clean before God, then we must pray for a heart that is ready to hear from God, and for our minds to be renewed. 

We must pray for the Spirit of God to open our eyes that we may comprehend His wonderful Word. 

I pray that the inspired words from the Psalmist will encourage each one of us in our walk with the LORD. 

May we yield to God's Spirit today, confessing our sins and praying for His help.

Bob

Psalm 24:3-5  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4)  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5)  He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.