The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 17 Don't Speak Like A Fool. Keep Our Vows To God!

Solomon gave us a good warning about keeping our feet before attempting to serve God, It is a reminder to confess and forsake our sins first, before we worship or serve God.  

Next, he showed us to be more ready to hear and willing to obey when the scriptures are preached and taught. 

In our last post, Solomon gave some illustration about not being rash when we speak. We must learn to be careful with our speech. This post will amplify that a bit more.

Fools speak many words without thinking. 

Ecclesiastes 5:3   For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 

Dreams are generally the result of whatever business, we have been engaged during the day, so a multitude of words evidence the feeble workings of a foolish heart.

A fool speaks without thinking. A fool's mouth may unleash a torrent of valueless words, like pompous politicians who speak many words with little substance!

Business dealings may fill our mind, giving rise to incoherent dreams, so many words, uttered thoughtlessly, give rise to a fool’s speech.

Proverbs 15:2  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 

King Solomon captured this thought well, when recording his proverbs. A wise man uses the tongue in a right way, to praise God and to speak truth. 

A fool's mouth pours out foolish words and empty gestures. The contrast is very stark because God wants us to see the distinction, so that we choose to use our tongue like a wise man. 

Making a vow to God is a serious commitment.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5)  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 

When in distress or difficulty, men are apt to promise God they will do certain things if He will relieve them. Yet, most people generally forget the vow when the distress or trouble is over.

God requires that we keep our vows, for He keeps His Word!

Numbers 30:2  If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Promising God that we will do some particular act, is a very serious thing to do. Making a vow to God requires us to commit to fulfilling it. 

The law of Moses codifies our commitment to do exactly whatever we promise Jehovah we will do. We are not to break our word because God does not break His covenant with us, even when we fall short of His expectations. 

We are not permitted to change what we promised the LORD we would do (Leviticus 27:10).

If we vow to give our own selves unto the Lord, then let us keep our word, by serving Him and living for His glory. Otherwise, we may alienate ourselves from the God who loves us enough to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  

Solomon tells us to defer not to pay it, that is, we must not put off what we vowed to God we would do. If we are able, we should pay it today, rather than putting it off until tomorrow. We must not ask the Lord to put off our vow until we have more convenient time. 

When we delay to fulfill our vows to God, then the sense of the obligation slackens, our commitment cools, and promise is in danger of being the words of a fool. 

In such a case, it is better for us to not make any vows, or to refrain from making any commitments to our Lord. Why? Because we have no intention to follow through with our vow.

Psalm 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 

The Psalmist vowed that he would keep the righteous judgments of God. He committed to learn them, understand them and to live according to what God commands. 

Matthew 5:33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 

Our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us to not be rash when making a vow to the Lord. If we are convicted by the Spirit of God to begin serving God, or we are convicted about sin and promise to stop sinning, then we must follow through. 

We must always follow through on our vows to the LORD.

Psalm 66:13-15  I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, 14)  Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 15)  I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah. 

The Psalmist found himself in dire straits. He was in serious trouble and he called out to Jehovah for help. We do not know what trouble or persecution he faced, for the text does not tell us. 

Whatever it was, he needed immediate help and he knew only Jehovah could provide that help. 

The Psalmist did not hesitate to fulfill the vow that he uttered when he was in great distress. He offered the sacrifices that he vowed he would give to his Lord. 

Many people will cry out to God when some mighty affliction, or serious illness, or a family crisis erupts. 

Many years ago, after a serious surgery, I was terrified of falling asleep because I had intense nightmares, due to certain drugs they gave me. 

I cried out to the Lord that night for help, and I vowed to serve Him better than before. 

He answered my prayers, and gave my beautiful songs in the night, from our hymnal. In my mind, it was a four part choir singing all the verses of each hymn. 

I fell asleep and awoke the next morning a new man, ready to love and serve my Lord. And, I have sought to faithfully serve the Lord since that night. 

Failure to follow through on our vows invites chastening. 

Ecclesiastes 5:5-6  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6)  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 

We must take heed to Solomon's wise words. It is better not to make a vow or promise to God, than to make one, and fail to keep it. 

When we make a vow to the Lord, and we do not keep it, we are guilty of sin and the Lord will hold us to account. 

Why would we make a vow or pledge to do something for the LORD, and not keep it?  Such rash words invite the chastening hand of God upon us. 

Ecclesiastes 5:7  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. 

When our mind is disturbed during the day, or we dream of evil, we must not give way to unreasonable fears, or gloomy foreboding of potential future problems.  

Fear God. Fear neither the dream nor its interpretation. God will take care of it and protect us. Most certainly, he that fears God need fear nothing else. 

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Well might an upright soul say to Satan himself, I fear God, and because I fear him, I do not fear thee. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Let us not be like a fool, speaking many words without having our minds engaged.

Let us not make a rash vow to the LORD.

Let us always seek to pay our vows to God, for He is always faithful to keep His promises.

Let us learn to fear God, live by His word as we seek to love and serve Him.  

Let us actively submit to Jehovah and when provoked or tempted, let us resist our enemy.

Bob