20th February 2024

20th February 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 5v1-7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Have you ever considered your approach to the act of going to church? That might seem like an odd question but what if I told you that most give more consideration to going to the gym than any journey to church? How so? The gym requires you to make sure that you have water, the right shoes and enough battery in your phone. Church on the other hand merely requires you to show up and then everyone is happy.


Needless to say, Solomon would not have recognised our modern attitude to the worship of God. The King once offered this wisdom “guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” (v1). How do we guard our steps? By preparing for the worship of God. I’m not saying that you should wake early or go through any set ritual, but when was the last time that you prayed before going to worship? When was the last time that you paused on Sunday morning and gave thought to the glory of the Gospel of Jesus?


To worship God is to accept that we are not singing the praise of an earthly king. The Lord is in heaven whilst we are here on earth (v2). He is not a better version of us, He is our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This reality should see any human arrogance replaced by holy reverence as we gather to praise the Lord. We don’t approach God full of arrogant boasts and rash words (v2), instead we let our words be few (v2b). Just as a busy life produces many dreams and uneasy sleep (v3a) so too does a fool show himself with many words (v3b).


The prepared worshipper approaches God humbly and with few words. Nevertheless, if you ever make a vow to God be sure to pay it back (v4). What is a vow? A vow is a promise made directly to God whereas an oath calls upon God as witness. You might make an oath in court as you promise to tell the truth with God as your witness. But sometimes you will make a vow or promise to God Himself.


If you have ever promised the Lord that you will do something - then do it. If you won’t keep your vows then it would be better for you to keep your mouth closed (v5). Don’t let your mouth lead you into sin and don’t seek to make excuses for your empty promises (v6). May the Lord not be angry with the emptiness of your words and may you not fall under His judgement (v6), for God takes no pleasure in those who approach Him with lots of words and empty vows (v4).


So brothers and sisters, how is your approach to the worship of God? In both restless sleep and lots of words there is vanity (v7) but it is not vain to fear the Lord. May we guard our steps next Sunday, watch our mouths and stand in awe of Almighty God.  


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q73 Which is the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
​