“Keep Thy Foot” ~ From this phrase in the opening verse of Chapter 5 we continue through the Book of Ecclesiastes. Though it may seem vague as it stands by itself, the directive cross-references to Exodus 3:5, as Moses approaches a Burning Bush to see the strange sight of a bush afire, but not being consumed by the flames.
“Draw not nigh thither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground,”As Moses approached the miraculous sight, he heard these words. The presence of God was there in the fiery bush. to “keep thy foot” has a powerful meaning. As in the case of today’s study, the phrase prefaces the whole chapter. Watch where you are walking, Sacred places are sacred because of God’s presence. Let our words be few, because as we approach the Lord, we do not want to bring the filth of the world into our meeting place. The sacredness extends to wherever God abides.
Our God is a holy God, and a consuming fire, but not a destructive one. As He did with Isaiah, God wants our lips purged of worldly speech to bring His holiness forth from our lips. It is life changing to know what God’s desires and plans are for us, and once such changes begin, the process continues throughout our lives on Earth. It is called sanctification.
It is the holy work of God as He brings us from death to life, and it is continual as Paul states in Philippians 1:6. It is also the mark of a true believer as they go through the perfecting changes towards God’s will for them. The new fruit of their lives will give testimony that the Lord Himself is actively at work in their lives.
The Believer feels it personally, and can recognize it in others, giving credence to the fact that we can recognize in others what’s going on in our own hearts, and we are able to relate to one another with loving compassion, empathy, patience, and love (all gifts of the Spirit!).
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6
Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 - "Holy Ground"
Summary/Notes:
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
In Proverbs 9:10, Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What does he mean by fear? The fear of the Lord is having a holy reverence of who He is. As Pastor Bob has said many times, “God is God, there is no other.” God is the Creator and Sustainer of ALL life. He is all powerful, all knowing, and all present.
In chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes, Solomon begins to instruct us on how we are to approach God with careful humility, guarding our steps. Our attitude when going to the house of God should be an open heart to hear and receive what He has to say to us with a willingness to obey His word, not the other way around. No longer are we to conform to this world, we are in the process of being transformed and renewed by His Spirit. (Romans 12:2). He's not interested in our ceremonial sacrifices, but our hearts. In 1 Peter 2:5, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." We are designed for the purpose of offering up acceptable sacrifices to God. Not animal sacrifices of old, but "spiritual" sacrifices: Prayer (Rev. 8:4). Giving (Philippians 4:18). Praise (Hebrews 13:15). Good Work and Sharing What We Have (Hebrews 13:16; Ephesians 2:8-10). Ourselves (Romans 12:1).
God is awesome and worthy of our praise. He can be trusted with our prayers, our resources, our praise, our works and our lives.
"Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life" John 6:27 Jesus is that Bread of Life, only He can satisfy our longing souls. Seekin
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
