Pay the Vow made to God and Fear God (Ecc 5:3-7)

PAY THE VOW MADE TO GOD AND FEAR GOD (Ecc 5:3-7): 

After cautioning about guiding the steps and words before God, the author writes specifically regarding the words. The author says that a dream comes with much business, which is very true as the dream about something comes when there are more exposure and experience about it. When a person is involved with many things, a dream arises within him. Likewise, a fool perplexes the self with so many things and there will be ultimately irrelevant words and that’s why the author writes that the fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words.

There are always promises and claims made before God when there are difficult times. Also, there will be vows made during some occasions of life. The author says that we need to be careful when we make a vow to God and we should never forget to fulfill it. God doesn’t have pleasure in the words of the fools as there is no meaning in it. Likewise, a vow made when not paid has no meaning in it. The author stresses that the vow made should be paid. God is all-knowing and he is incomprehensible, thereby he knew everything that a person thinks and speaks. Everyone should be accountable for the words that are spoken. Therefore the author says that it is better not to make a vow for a person, than making vows but doesn’t pay it.

The tongue is the most powerful part of the human body, it could construct as well as destroy things through it. The words produced by the tongue have a much longer impact at times, more than the actions at times. After talking about keeping the vow that arises out of the mouth, the author says about the relation between the words and the actions, by writing that mouth should not cause the flesh to sin. The words are the outcome of inner attitude and decisiveness and the expression of words is not a mistake most of the time. The author says that a person could not tell that it was an error, before the angel after allowing the mouth to cause any sin. Because it would be merely a lie and the person actually sinned with all his knowledge. So, God would be angry as he knows everyone by looking at their hearts and their intentions before the words arise out of their mouth, and He will destroy the work of their hands. Again the author cautions that when the dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity. Because as the dreams become more, it will just remain dreams that are meaningless and there will not be any movement towards fulfillment. Likewise, in many words, there will not be trust, truth, and taste. The author concludes by telling us to fear God who is our creator and who knows everything, even the thoughts before a word arises out of the tongue. God alone could add flavor to all our words.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What comes out of a dream? How?

2.    What does the author say about fool’s words?

3.    What we ought to do when we vow before God? Why?

4.    What is better than a vow?

5.    Which should not lead to sin? Why?

6.    Why it should not be said that it was a mistake that the mouth lead to sin?

7.    Why God is angry and destroys the work of hands?

8.    What happens when dreams and words increase?

9.    Why do we need to fear God?

10.    How can we keep ourselves safe from our words?