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ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 5
Vanities in divine matters, Ecc_5:1-7. In murmuring and repining, Ecc_5:8. In riches and covetousness. Ecc_5:9,10; for riches rob men of ease, Ecc_5:11,12, procure their death, Ecc_5:13, fly away, Ecc_5:14, cannot be carried with them into the grave, Ecc_5:15-17. A contented life best: this is the gift of God, Ecc_5:18-20.
The seven first verses of this chapter are inserted partly as the only effectual remedy against all the foregoing vanities, and partly as a caution to take heed of bringing vanity into the service of God, or of worshipping God vainly and foolishly.
Keep thy foot; the feet of thy soul, which are the thoughts and affections, by which men go to God, and walk or converse with him. Make straight steps. See that your hearts be purged from sin, and prepared and furnished with all graces or necessary qualifications, as good intention, reverence, humility, &c. It is a metaphor from one that walketh in a very slippery path, in which there needs more than ordinary care to keep him from falling.
The house of God; the place of God’s solemn and public worship, whether the temple or synagogue.
Be more ready, Heb. more near, more forward and inclinable. Prefer this duty before the following.
To hear; to hearken to and obey God’s word, there read and preached by the priests or prophets; for hearing is very frequently put in Scripture for obeying.
The sacrifice of fools; such as foolish and wicked men use to offer, who vainly think to please God with the multitude and costliness of their sacrifices without true piety or obedience.
They consider not that they do evil; they are not sensible of the great sinfulness of such thoughts and practices, but, like fools, think they do God good service; which is implied, as is usual in such expressions.