In | Foolishness and Authenticity

Ecclesiastes often speaks of the same topics and concerns as other books of the Bible—and promotes the same relationship with God. As we’ve seen, there have been times when the Israelites were more interested in religious rituals than in obedience. We heard Samuel rebuke the people for this in an earlier module:

And Samuel said,

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)

We hear the same message in the Psalms:

O LORD, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:15-17 (ESV)

In both 1 Samuel and Psalm 51 we find sacrifice apart from obedience criticized. The Prophets, too, will take up this subject. Ecclesiastes weighs in as well, with a familiar message and a distinctive emphasis. True to the genre of Wisdom Literature, the Teacher reminds us that sacrifices without obedience and without a contrite heart are not only empty but foolish. 

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-5 (ESV)

God desires wisdom and acts of authenticity. Those who do not appreciate this are not only sinners, but also fools who are out of touch with reality. God desires obedience. Obedience for the teacher is an expression of wisdom. Disobedience, on the other hand, is an expression of confusion and disconnection from reality. It is foolishness, and God “has no pleasure in fools.” 

Reference: David Hubbard, Mastering the Old Testament: Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, 1991, pp. 91-97.