Anonymous
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Joshua Yap
In 1 Sam 15:22 it says "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 heed than the fat of rams." In those times sacrifice was part of religion as a worship to God, but many did not carry a heart of obedience and true worship. So they just offered sacrifices as an outward appearance. So in ecclesiastes Solomon warns us not to do the same. Also in the chapter it speaks about keeping your vows. God takes our words and vows seriously, so do not take it lightly as he holds them accountable to us.
Jack Gutknecht
Great question! ECCLESIASTES 5:1 says in the AMPC, “Keep your foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil.” MSG: “Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, doing more harm than good.” NLT: “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.” “Offerings in the hands without obedient faith in the heart become ‘the sacrifice of fools,’ because only a fool thinks he can deceive God.”--The-Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Old-Testament See too the ESV--English Standard Version: "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." Ecc. 5:1: Guard: People should approach God’s presence carefully and with humility. To offer a sacrifice of fools Refers to sacrifices or any other outward expression of religion done without obedience. (1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 21:27; Isa. 1:11–20). Faithlife Study Bible Proverbs 21:27: The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it †with a wicked mind? †Heb. In wickedness? Lev. 18:17; 19:29; 20:14.Pr. 10:23 (Heb.). Pr. 24:9 (Heb.).
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