1Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. 2Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. 4When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. 5It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.
The author finally and clearly acknowledges that we should turn to God. “Talk is cheap, fear God instead.” Don’t just come to God talking nonstop when you pray. It is worth sitting in his presence in silence every now and then. And when we are called to “fear” God, it means we remember that we are living in relationship with the one true God who is far beyond what we could hope or imagine. God, who is in heaven, is divine, timeless, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, and still chooses to live in relationship with all of us. We live in one place at a time, are here for only a short time, can only acquire a little knowledge, and have very little power. Yet God hears us when we pray and even responds!
Have you heard the song based on these verses? “Let my words be few,” by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, is a simple yet beautiful song that draws us to a God that truly inspires awe. Sometimes we need to simply sit and rest in the presence of the God who hears us and allow him to love us. He is with you today!
Take a few minutes to sit back, breathe in and out slowly, and think about how awesome it is that God listens to you when you call out to him. Speak slowly, listen intently, and allow God to breathe new life into you. Remember how God came to Elijah when he was waiting on the mountain expecting God to come in a big way. Listen for that still, small voice. God might possibly be whispering gently to you today.