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.

Ecclesiates 5:1 esv

Silence is a rare commodity for most of us. We are surrounded by machines—computers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, radios and more—that inundate us with noise, humming incessantly like a soundtrack in the movie of our life. Then there’s the chatter from others—not in relational dialogue, but through texts, posts, pokes, emails and the lot, which come to us with such urgency we dare not ignore them. Sadly, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be quiet, and rarely experience the recreating power of silence and solitude.

Nowhere is this more damaging than in our spiritual journey. It feels impossible to quiet our souls, so we avoid time alone with God, or when we do manage a few moments to pray, we chatter away, filling the uncomfortable void with a monologue that leaves us more anxious than before. 

From Genesis to Revelation, we see a relational God–he not only hears the cries of his children but shares his heart with them. Finding peace in his presence comes from learning to silence the noise long enough to listen to that still, small voice. King Solomon offers some striking wisdom about this in our passage today. 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. Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins. So our passage commences with the demeanour of the worshipper on his way to the house of God. He is to keep his foot; that is, to go deliberately, thoughtfully, with realisation of what he is about to do. He is to ‘draw near to hear’ and to bethink himself, while drawing near, of what his purpose should be. 

Bible Hub