“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.  Be not be rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-3.

This passage gives advice on proper worship when we go to the house of God.  This includes approaching worship submissively with reverence, as Moses approached the burning bush.  We should be ready to hear from God with relatively few words required from us.  “To hear” in Hebrew means to pay attention and to obey.  The fact that God is far above us should temper our speech while worshiping in His presence.  We are not to offer the sacrifice of fools which is hasty speech and avoid recklessness in prayers, promises or devotion to God.

This is not to suggest that we should not participate in a worship service.  I Corinthians 14:26 notes – “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.  Let all things be done unto edifying.”  The key is to come to a worship service with such an attitude of reverence for God that we have a predisposition against foolish speaking but rather for listening to God.  Only as God leads us are we to participate in a service and only in a an orderly manner that edifies rather than promotes confusion.  “For god is not a God of confusion but of peace.” I Corinthians 14:33.