Deut 12:9 speaks of Israel not yet coming to "the rest" which God was going to give them. This is picked up in Heb 4.   Before the "Law of Moses" God's rest was the Sabbath Day. Then, the rest became the Promised Land, (or should have done).  Then (Heb 4:9) "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God", that is, the Kingdom. And this becomes our hope, too.

V.26 The tithes mentioned in V.17 are not to be considered normal tithes, which belonged to the Levites, but they were extraordinary tithes or gifts, which the people carried to the sanctuary to be presented as peace offerings, and on which, after being offered and the allotted portion given to the priest, they feasted with their families Lev 27:30

12:1     ‘all the days’ is picked up repeatedly in Ecc 2:3, 5:18, 6:12, , 9:9 thus teaching us that the lessons of the wilderness journey are typical of the lessons of life in general.

Deut 12 The repeated point that God was going to choose the place of worship seen in this chapter forces us to realise that our worship should be according to God’s plan, not our own.

HOW TO WORSHIP
 
There were some specific requirements God gave to Israel with regards to the way in which they worshipped him. The formula for worship is repeated twice so that its impact would not be lost.

1. They were to go to the place the LORD had chosen. (Deut 12:5,11) For the Jews that place became the temple in Jerusalem. For us, we are told not to give up meeting together (Heb 10:25) which may mean in churches, hired halls, homes or in public places. The important thing is to  make the effort to meet together.
2. It was to this place they were to bring gifts and offerings for the LORD. (Deut 12:6,11) The writer to the Hebrews continues saying, "Let us not give up meeting together ... but let us encourage one another." When we meet together to seek the LORD, let's bring our gifts of encouragement and prayer, and the sacrifice of praise.
3. At this time of worship, God commanded that the Israelites must worship with their families. (v.7,12) All too often our church services are not family friendly. Often when we meet together to worship our children are looked after in a creche or at Sunday School and worship is segregated. Yet God's way is that we worship with our families and not to do it just as we please.
4. Lastly they were told to rejoice. (v.7,12) Getting together to worship should not be such a solemn occasion that we do not rejoice. Instead let us count our blessings and rejoice with our families and fellow believers, encouraging them and rejoicing in the blessings God has given.

12:8     In saying ‘the shall not do everything whatsoever is right in thine own eyes’ we see Moses laying down a principle which is then presented as being violated in the time of the Judges – Judg 17:6, 21:25

12:2 ‘Utterly destroy’ in unequivocal. It speaks to us also about our involvement with the things of this life.

Vs.2,3 Israel was told to destroy every vestige of idolatry.  Out of sight out of mind seems to fit the directive.  We too must destroy everything that dissuades us from giving full service to Christ.

V.19 Those who devoted themselves to the service of God had to be provided for by the rest of the community.  The Law shows why that provision is sound (Deut 25:4). Paul was also dedicated to the work of the Lord.  He had the same claim to community support and quoted the same provision under the Law (1Cor 9:9).  However, he declined to take advantage of it (1Cor 9:12).  He paid his way by continuing his occupation as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3).

The children of Israel were now allowed to eat meat wherever they wanted (v15). The only stipulation was that they pour out the blood onto the ground, rather than eat it with the meat (v23-24). Why was that? And when they used an animal as a sacrifice, the blood had to be poured out on the altar of the LORD (v27). Why these details in this chapter?

Long before the law of moses was given, God had given the commandment: don't eat meat with the blood (Gen 9:4). This was then echoed in the law (Lev 17:14, Deut 12:23). So the Israelites were used to this rule. Why did it have to be reiterated now?

The answer may be in the context of the end of the chapter. Paraphrased it reads like this:

12:28 The command to do that which was ‘god and right’ was spoken of two of the kings of Judah – Asa 2Chron 14:2 and Hezekiah 2Chron 31:20

5:6 So we see it is our mouth that causes us to sin. Of course this is not always so. However we commit ourselves to things with our mouths but do not fulfil what we have promised.

V.2 - as Peter Cresswell notes, this seems to be relating to the nature of our prayers.  "...let thy words be few". An elderly bro, recently deceased, who had attended where I meet on Sunday gave possibly the most eloquent prayers I ever heard, always brief, and every word counted. We are reminded of those who like to be heard, the vain repetitions of the heathen, and that God knows our needs before we ask Matt 6:5,7,8

5:5 The preacher realises that it is not easy to keep one’s words – therefore it is better not to vow. Jesus develops this point further – Matt 5:34. Jesus’ focus is that we are unable to guarantee our promises

The advice concerning vows (or dedications) in v1-7 is very well illustrated in the examples of Jephthah and Hannah. Jephthah, bouyed up by his promotion to leader of Israel, made a rash vow to God (Judg 11:11, 29-33). It was the work of an instant. Hannah, in contrast, prayed to God out of "the abundance of my complaint and grief" (1Sam 1:16). Both these people vowed to give their child to the Lord, yet only Hannah's vow was blessed.

The key difference in these two cases is highlighted in this passage in Ecclesiastes. "For a dream comes through much activity" (v3) and again in v7 "in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity". The word "activity" is "business" in the AV version of the bible. Solomon seems to be saying that when business is going well, we're at the most danger of dreaming about what we can do for God as Jephtha did. Notice that it was when he was doing well for himself, being promoted overnight to commander of Israel's armies, that he made his vow. In contrast, Hannah's acceptable vow was from her humility. She had no dreams, only pleas.

There is nothing wrong with offering part of our lives to God, but it should be done after much careful deliberation. God does remember even if we don't. God will hold us to our vow. Yet, if we make our pledge in the honesty and humility of our hearts, as Hannah did, God may bless us as a result.

5:9     The need to eat is a great leveller.

V.2  A modern version states this verse as: Think before you speak, and don't make any rash promises to God. He is in heaven and you are on earth, so don't say any more than you have to.  Jephthah serves as an example of not employing this wisdom (Judg 11:30,31).                                                                     

V.5 Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it. This applies initially as a promise to Yahweh, but it should be equally applied to our dealings with each other.  If you promise something, make sure you keep your promise.

5:1 the warning to ‘be more ready to hear’ is quoted in James 1:19. Note the context in James it is all about the way we communicate with God.

V.1 The same advice can be taken by brethren of Christ. Before coming to the altar of Christ (in breaking bread for example) we should be at peace with our brethren. Then, self-examination is necessary to determine if we are spiritually amiss.  The Lord can see through hypocrisy and will not accept any vow if the heart is not right.

V.2 Weigh words before addressing God in prayer.

Vs.10-12 The increase of worldly wherewithal brings increased responsibility and expense.  But, happiness does not increase accordingly.  

Vs.15,16 These verses remind me of some humor: Two Jewish colleagues, Shapiro and Goldberg were attending the funeral of their friend Finestone.  Shapiro turns to Goldberg and says, “You know that Finestone was a very wealthy man – how much did he leave?”  Goldberg looks sharply at Shapiro and says, “All of it!”  

5:3the word ‘business’ is the same word translated ‘travail’ throughout Ecclesiastes. Notice the relationship between this verse and the previous verses. This is highlighted by the use of the word ‘for ...’ Our life’s experience causes us to ‘dream’ and those ‘dreams’ cause us to want to speak to God. However we must think carefully about how we are going to pray to God rather than just utter the first thing that comes into our minds.

The Forgotten Art of Listening

Listening is the forgotten art. We are so busy making sure that people hear what we have to say that we forget to listen sometimes. Here in  Ecc 5:1, we are instructed to have the attitude of being open and ready to listen, not to have preconceived ideas, not to dictate to God about what we think He should do.

The art of listening is not that difficult to master. If we can train ourselves to keep our mouths shut most of the time, we will be great listeners. Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. Think how the friends that really listen to us are the ones we move toward, and we want to sit in their radius as though it did us good, like ultraviolet rays. Jesus was a good listener, and people drew to him.

Ecc 5:2 - "... therefore let they words be few"

DEVOTED LIVES
Three thousand new believers, determined to start a new life in Christ, were baptized. The decision to make a change in your way of life is easy - it is carrying it through that can be difficult. So these new believers devoted themselves to four things to help them concentrate on living the new life.

1. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. This meant a new set of beliefs, new principles to be guided by, to teach, discuss and to think about. It was a positive base for their new life.
2. They devoted themselves to the fellowship. They realized that to be successful they needed the support of like minded believers to encourage them and help them in the way.
3. They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread. This was the way Jesus said he wanted to be remembered. "Do this in remembrance of me," he said. Regular meeting for breaking bread keeps our focus on Christ.
4. And they devoted themselves to prayer. Without the help of God we will flounder. Prayer also keeps us focused and gives us strength.

If we, like the early believers, devote ourselves to these four things, it will greatly help us in our life in Christ.

2:1 Pentecost is 50 days after Passover. Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after the resurrection (1:3) so these events are a very short while after the ascension of Jesus. Or, putting it another way, the disciples have been ‘on their own’ for a very short time.

V.17 To prophesy does not only mean to foretell the future. Its main meaning is to teach. The simple act of teaching is not only prophesying. to prophesy is to declare those things which cannot be known by nateral means. The Apostles were about to preach those things, which a short while ago they did not fully understand. This can apply to the past, present, and the future. One may suggest that we have a problem with "Daughters prophesying" , when Paul taught that they were not permitted to speak in the churches (1Cor 14:34-35; , 1Tim 2:11-12) Paul here is referring to speaking in the ecclesia, he does not prohibit prophesying outside of such gatherings. We read in Acts 21:9 of four daughters who prophesied, he accepted their hospitality, yet there is no mention of Paul's objection to their teaching. 

2:42 Notice that ‘fellowship; is something that those who were baptized continued in. ‘Fellowship’ is not a set of beliefs which mark us out as different from others. Fellowship is a way of living. We will, if we are in fellowship with each other, seek to spend time with those who share our beliefs. We will attend whatever meetings we can and seek to spend time at a social level with fellow believers also.

There are a number of unfinished quotations in Peter’s speech in today’s chapter:
a) Acts 2:21 stops part way through Joel 2:32. Why? Because there wasn’t deliverance as yet in Jerusalem.
b) Acts 2:28 stops part way through Psa 16:11. Why? Because the pleasures of the Kingdom are not yet there.
c) Acts 2:30 stops after Psa 132:11. Why? Because the “children” of David are not to reign yet.
d) Acts 2:35 stops after Psa 110:1. Why? Because the rod was not yet to rule from Zion.
All of these part quotations show us that the prophecies have dual meanings – part to be fulfilled when Christ came the first time, and part to be completed when he comes to reign.  If we have doubts about this idea of “unfinished quotations” just look again at b). This concludes just half a verse from the end of the Psalm.

Vs.4,6 The Holy Spirit clearly gave the ability to people to be able to communicate in foreign languages. There is no reference here to the popular notion of speaking in tongues as unintelligible sounds.

The days of the first century commenced the beginning of the last days (v.17). Our present time is close to the return of Jesus to earth and to the beginning of a new era. They are at the end of the last days. I prefer to use the term end times to describe the present time.

V.34 David was a man after mine (Yahweh's) own heart which shall fulfil all my will (1Sam 13:4; Acts 13:22). It is interesting that this faithful man did not go to heaven at death. The false pagan notion, of the reward of the faithful going to heaven, is espoused by most Christian churches today.

2:5 That the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came at Passover – 50 days after passover – is significant in the way it enabled the gospel to be spread through the Roman world. Pentecost was one of the times when Jews from all round the world would be in Jerusalem – Deut 16:16 - and who would return to their homes carrying the message of what they had heard and seen in Jerusalem whilst at the feast.

V.13 new wine is more correctly sweet wine.  The phrase is translated from the Greek word gleucus which refers to the sweet substance that is distilled from the grape before it is pressed.  This results in a very strong, sweet wine.  The substance gleucus is better known in English as glucose.

V.15 The third hour was 9 a.m., and was the time for prayer.  And so, Jews would not be eating or drinking at that time.

V.20 This verse echoes Jesus’ words (Matt 24:29). The heavenly bodies represent the civil and religious authorities. The notable day (period of time) of the Lord (KJV) has a double reference.  First, it talks about the fall of Jerusalem which happened in 70 AD, about seven years after the writing of Acts.  Second, it is talking about the day that Jesus returns to earth from heaven. That will be a turbulent time as Jesus puts down all civil and religious authority on the earth and establishes His kingdom.

2:13 Clearly those ‘mocking’ were unable to discern the foreign languages that were being spoken. Maybe it was the religious leaders in Jerusalem who were the ones ‘mocking’ who would have maybe had a knowledge of Greek as well as Hebrew but might have been far less familiar with the other languages being spoken. As they were opposed to the claims of the resurrection they would oppose the preaching of Jesus’ followers.