prophet Isaiah at Isa 25:6, 8 will be fulfilled: “On this mountain the LORD of Hosts [Jehovah of armies] will prepare a banquet of rich fare for all the peoples, a banquet of wines well matured and richest fare, well-matured wines strained clear. . . . he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord GOD [the Sovereign Lord Jehovah] will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the reproach of his people from the whole earth. The LORD [Jehovah] has spoken.” (NE, NW) What a glorious prospect for all who, because of their faith, survive the “great tribulation”!

What Did the Wise Man Mean?

BEING the Creator of heaven and earth, the Most High merits our reverential fear and awe. In a forceful way, King Solomon emphasized this when he wrote: “Guard your feet whenever you go to the house of the true God; and let there be a drawing near to hear, rather than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do, for they are not aware of doing what is bad. Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for your heart, let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the true God. For the true God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why your words should prove to be few.”​—Eccl. 5:1, 2.

When it comes to a place of worship, a person should rightly keep in mind where he is going, watching his step. The “house of the true God” surely is no place for morally defiled people or for those having no regard for sacred things. (Ps. 15:1-5) It is a place for “hearing,” that is, paying attention to or obeying divine precepts.

A person should not be like a fool who fails to use his reasoning faculties and chooses a course contrary to God’s commands. The fool may offer a sacrifice as a religious duty or as an outward manifestation of piety. Yet he refuses to recognize that this makes his sacrifice valueless, in fact, detestable to God. Proverbs 21:27 makes this clear: “The sacrifice of the wicked ones is something detestable. How much more so when one brings it along with loose conduct [“vileness at heart,” New English Bible].”

On account of God’s greatness​—for he resides in the highest heavens—​a person should also give careful thought to his prayers. The heart, as the organ that motivates, should not be allowed to prompt impulsive, thoughtless words. One should approach God with a full awareness of his majesty and dignity and not carelessly ramble on when praying. It is more appropriate to express oneself in few but heartfelt, reverential words.

Fortifying his point with a proverbial saying, Solomon continues: “For a dream