Introduction: No wonder the Song of Solomon is called the Song of Songs. This most beautiful of songs speaks of the faithfulness of the Shulamite to her beloved shepherd under the most persuasive of pressures.
In our last time together, Solomon, not to be outdone by the love sonnets of the shepherd, breaks into the conversation between the Shulamite and the court ladies and does his best to sweet-talk the Shulamite.
When Solomon stopped his speech, the Shulamite had some things to say.
1. The Shulamite's explanation. - Song 6:11-12
"I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib."
- She explains that this whole meeting with Solomon had nothing to do with her and her desire.
- She went to the nut garden quite innocently with no design on her part. She didn't want to meet Solomon. It was all on the part of the king.
- The phrase in verse 12, "...Or ever I was aware" tells of her innocence in the matter. It means she went to the garden "unwittingly," i.e., without pre-thought, without knowing, unsuspectingly, unintentionally, accidentally, inadvertently, unconsciously.
- The phrase, "...the chariots of Amminadib," refers to the day Solomon and his nobles took her away from the garden and her shepherd.
2. The king's plea. - Song 6:13a
"Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee..."
- Obviously, she turned away from the king and started to leave. He pleads with her to turn around and look at him so he can see her face.
3. The Shulamite's answer. - Song 6:13b
"...What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies. "
- In other words, "What will you see in me? Just another pretty face for you and your nobles to gaze upon?"
- She did not share the sentiments of the king concerning his view of her. She did not what to be the object of their gawking.
4. The king's final advance. - Song 7:1-9
- Perhaps, remembering how the Shepherd spoke tenderly of the Shulamite, the king here tries his hand at sweet-talk and allurements.
- We must remember that Solomon is the seducer in the story. His words are not sweet as were those of the beloved shepherd. His were coarse flatteries all designed to lure the Shulamite away from her beloved and into his collection of a thousand women.
- It is my opinion that his flatteries worked on all the others; they did not work here. His flatteries included comments about:* Her sandaled feet.
* Her thighs.
* Her naval.
* Her belly (referring to her body).
* Her bosom (thrice-mentioned in these verses).
* Her neck.
* Her eyes.
* Her nose.
* Her head.
* Her hair.
* Her hairstyle, "...and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries." (Song 7:5) He was captivated by the tiny ringlets of her hair.
* Her stature.
* Her words, "...the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak." (Song 7:9) In plain words, her words were intoxicating to him!- As we will see in our next study, the king's flatteries did not work on this faithful young woman.
Conclusion: The very same thing Solomon taught his son Rehoboam in Proverbs 1:10 is the very thing he got into trouble with here, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
Solomon knew all about enticement. Solomon was not teaching his son to say "no" to sin, but rather, to the enticement of sin. What is enticement? The word "entice" means "to be open (minded) to sin and the thought of sin." It is the environment which invites and promotes the acts of sin. We are so wrong if we create an environment in which sin can be committed! It is not enough for the Christian to just say "no" to sin, he must first say "no" to the environment which promotes and encourages it!
Solomon took the time that was necessary to teach his son that those, who entice, will try to lure him into sin. They would do so by creating an enticing environment.
Rehoboam's potential for stepping into sin was just as strong as anyone else's. His father was Solomon. Solomon's father was David. He was the son of the man in the Bible who is called by God "a man after God's own heart," yet he still had the potential to sin just like every other young person in the world.
However, I believe that we have become somewhat hardened to the areas that create enticement. Some of these enticements are more obvious than others. In order to avoid sin, you must avoid the enticement to sin.
- Signs on the highway never warn you about driving into a ditch, but they do warn you if the road is slippery, icy, or wet. They warn you of loose gravel. Normally, they do not tell you not to wreck; they warn you of the circumstances that may cause you to wreck!
- Before you sin, there is the enticement to sin. If you really want to sin less, stay away from the enticement to sin! The book of Proverbs is a rulebook to keep us as far from enticement as possible with God's help. What are SOME of these enticements?1. When you lay out of church and when you stop tithing.
2. Window shopping, mall walking, wish books, hanging around, street walking, unscheduled days (hours, etc.).
3. Watching some of these game shows that make you desire what the contestants are winning, soap operas, pornography, public beaches.
4. Night clubs, bars, breweries, company parties, mixed swimming.
5. Video stores, movie theaters, public skating rinks, compromising churches, secular college dorms, worldly music, secular organizations for your kids or yourself, the lodge, prime-time TV, late-night TV.
6. Fellowship with critics, running with the wrong crowd, listening to gossip.
7. Most all secular magazines, including Sports Illustrated, and People. Well, what is there to read then? (Hold up the Word of God!)
8. Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, Central City, 7-11's Lotto, Bingo, Powerball!
** If there is no enticement, there will not be as strong of a chance to sin! What are some places where you won't find enticement?
1. How about staying faithful to church like you're supposed to?
2. How about keeping a well-worn path to the altar?
3. How about making your Christian home stronger?
4. How about keeping your Bible close at hand and well-read?
The Shulamite apparently learned how and when to say "no" to the enticement of sin. She would not be lured away from her shepherd. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Remember, to avoid this death, you must avoid the steps that take you there:
- Enticement; open-mindedness to sinfulness.
- Lust; strong desire for this sinfulness.
- Sin; the act of transgression itself.
- Death; the last step to destruction.
As we try to live for Jesus, let's stay as far away from enticement
as we can. Let's be like the Shulamite and say "no"
to sin's allurements. Remember, the wrong road always leads to
the wrong place!