Introduction: No one enjoys admitting failure. However, when failure is inevitable, one, who is honest, must admit it. The only other alternative is to live in a state of denial.
Solomon was beaten. The words of the Shulamite affirm this in an undeniable declaration to the king and to the court ladies.
1. The Shulamite's last declaration. - Song 7:10
"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me."
- Was she rude? I think not, for this was not and has not been her way. She has been gentle yet firm with the rest of the harem and with the king.
- She declares, "I belong to my beloved shepherd, not to you!" The king had given his final advance toward this girl. He had stated his final plea. Without hesitation, she says she belongs to someone else.
- Solomon had expressed his desire. Now, the Shulamite says of her shepherd, "...his desire is toward me."
- Secure in the love of her shepherd, she had no desire for anyone else. She needed no other king; she had someone to whom she had pledged her love and allegiance.
2. The Shulamite's last call. - Song 7:11-8:3
"Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved...O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."
- As the Song of Songs continues and nears its conclusion, we have found that Solomon had promised to elevate her to the highest place and to raise her above all the other concubines and queens if she would comply with his wishes; but faithful to her engagement, she refused all his advances on the plea that her affections were pledged to another.
- In these few verses, she, once again, calls out to her beloved to come and take her away.
- She expresses her desire that her shepherd be close to her instead of far away as he has been. She wants him close like family is close.
- The harem had despised her, Solomon had tempted her, but her shepherd had respected her. She wanted him only!
3. The Shulamite's last charge. - Song 8:4
"I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please."
- She, again, charges the rest of the harem, to not try to change her mind. She was steadfast and sure in her resolve to be faithful.
- Horatio Palmer penned "Yield Not to Temptation."
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through. (Refrain)
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He'll carry you through.
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God's Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through. (Refrain)
To him that o'ercometh, God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He Who is our Savior our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through. (Refrain)
The Shulamite was able to say "no" to the many temptations and allurements presented to her by the court-ladies and King Solomon himself. How was she able to withstand these allurements and remain faithful to her shepherd?
The same way we can withstand these allurements and remain faithful to our Good Shepherd. Here is the picture God paints for us:
- The shepherd pictures the Saviour.
- The Shulamite pictures the saved.
- Solomon pictures Satan.
Our weapons against temptation are powerful if only we would avail ourselves upon them. We must understand some facts about temptation:
- It is real. James 1:14 states, "But every man is tempted..."
- It is dangerous. James 1:14 again says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away..." It will draw you away from God's plan for your life.
- It centers around you. James 1:14 tells us how this happens, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust..." Yes, Satan tempts with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; but you alone must decide whether or not to fall to it.
- You can win over temptation, because God said so.
* Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife, "And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." (Genesis 39:12)
* We are told to flee fornication in 1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee fornication..."
* We are told to flee idolatry in 1 Corinthians 10:14, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."
* We are told to flee all sin in 1 Timothy 6:11, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things..."
* We are told to flee youthful lusts in 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts..."
In that we are commanded to flee these things, God must be able to enable us to do so. According to Ephesians 6, there are two steps which help us escape when temptation comes.
- Put on the whole armor of God, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS; And your feet shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL of peace; Above all, taking the shield of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is THE WORD OF GOD." (Ephesians 6:13-17) All of these pieces of armor deal with the direction of our lives. When we choose wrongly, it means the armor is off.
- Pray for all saints, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:18) This is the key to making it all work, and it does work!
* You must hit temptation where it hurts the tempter most. Satan trembles when a sincere Christian prays.
It works like this: every time a temptation comes your way, immediately begin to pray for God's people, especially for those in spiritual leadership in your life.
- If you must, make a list of people in spiritual leadership and other saints; and when you're tempted, pull out the list, and pray for all saints. When you do this, you will find the temptation leaving you.
- When you do this rightly, the Devil has no defense.
Conclusion: The Shulamite beat the temptation of the king and his court-ladies. You can beat the temptation of the Devil and his allurements.
You can say "no" to more sin than you do. Are you?