Don't Wait To Long To Answer

DON’T WAIT TO LONG TO ANSWER

Solomon’s Song 5:1-8

Intro: In Solomon’s Song there are three major characters. Solomon, the Shulamite and the shepherd lover. Now in this encounter you have to pay close attention to the scriptures to realize the shepherd lover a mysterious type person. He represents the Holy Ghost. Understand that Solomon is not trying to marry her. He is trying to seduce her. Solomon represents the devil. The shepherd lover and Solomon both are tugging at the Shulamite much like the Holy Ghost and the devil battle over us today and if we are not careful when the Holy Ghost comes knocking we fail to answer much like the Shulamite did when the shepherd love came to her rescue. I want to preach on the subject; “DON’T WAIT TO LONG TO ANSWER.” The question is why didn’t she answer and to what and to whom did she fail to answer to:

I. SHE FAILED TO ANSWER BECAUSE SHE WAS SLEEPING

A. There is no doubt the church world is in a state of slumber

B. The most disturbing part about it is most churches will fail to awaken

C. (Solomon 5:2a) I sleep but my heart waketh, it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh…

D. Here we see that although she was asleep that still small voice managed to penetrate her heart

II. HE WANTED TO SEE HER

A. Her heart was awakened to the begging voice of her lover saying

B. (Solomon 5:2b) …Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: She was innocent and pure

C. He says all of the right words and tells her how long he’s been waiting in

the night just to get to see her

D. (Solomon 5:2c) for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night

E. He wanted to come in. He wanted to be in love with her

III. SHE OFFERED SILLY EXCUSES

A. And her reasons were absolutely silly

B. She had two excuses for not answering

1. The first concerned itself with her nightly relaxation

2. The second concerned itself with a nightly ritual

C. (Solomon 5:3a) I have put of my coat; how shall I put it on?

D. She was comfortable and she wasn’t getting up for no one

E. (Solomon 5:3b) I have washed my feet how shall I defile them?

1. She wasn’t about to get her feet dirty for anyone

F. Many Christians and churches have gotten in that shape today because the Holy Ghost has come and knocked and shown them a work and they have refused to answer

IV. SHE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND

A. Finally, she woke up enough to answer the call

B. (Solomon 5:5a) I rose up to open to my beloved

C. By this time it was too late

D. She was completely aware of the enormity of the offense

E. In an effort to lure him back she plunged her hand into the myrrh. That sweet smelling perfume hoping he would smell it and come back

F. (Solomon 5:5b) and my hands dropped with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock

V. SHE WAS SORRY SHE HAD WAITED TO LONG

A. (Solomon 5:6a) I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone

B. She had waited so long to answer the call and waited for her time that when she did it was to late

C. Misery, hopelessness and a sense of shame and loss sweep over her soul

D. (Solomon 5:6b) my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him, I called him but he gave me no answer

E. She was ready to do something now but she had waited to long to answer

F. You may say answer what

1. It could be the call of salvation for some of you

2. For others it could be the call to service

G. But one thing is for sure when he’s gone he may never come back

H. You can lay around if you want to but if you wait to long to answer the call there is no guarantee he is going to be there

VI. SHE WENT SEARCHING FOR HIM

A. If you turn him away over and over and He leaves you will be sorry

B. There is a price to pay for it as well

C. She went out on her own trying to find him again. She wanted him to return but it proved to be more than she could handle

D. (Solomon 5:7) The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me