INTRODUCTION:

    1. Solomon appears on the scene, coming up out of the wilderness, to draw the Shulamite woman after him.
    2. If the Shulamite woman and her beloved shepherd picture the relation between Christ and His churches,
        the appearance of Solomon must present the attempt of Satan (through the world & worldly religion) to
        draw us away from the truth that is in Christ.
    3. II Corinthians 11:1-4 -- Paul's fear for the Corinthians was that:
        a. Their minds would be corrupted (away) from the simplicity that is in Christ.
        b. That they might "bear with" one who came preaching "another Jesus."
    4. Paul realized the possibility of this because of:

  I. THE DECEITFUL BEAUTY OF THE WORLD -- VS. 6.

    1. See how Solomon appears.
        a. Out of the wilderness.
        b. Like pillars of smoke.
        c. Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.
        d. With all powders of the merchant.  What a royal display!
    2. See how Satan presents himself in religion -- II Corinthians 11:10-15.
        a. "Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."
        b. "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
        c. "His ministers . . . transformed as the ministers of righteousness."
        d. TRANSFORM = alter one's appearance in order to hide what is within.
            (Contrast with "transform" in Ro. 12:2.)
    3. Matthew 7:15 -- Jesus warned of false prophets "which come unto you in sheep's clothing, but
        inwardly they are ravening wolves."
    4. Jude 16 -- Speaks of the activities of these as they heap praise on men in order to gain their loyalty or support.
        (Also, II Peter 2:18.)
    5. The world holds a "form of godliness" (w/o the power) before us, shows us its apparent success and says,
        "This is what you can have if you will forsake God's way for man's way."
    6. Worldly religion today puts on a royal display.
        a. Grand buildings.
        b. "Exciting," entertaining services. (The worship of God should excite us without man's efforts to make it
            "exciting.")
        c. "Successful" (by the world's standards) programs (which take glory away from God).
    7. We must remember the appearance of Lucifer before his fall.
        a. Name meant "shining one."
        b. Ezekiel 28:13 -- Musical, beauty to his voice.
        c. Was over the material creation.
    8. Satan presents himself as beautiful to men.
        a. Beer ads -- "Doesn't get any better than this."
        b. Reality is seen in drunk in gutter covered with flies and his own vomit.
    9. The "beauty" of Satan, sin, and the world is deceitful beauty.

 II. THE DISPLAYED BOLDNESS OF THE WORLD -- VV. 7-8.

    1. Again notice Solomon's appearance.
        a. Threescore (60) valiant men of Israel about his bed.
        b. Expert in war.
        c. Every man has his sword upon his thigh.
        d. This is a picture of might/strength.
    2. Note the boldness of the world (and worldly religion).
        a. They preach another Jesus -- II Cor. 11:4 ; >Gal. 1:9.
        b. Seek to draw men after themselves -- Acts 20:29-30.
        c. Deny the Lord -- II Peter 2:1 ; Jude 4.
        d. Turn the grace of God into lasciviousness -- Jude 4.
        e. Seek to "make merchandise" of God's people and the Lord's churches.
            1) II Peter 2:3.
            2) MAKE MERCHANDISE = make gain of; cheat.
    3. Notice the arrogance of lost mankind.
        a. Psalm 14:1 -- Denies the existence of God.
        b. Romans 1:20-23 -- Exchanges the glory of God for the disgrace of man.
        c. Romans 1:32 -- Glories in the sin of man.
        d. Eph. 2:2 -- Walks according to the "prince oof the power of the air."
        e. Living according to the lust and pride of their flesh -- I John 2:16.
    4. It was lost religious men who:
        a. Denied the diety of Jesus.
        b. Accused Him of doing miracles by Satan's power.
        c. Rejected Him and nailed Him to the cross.

III. THE DEVIOUS BECKONING OF THE WORLD -- VV. 9-10.

    1. The further description of Solomon's bed.  (CHARIOT = bed.)
        a. Made of the wood of Lebanon.
        b. Pillars of silver; bottom of gold.
        c. Covering of purple.
        d. Why? Paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem -- attraction.
    2. Satan causes sin to look attractive -- James 1:13-15.
        a. DRAWN AWAY = make to revolt; cause to depart.
        b. ENTICED = to catch by a bait.
    3. Sin is pleasurable to the flesh -- Hebrews 11:24-25.
    4. Proverbs 7:6-23 -- Describes the beckoning of the world and of sin.
        a. Vv. 10-14 -- The appearance of it.
        b. Vv. 21-23 -- The attraction of it.
    5. God's Word warns us against the attraction of the world and things that are easy to get into but hard to get out of.
        a. Proverbs 6:27-28.
        b. I Corinthians 5:6.

  CONCLUSION:

    1. As we attempt to serve God, Satan and his forces are doing their best to stop us.
        a. II Corinthians 10:3.
        b. Ephesians 6:11-12.
    2. Satan is very wiley.
        a. Eph. 6:11 -- "The wiles (methods) of tthe devil."
        b. II Cor. 2:11 -- "For we are not ignorant of his devices."
    3. Just as Solomon sought to woo the Shulamite woman from her beloved, Satan seeks to draw us away
        from Christ and His churches away from the truth.
        a. This woman remained true to her beloved. (In chap. 4 we see her expressions of love for him.)
        b. We must show the same fidelity with and faithfulness to our Lord.