Ending the Pattern of Defeat
Keep Your Shoes On - Ending the Pattern of Defeat
text: Song of Solomon 5:2-8
Song 5:2 ¶ I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. 6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The watchmen that went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. 8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
In her love-sickness, she is determined to both FIND Him whom her soul loves and not to miss Him again! --- Ending the Pattern of Defeat.
INTRODUCTION - Shoes
[Barefeet] Slavery and Servanthood [Moses at Burning Bush (Ex. 3:5)]
Exodus 3:5 PUT OFF thy shoes, holy ground
- Moses did not have the ability to redeem Israel, no authority to command Pharoah
- but GOD did!
- A Season for Brokenness before a Season for Boldness.
[Shoes] Power and Authority [Prodigal Son Put Shoes on His Feet "Luke 15:22".]
Lu 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
- 1. READINESS & 2. RIGHTS
READINESS - Shulamite Lady (SOS 5:3)
Song 5:3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them
- It is inconvenient and troublesome to do it at this time.
- Keep your shoes on - Maintaining a State of Readiness (easier to stay ready; preacher/farmer: stay ready to keep from getting ready.)
Exodus 12:11 eat it, with your shoes on...[passover]
Do not enter that battlefield unprepared. A state of readiness Or a state of leisure. We have become far TOO COMFORTABLE around carnal devices. [computers, phones, tablets even in church.] READY TO RUN
2Ti 2:22 -- Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
RIGHTS - The Brother (Having both the POWER and RIGHT still refused)
Deut. 25:5-10 she will take off his shoe, spit in his face before the elders...his name shall be called in Israel, THE HOUSE OF HIM THAT HATH HIS SHOE LOOSED. [refusal to marry]
- Stripping off the symbol of one's power and authority.
- As a sign of his resignation of all his rights involving the woman
CONCLUSION - ALTAR CALL
- His voice, his knocking, she put off, but
- Her heart skipped a beat as she saw his hand pass by.
- We find her described in chapter 7
Song of Solomon 7:1 - How beautiful are thy feet with shoes,...
These, like all her other ornaments, are the gift of her heavenly Bridegroom.
- God has done something for you this week, hold on to it. Keep your shoes on.