The Sirens of Greek Mythology

I originally heard Pastor Chuck Smith speak on this subject years ago. Since then I have used the story several times, modifying it to fit the subject matter of the flesh verses the Spirit.

In Greek mythology we read of the Sirens, women living on an island in the Mediterranean, surrounded by cliffs and rocks. Singing their song, they lured seamen sailing by toward the island, wrecking on the rocks and perishing. Thus the island was the scene of many a shipwreck.

Their music was known throughout the world for it’s beauty.

Ulysses decided that he wanted to hear the music of the Sirens. So he took his sailors and plugged their ears with wax, he had them tie him to the mast of the ship. He then ordered them to row by the island that he might hear the music of the Sirens. As the music floated over the waters out to the ship, Ulysses began to scream to his sailors, “Turn in towards shore, turn in towards shore!”

But their ears were full of wax and they could not hear his cries. He struggled trying to free himself, trying madly to turn the ship in towards the shore. His sailors, unable to hear his cries, did not respond to his commands, and safely sailed past the island. Thus, Ulysses was one of the few men able to hear the music of the Sirens and not be destroyed.

Yet, there was another ship that sailed successfully past. It was the ship of Orpheus, the flute player. As his ship was sailing past and the music began to flow out towards them, the men began to get excited and to turn the ship towards shore.

Orpheus realizing the danger took out his flute and began to play such beautiful music that it completely overcame the music of the Sirens. The men were so enchanted by the music of Orpheus that they sailed by and thus were not lured to their destruction.

While this is an entertaining myth, there is a parallel in Christianity.

There are those Christians whose lives are dominated by the flesh and the desires of the flesh. They flirt with sin, seeing how close they can come without really sinning. Though they know that they should turn from the things of the world, the song of the world compels them to come. Thus they constantly struggle with the things of the flesh. Like Ulysses, they struggle against the mast, inwardly entertaining there desires, while outwardly trying to maintain a sense of denial.

There are those Christians whose lives, while tempted by the desires of the flesh, live free from the things of the world that compel them to come. Thus, for them, the song of the world holds no sway for them as they hear a sweeter song, that of the Holy Spirit. The song He sings overcomes the song of the world. Thus they sail on by the temptations of the world, focusing on the song of the Spirit, escaping the destruction that results from listening to the song of the world.

So, what kind of Christian are you? Are you tied to the mast, struggling against the work of the Spirit in your life. Do you outwardly appear to be in submission to the Spirit, all the while inwardly desiring to submit yourselves to the song of the world and the destruction it brings?

Or are you the kind of Christian who is listening to a sweeter song, the song of the Spirit? Are you, while being tempted by the song of the world, able to sail on past by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus avoiding destruction?

The difference between the two is the difference between struggling in the flesh verses submission to the Holy Spirit and the power He gives. If you find yourself struggling with the song of the world, why not submit yourself to the work of the Spirit in your life and the power He gives? Until you do, you will never be able to resist the song of the world and escape the destruction it brings.

Yet if you do, you will still be tempted; however, in the time of temptation you will hear Him sing His song, so enchanting that you will sail on by and escape being lured to destruction.