In Ezekiel 16:8, the Lord speaks to Jerusalem and likewise says, “and I spread my wing over thee, and covered thy nakedness,” and in Psalm 91 we are able to “abide under the shadow of the Almighty ” and “under His wings.”
Ruth And Boaz
Jewish weddings are sometimes performed under a prayer shawl held up during the ceremony by four poles called a chupa or huppah. In Mid East culture they cast a garment over one being claimed for marriage.
Ruth is a foreigner and through loving kindness to her mother in law Naomi catches the attention a wealthy landowner, Boaz. He makes the comment to her
May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2 v 12
Later Ruth approaches him at the threshing floor…
In Ruth 3:9 Ruth found herself at the feet of Boaz, and as he awakened, he was moved with her vulnerability. Women were not to do things of this nature in those days, but in complete honesty and openness she said to him, spread thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman Ruth was saying, Take me under your WING. Cover me, is a term of intimacy.
Boaz was an honorable man and did the honorable thing. They were married, and she became his bride. Here she was, a Moabite woman from a foreign country, grafted into the nation of Israel. She had the right to be covered by her Jewish spouses Talis. This is a symbolic expression of marriage.
It is interesting to note that a similar custom still prevails at an orthodox Jewish wedding, when the bridegroom covers his bride with his tallit, his prayer shawl, with its tassels at each corner, signifying that he is taking her into his care.
The skirt of Boaz would doubtless be edged with the fringe and tassels that indicated his status. This request by Ruth was for his protection and his care as symbolized by his personal fringe – his status symbol.
With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under His wings (Ps. 91:1-4).
Elijah and Elisha
The Prophet Elijah passed his “mantle” on to Elisha in (II Kings 2) Many believe that this “mantle” was actually his “Talis” and was symbolic of the power of prayer that Elijah had saturated that “mantle” with. This “mantle” that Elijah left behind as he was taken up by a whirlwind into Heaven was what Elisha struck and parted the waters of the River of Jordan with!
2 Kings 2 v 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry gground. 9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly ha chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, j“My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were lfrom 2Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
There is trouble coming and the church needs the prayer soaked mantle of Elijah today, to explain to the Gentiles what the upcoming events mean. From Egypt to Babylon, from dreams to handwriting on the wall, the Gentiles need a Joseph or a Daniel to explain Gods coming judgement. The prayer soaked church, is that prophetic voice of God so needed today.
