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TODAY'S FEATURED ARTICLE
UNDERSTAIND YOUR COVERING:
What is our covering?   The definition for covering is something that protect, hides or covers,  A wrapping, shell, package, or something that is binding.

Everyone, even though they do not realize it has some type of covering.  Being a United States citizen we are covered by our government every time we travel out of the country.  Even within the states we have certain rights and the law protects those rights.  If we belong to any organization including churches that is our covering within certain limits and rules of that organization.  Our covering is better than any natural covering because we are covered by Jesus and his Blood


In my research on Why We Wear Prayers Shawls (press the deeper understanding tab) I found out that there was a lot of things that we as Christians do not understand about the importance of recognizing our covering.


History
In the Book of Ruth, chapter 3, Naomi and Ruth knew that they were exposed naturally and spiritually without a covering.  You must understand that in those days Jesus had not come yet so the women's covering was her husband.  The men would wear the Tallit or Prayer Shawl as we say it, all the time during the day.  Even though they did not understand the symbol that they were wearing represented Jesus. 

Why the Tallit represented Jesus as their covering?

Let's first examine Numbers 15:38-41 "Speak to the sons of Israel and command them that make TZITZIT (fringes) on the corners of their garments throughout all their generations, and that they put in the TZITZIT of the corner a thread of TECHELEIS (blue), and it shall be a TZITZIT for you, so that you may look upon it and remember all the Commandments of HaShem to do them, so that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to going whoring. So that you will remember and do all My Commandments and be holy unto your God. I am HaShem your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I am HaShem your God."

The actual Tallit (translated: little tent) was not as important as the Tizitzit which were placed at the 4 corners.  It was the substance that held the Tizitzits in place. The fabric is there to cover the person for protection but the Tizitzit is the source for the power of that fabric.  Tizizits were the commandments or the WORD of GOD.  In the New Testament  1John 1:1:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  So you see since the Tizizit represented the Word of God and Jesus is the Word Of God they were covered no matter what direction they went. 

So now it makes since why the fabric would represent the blood of Jesus because we are covered in his blood but the blood would be useless if there was no Word of God which is Jesus.  So the Jewish men did not understand that they we wrapping themselves in the symbols of the blood covering and our Lord, Jesus Christ all day long, protecting them, hiding them from all danger, covering them like a shell.

Ruth Understood the importance of her covering

In the Book of Ruth Chapter 3 - 1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?

  • Naomi knew that in the natural and spiritual sense before Jesus came that the only covering was a husband.  She wanted to seek rest for Ruth in securing protection and security so she would have peace of mind.

(2) Is not Boaz (great-grandfather of David- his mother was Rahab) our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is wind blowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. (3) Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor,

  • Boaz was in the family tree of Jesus
  • Notice that Naomi told Ruth to go to the threshing floor before she went to Boaz her redeemer.
  • Ruth was known as a worthy women so her spiritual life was already in order.  Here we see her as representing the Bride of Christ (the church) coming to the master for total surrender.

but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. (4)But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do." (5) And she replied, "All that you say I will do."

  • Definition:  Threshing Floor - Was in a public place where the animals would stomp out the husks of the wheat and barley to get to the grain.  Then the harvesters would toss the grain in the wind to separate the hard husks from the good grain.  The harvester would put the good grain in a pile until the morning.  So it was necessary that Boaz spend the night to protect his grain from thieves.

  • Naomi knew that Boaz would be at the threshing floor gathering up his good grain, she told Ruth to humble herself, anoint herself with oil, and lay at the masters feet.  She had to get prepared for the master.

  • Just like the Church is the bride of  Christ and Jesus is our redeemer, we must humble ourselves and find that special place so we can go to the threshing floor to get rid of the hidden iniquities before we can rest  at the master feet for his total covering. 
  • Once at the threshing floor, we must stomp out all our iniquities and let the wind (Holy Spirit) blow away all the things that are not pleasing to the Master.

(6) So she went down to the threshing floor – She did not lay beside Boaz but was obedient and went down to the threshing floor  and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. (7) And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came and lay at his feet. (8)At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings[a] cover your servant, for you are a redeemer."

  • Naomi knew that Boaz would have been working and did not have time to remove his Tallit.  She knew that he would still have his wings of protection on him to cover Ruth.

  Reminder:
  • The wings are the 4 corners of the Tallit the Tizizit.  The Tizizt are the macrame' knots that reminded the wearer to keep God's commandments or the Word of God.  In Biblical times the wings were a symbol of healing, protection, and redemption which was fueled by the WORD OF GOD or the Tizizit.  The Tizizit were placed on the 4 corners so that you could see them from any direction that you were going.

  • When Ruth asked to be covered with his wings she was asking to take his covering (which represented Jesus) because he was the head and transfer it to her.

More to Come:  Ruth was given a choice.