Unlocking The Ancient Secrets Of The Prayer Shawl Pt. 2 Series

Introduction:

A The word “tallit” comes from two words in Hebrew.

1 “Tal” meaning tabernacle or tent; “it” meaning little.

a If there was a big tabernacle for public worship then God is saying I want you to have a private place to worship me too.

b In Matt. 6.6, Jesus told His listeners, “ ... when you pray, go into your inner room (KJV, closet), close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, . . .”

aa “inner room or secret room”

bb They would wrap their tallit around them as a symbolic separation from the world and enter into the spirit.

c Ps. 91.1,4, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

aa If you ever going to have anything in the spirit your going to have to spent some time alone with God in intimacy, private, behind closed doors.

bb Before the Jew would put on the tallit he’d kiss it on it’s crown (which is a blessing).

cc How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalms 36:7

B The Tallit marked a different/change in relationship.

1 At a Jewish wedding the bride/groom are married under a tallit that is held up from four poles (like a canopy).

a This chuppah represents the marriage being under the Word of God and His protection, blessing.

b In Song of Songs 2.4, we see a picture of the love of Christ for His Bride (the Church) as He puts his tallit (garment/banner) of love over us! “She’s mine!”, He says!

2 We see this meaning in vividness in Ruth (wings mentioned 3x’s)

a Ruth’s husband has died, destitute & goes to Bethlehem to find refuge.

aa Ruth 2.12, She’s looking for a place to feel safe.

bb Ruth 3.9, Boaz enters into a marriage relationship with her by covering her w/ his tallit.

cc Ruth 3.12, Boaz fills her tallit with all the resources to get by.

b There is a picture of what Jesus does for us!

aa We find refuge in the arms of Jesus!

bb We find a new relationship (He loves us, bride)

cc We find resources (provision because of relationship)

I God wants to be alone with You.

A Nearly 3,500 years ago God commanded Moses to construct a tabernacle so He could have a “dwelling” place for His presence within the Children of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness.

1 Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell (ve-shakhan-ti) among them. 9 According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it. Ex 25:8-9 (NASB)

a The tabernacle was a portable dwelling place for the presence of God while the Jews wandered in the wilderness of Canaan. (Before Solomon’s Temple)

aa Very fancy, elaborate tent (two tents actually)

bb Outer walls 150 x 75 :The smaller tent was the Holy Place/Sanctuary 18 x 45.

b The tent covering over the Holy of Holies is a huge tallit (the smaller fringes around the border of the tallit are symbolic of the side-tie downs)

2 Every morning at the rising of the sun, the morning sacrifice was being offered @ the tabernacle for sin & every man stood at the front of his tent.

a The tabernacle could not hold 2.5 million people so the tallit would become their own personal tabernacle.

b The 12 tribes of Israel would camp on all four sides of the Tabernacle forming a cross!

aa And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Num 24:2-5 (KJV)

bb As the priests offered sacrifice in the brazen alter & the shakinah glory of God was made manifest, a man would wrap his Tallit around his face.

c Acting by faith, as priest of his own household he trusted that what was going on in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) was occurring in him because he became a Temple of God. (If a tzitzit is made properly it would contain some wool from a lamb to remind them of the blood that was shed for covering their sin!)