ON THE VANGUARD

HEALING IN HIS WINGS part 1
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”
Malachi 4:2

I know for myself, whenever I hear the word ‘Malachi’ I automatically think of the passages in chapter 3 concerning the tithe and offering. While it is true that we should not rob God in these ways, this is not the topic I want us to explore today. I want to move into the last chapter of this book and look specifically at the term, ‘healing in its wings.’ For me, this term has only in the past two years or so begun to make sense. However, it is my prayer that as I share with you today, you too will catch the revelation as I have concerning His healing power, and the importance of the tallit. This morning, we lay the ground work.
Let us begin with defining a few words from the Hebrew. The term ‘healing’ is MARPE, and the definition is profitable health, a cure, and even soundness of mind. I could use a little marpe right now to be honest with you. But I also want us to look at the word ‘wings’. This term in the Hebrew is KANAPH. The meaning here is not a wing like that of a bird, but rather it means an edge, border, or corner of a garment. So we see in just these two words that complete health and soundness of mind would be found in the edge or corner of a garment. But what garment? And maybe better a question, whose garment?
Before we answer these questions, let us step back a little further in the Bible to the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Numbers 15:37-39 we read of the LORD saying to Moses that the people were to make tassels on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. The term tassel is the word TZITZIT. The reason for this was that the tassels were to would serve as a reminder of the commands of God. Within the Torah we find a total of 613 commands. Having these tassels as a sign and the word to God branded on their hearts, the people would see them and turn away from sinning. But just to be sure the Israelites understood this, God spoke concerning these tassels again in Deuteronomy 22:12 when giving the second law. Here He reminded them saying, “Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.” Again, though, we see the term kanaph appear as these tzitzit were to be on the corner of the garments.
For those of you who know me and work close to me, you have probably from time to time over the past year seen me with tassels hanging out from under my shirt. The garment I am wearing is a tallit katan. This garment, translated as small tallit, is worn mainly under a man’s clothing like a poncho under the clothes. It too, however, has the tzitzit which serve as a reminder of the laws put in place by God. Matching the details found in Numbers 15, the tallit katan is also known as arba kanfot, or literally, four corners. While this garment has the tzitzit, the tassels, it is not the true garment spoken of. The tallit itself is more a shawl, worn during times of prayer over the outer clothes, and looks like a rectangular blanket.
While I feel we have done a good job at explaining the garment itself, the question still remains as to whose garment we are referring to? Tomorrow we will answer this question, and the link between the Old Testament law and New Testament revelation should come alive. Until then, I leave you with the prayer spoken as the tallit is placed over the shoulders.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam
Asher kidishanu b’mitz’votav v’tzivanu l’hit’ateif ba-tzitzit
Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe
Who has sanctified us with His commandments
and commanded us to wrap ourselves in the tzitzit

May we wrap ourselves in His tassels, and find the health and soundness needed.