THEME: A deep etymological and exegetical consideration of “Tribe” (Hebrew root: Mem-Tet-Hey) as denoting the foundational substructure of human society that makes possible the Rooted (Established) Capacity of Humankind to Bear Fruit above the surface of the Tribe among the whole of human society in the world. The consequent implication is that The Body of Messiah is an indigenous planting of the LORD among the peoples of earth in order to Bring Forth the Fruit of the Kingdom of God in the World (All Creations)—Forever.
GENERAL OUTLINE OF MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS (I-VI)
I
QUICK WORD STUDY (FROM BDB, p. 641—from the Adverbial form (descend, downward) to the nominal form (tribe, staff, rod, branch): the biblical symbol of ROOT to BRANCH (to FRUIT) considered metaphorically.
II
THE MYSTICAL CONCEPT OF ROOT, BRANCH AND FRUIT (FROM PSALM 1—HUMAN MYSTICAL MEANING OF A RIGHTEOUS HUMAN “PLANTING”) unto its Permanent Operational State (Psalm 1, “in the congregation of the righteous”; Psalm 23, “…in the house of the LORD forever”—see Revelation 21-22).
III
“ROOT-FRUIT” MESSIANICALLY CONSIDERED (FROM PARABLE OF THE SOILS): THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN MESSIAH AS A UNIQUE, DIVINE PLANTING IN THE CREATION—THE HOLY AND SINGULAR TEMPLATE FOR ALL FUTURES OF ALL WORLDS. THE CENTRAL FUNCTION OF “THE WORD [Gk. Rhema and Logos—Hebrew equivalents: Amar and Davar]” AS DIVINE SPIRIT-SEED OF THE KINGDOM (see the Parable of the Grain of Mustard Seed with Romans 10:17).
IV
THE GOSPEL MEANING OF “ESTABLISHED” (“IN THE FAITH”) (FROM PAUL’S TEACHING REGARDING PRACTICAL DISCIPLESHIP IN COMMUNITY). What it means functionally to be “In The Body of Messiah”—1 Corinthians 12-14 et al.
V
THE COMING (“OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY AND DYNAMICALLY”) OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN MESSIAH YESHUA WHO IS “ALIVE FOREVERMORE” (THE UNIQUE CONSIDERATION OF THE PRESENTLY-ONGOING AND ULTIMATELY-CONSUMMATIONAL) “COMING” OF JESUS AS AN “OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT” IN THE DYNAMIC LIFE OF THE BODY OF MESSIAH IN THE EARTH (ETERNAL TRANSCENDENCE PERPETUALLY MANIFESTED THROUGH HIS ECCLESIA IN CREATED TIME, BOTH IN THE TEMPORAL AND THE RESURRECTED STATES THROUGH A CEASELESS UNFOLDING, AGE TO AGE TO AGE FOREVER—HEB. LEY’ALMEI OLAMIM—”THROUGHOUT ALL WORLDS FOREVER”).
VI
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION:
THERE IS NO ACTUAL END TO A RIGHTEOUS LIFE SINCE WE ARE ALL DESTINED IN CHRIST NOT ONLY TO LIVE BUT ALSO TO REIGN IN LIFE WITH HIM FOREVER—A DEEP MYSTERY TO BE ACTUALIZED IN THE RESURRECTED STATE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD OUR FATHER.
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NOTE:
THIS OUTLINE IS THE BASIC CONTENT OF THE DEVOTION FOR YEAR 4 OF THE FAITH INFUSION CYCLE BY DR. BARKLEY. IT IS MEANT IN THIS FORM AS AN OUTLINE FOR MEDITATION. LATER HE INTENDS TO EXEGETE EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS WITH REGARD TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “TRIBES” WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ONGOING OPERATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE EARTH UNTIL OUR LORD RETURNS, AND THEN FOREVER IN THE ETERNAL STATE OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM OF YESHUA (THE LAMB OF GOD—THE WORD INCARNATE—KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS) THROUGHOUT ALL CREATIONS OF GOD OUR FATHER FOREVER.
