Coming to Shiloh

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Joshua 16:1-18:28

"Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there.  And the land was subdued before them."  Joshua 18:1 (NKJV)

Must have been quite a sight!  After years and years of "set-up/tear-down", the tabernacle finally came to a resting place.  Entire clans within the Levites had been assigned to oversee the laborious process of setting up the tabernacle and then tearing it down when the cloud began to move.  They had done it for years.  They must have sighed a great sigh of relief when the tabernacle came to Shiloh.  No more moving around.  It was now settled. 

The tabernacle was indicative of the place of worship.  It was the place of communion with God.  It was the place where the upward dimension was lived out.

There is something in every one of us that wants to find the place of security in Christ.  Our souls long to rest in God.  We seek a place of refuge and sanctuary.  It is interesting that the name of the place where the tabernacle was finally set up was SHILOH.  This name is a variation of the Hebrew word "shalom" which means "peace."

Our souls seek a place called Shiloh.  Three things happen at Shiloh:  gathering, peace, and worship.  I believe this is what Jesus was talking about in Mattew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

The only place of true peace is in Jesus.  He is our rest, and it is to Him that we come.