After Israel finished their forty year wilderness journey, during which the older generation had died, the young generation entered the land under the leadership of Joshua along with old godly men like Caleb. This new generation had faith in their hearts, spiritual vision, obedience, and a desire to defeat the enemy in the land which they did for a five year period. We then come to the second mention of the word Shiloh in the Bible. It was the name of a place in the land of Canaan about thirty miles north of Jerusalem.
1. We are told that all the people “assembled together” at Shiloh. It was a meeting place, a gathering place, a place of unity and fellowship. When we gather together we are the church. The church is not a building—its people, a spiritual house for the Lord.
2. They set up a “tabernacle” there. This Hebrew word means a tent, a covering, a dwelling place or a home. This was to be the Lord’s House or dwelling place. As the church we practically need a covering to gather under, even if it is a tent. By “tabernacle” we just mean the home or public building we gather in. But that is not the church it only helps the church to gather together.
3. From their gatherings at Shiloh Tabernacle we are told that “the land was subdued before them.” In their gatherings at Shiloh they received encouragement, strength, plans and orders on how to possess the whole land and to see the will of God accomplished in their lives. As we gather at Shiloh the Lord is going to prepare each of us to go out and do His will for His glory.