Joshua chapter 19 concludes: “These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Verse 51 of that long chapter.

Today just notice with me WHERE the choices were made, every one of them apparently … concerning the distribution of the Land of Canaan to the Tribes of Israel!

“In Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

A great decision making place, apparently!

“Shiloh” in Hebrew simply means “peace,” or more literally “place of rest.”

Did you ever think of that?

God’s House, as a place of peace and rest?

Tranquil!

“Before the Lord,” where again the Hebrew has it, “before the Face of the Lord!”

God is there, at His House!

Then, at the “door,” suggesting (and used this way once in the King James Bible) “breaking forth.” There would be no true Door, not to Heaven, had not Jesus’ Body been broken, His Side pierced! (Remember John 19:34. “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” Amazing!)

No wonder our Lord could truthfully proclaim … “I am the Door!” (John 10:9, more fully. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Amen!)

And “tabernacle” itself, the noun, means “tent of meeting.” A place of assembly! ( Read it carefully. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” Hebrews 10:25)

Even the word “congregation” carries overtones of “solemnity!” Reverence, seriousness! A place quiet enough to hear God speak, in that precious Still Small Voice of his!

All this at least “hints” that Church, God’s House, our various Meeting Places in Christianity today are GOOD LOCATIONS to make decisions, receive wisdom, hone our discernment … all to the Glory of God!

Wow!

Remember Asaph, way back in Psalm 73?

He was tossed with doubts and fears … “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I …” Psalm 73:17, Asaph testifying!

Yes, go to Church to learn, to fellowship, to hear the Word, to pray (and for a dozen other good reasons).

BUT ALSO GO WITH YOUR UNRESOLVED ISSUES OF LIFE … AND LET THE LORD “LEAD” YOU INTO A CLEAR ASSURANCE OF HIS WILL!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Remember too … tomorrow is Sunday, the Lord’s Day!