By Pastor John Ndegwa

“Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel.” Jeremiah 7:7

Gateway Church, A beautiful place - A place like Shiloh

Where is Shiloh?

It is the name of the place where the tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant containing the ten commandments was kept for more than 300 years from the times of Joshua to that of the Judges. “The whole assembly of Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there.” Joshua 18:1. Shiloh therefore refers to a place of peace, rest and abundance. A place where the Lord rests among His people. It is a place where many went for prayers and worship.

Shiloh is also the place where Joshua cast divine lots for the people of Israel, to determine the inheritance of seven of the tribes. Joshua 18:8 says, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it. Then return to me and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord.”

Shiloh is where Eli judged the people of Israel and where Hannah prayed for and dedicated her son to the Lord. (1 Samuel :1). Her son Samuel became a great prophet and priest, was raised by the priest Eli and served here.

The tabernacle was lost to the Philistines at a war in Aphek where the Israelites had taken it as protection against defeat. This came as a surprise to the people because they had thought that God would never allow defeat where the Ark of the Covenant was, no matter what they did. They had become arrogant, corrupt and immoral. Even after the Ark was recaptured seven month’s later, it was taken to another place (Kiriath Jiarem). Thereafter the City of Shiloh was devastated and ruined. It became desolate without the critical inhabitant- the Ark of the Covenant. “The glory of Israel is departed from Israel, the ark of the Covenant has been captured” 1 Samuel 4:22” .  Shiloh is therefore also a place of warning that we will be destroyed if we do not remain faithful and obedient to God.

For the Christian today, Shiloh is a place of worship where we come to be healed. It is the place where we connect with God again as He comes into our lives to dwell with us. Your life is changed by going back to Shiloh just like Moses coming down the mountain with his face aglow after meeting God and receiving the commandments.

Shiloh stands for God’s original plan for his people. He wants to restore us to that first glory before sin came to us. Whatever the challenges you are going through, believe in God’s power and strength. This is your time to go back to Shiloh. Time to offer God sacrifices and praises.

Your victory in life does not lie in your human might like Goliath in the fight with David.  It lies in the shield provided by God himself, at Shiloh. Everything is possible at Shiloh. You cannot go to Shiloh and remain the same.

Bible Readings :    Joshua 18:1-8, I Samuel 4:1-22, Jeremiah 7: 12-15

(This is an extract of Pastor John Ndegwa’s sermon during the “Going back to Shiloh” Conference at The Priesthood of Christ Gospel Ministries held between 10th and  15^th August 2010. Among the main speakers were Evangelist Louis Afefong, and Evagelist Uche James Okoro from Nigeria; Pastor Grace Kabutye from Uganda; Pastor Timotheo from Tanzania; Pastor Ndegwa, Pastor John Odhiambo and Pastor  N. Kamau from Kenya. The theme of the Conference was “Restoring Glory, Honour, Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength and Blessings to Kings and Priests of God (Rev. 5:10-13)” )

This article first appeared in the November 2010- January 2011 issue of Woman of Faith magazine. Copyright: Woman of Faith Magazine. All rights reserved. For comments write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it