In 1 Samuel 3 & 4, God calls out to Samuel. Once Samuel realizes it is God speaking, he answers "Speak, your servant listening." God gives Samuel the very same message the man of God gave Eli in the previous chapter. God is sending the same message through a different messenger. God is validating the ministry and call on Samuel's life. He tells Eli the message from God which is a warning of what is to come due to the choices he and his sons made in the priesthood. The Philistines come i and attack the Israelites and kill 4,000 men. In response, the Israelites bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle with them. They had misplaced faith. Instead of calling out to God Himself, they are putting their trust in the object. They lose the battle and the Ark is captured. How often do we rely on the objects of God instead of God Himself? Going to church on Sundays, helping with Sunday school - whatever it is we are "doing" is not true faith. Faith is obedient relationship and submission to God Himself. We do all those other things out of our love for God and His Kingdom and mission. It doesn't work in reverse. Eli and his daughter-in-law hear the news of the Ark being captured and fall to their deaths. It was more than they could handle. If God's glory is not present, it should shake us - right to our knees.
