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went out in the temple of the Lord； where the ark of God was； and Samuel was
laid down to sleep； that the Lord called Samuel。〃 Supposing the voice to be
that of Eli； the child hastened to the bedside of the priest； saying； 〃Here
am I； for thou calledst me。〃 The answer was； 〃I called not； my son； lie down
again。〃 Three times Samuel was called； and thrice he responded in like
manner。 And then Eli was convinced that the mysterious call was the voice of
God。 The Lord had passed by His chosen servant； the man of hoary hairs； to
commune with a child。 This in itself was a bitter yet deserved rebuke to Eli
and his house。
No feeling of envy or jealousy was awakened in Eli's heart。 He directed
Samuel to answer； if again called； 〃Speak； Lord； for Thy servant heareth。〃
Once more the voice was heard； and the child answered； 〃Speak； for Thy
servant heareth。〃 So awed was he at the thought that the great God should
speak to him that he could not remember the exact words which Eli bade him
say。
〃And the Lord said to Samuel； Behold； I will do a thing in Israel； at which
both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle。 In that day I will
perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house：
when I begin； I will also
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make an end。 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the
iniquity which he knoweth； because his sons made themselves vile； and he
restrained them not。 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli； that
the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering
forever。〃
Before receiving this message from God； 〃Samuel did not yet know the Lord；
neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him；〃 that is； he was not
acquainted with such direct manifestations of God's presence as were granted
to the prophets。 It was the Lord's purpose to reveal Himself in an
unexpected manner； that Eli might hear of it through the surprise and
inquiry of the youth。
Samuel was filled with fear and amazement at the thought of having so
terrible a message committed to him。 In the morning he went about his duties
as usual； but with a heavy burden upon his young heart。 The Lord had not
commanded him to reveal the fearful denunciation； hence he remained silent；
avoiding； as far as possible； the presence of Eli。 He trembled； lest some
question should compel him to declare the divine judgments against one whom
he loved and reverenced。 Eli was confident that the message foretold some
great calamity to him and his house。 He called Samuel； and charged him to
relate faithfully what the Lord had revealed。 The youth obeyed； and the aged
man bowed in humble submission to the appalling sentence。 〃It is the Lord；〃
he said： 〃let Him do what seemeth Him good。〃
Yet Eli did not manifest the fruits of true repentance。 He confessed his
guilt； but failed to renounce the sin。 Year after year the Lord delayed His
threatened judgments。 Much might have been done in those years to redeem the
failures of the past； but the aged priest took no effective measures to
correct the evils that were polluting the sanctuary of the Lord and leading
thousands in Israel to ruin。 The forbearance of God caused Hophni and
Phinehas to harden their hearts and to become still bolder in transgression。
The messages of warning and reproof to his house were made known by Eli to
the whole nation。 By this means he hoped to counteract； in some measure； the
evil influence of his past neglect。 But the warnings were disregarded by the
people； as they had been by the priests。 The people of surrounding nations
also； who were not ignorant of the iniquities openly practiced in Israel；
became still bolder in their idolatry and crime。 They felt no sense of guilt
for their sins； as they
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would have felt had the Israelites preserved their integrity。 But a day of
retribution was approaching。 God's authority had been set aside； and His
worship neglected and despised； and it became necessary for Him to
interpose； that the honor of His name might be maintained。
〃Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle； and pitched beside
Ebenezer： and the Philistines pitched in Aphek。〃 This expedition was
undertaken by the Israelites without counsel from God； without the
concurrence of high priest or prophet。 〃And the Philistines put themselves
in array against Israel： and when they joined battle； Israel was smitten
before the Philistines： and they slew of the army in the field about four
thousand men。〃 As the shattered and disheartened force returned to their
encampment； 〃the elders of Israel said； Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us
today before the Philistines？〃 The nation was ripe for the judgments of God；
yet they did not see that their own sins had been the cause of this terrible
disaster。 And they said； 〃Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord
out of Shiloh unto us； that； when it cometh among us； it may save us out of
the hand of our enemies。〃 The Lord had given no command or permission that
the ark should come into the army； yet the Israelites felt confident that
victory would be theirs； and uttered a great shout when it was borne into
the camp by the sons of Eli。
The Philistines looked upon the ark as the god of Israel。 All the mighty
works that Jehovah had wrought for His people were attributed to its power。
As they heard the shouts of joy at its approach； they said； 〃What meaneth
the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews？ And they
understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp。 And the
Philistines were afraid； for they said； God has come into the camp。 And they
said； Woe unto us！ for there hath not been such a thing heretofore。 Woe unto
us！ who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods？ These are the
Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness。 Be
strong； and quit yourselves like men； O ye Philistines； that ye be not
servants unto the Hebrews； as they have been to you： quit yourselves like
men； and fight。〃
The Philistines made a fierce assault； which resulted in the defeat of
Israel； with great slaughter。 Thirty thousand men lay dead upon the field；
and the ark of God was taken； the two sons of Eli having fallen while
fighting to defend it。 Thus again was
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left upon the page of history a testimony for all future ages that the
iniquity of God's professed people will not go unpunished。 The greater the
knowledge of God's will； the greater the sin of those who disregard it。
The most terrifying calamity that could occur had befallen Israel。 The ark
of God had been captured； and was in the possession of the enemy。 The glory
had indeed departed from Israel when the symbol of the abiding presence and
power of Jehovah was removed from the midst of them。 With this sacred chest
were associated the most wonderful revelations of God's truth and power。 In
former days miraculous victories had been achieved whenever it appeared。 It
was shadowed by the wings of the golden cherubim； and the unspeakable glory
of the Shekinah； the visible symbol of the most high God； had rested over it