Do We Take God Lightly?
1 Samuel paints a sobering picture of God's people...even His judge Eli...taking His Word lightly. The result is disastrous for the people. But God raises up Samuel who ministers before the Lord and grows in both stature and in favor with God and the people (sounds familiar). But Samuel's word is not enough...the people must suffer a humiliating defeat by their enemies before they repent, put away their idols, and call on God to save them from their enemies. In this case, as in many times throughout God's Word, purity precedes power.