1 Samuel Chapter 3 & 4 Chronological Bible Study of David Continued Post 5

1 Samuel 3: 19 says that Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  Samuel had passed his first test, by delivering a commission so painful, and involving such self-denial and courage, he had proven himself worthy and able to handle the prophetic office placed upon him.  God was with him completely, so all Samuel said would be the Word of the Lord, not just in certain instances.  This marked a new period in history of the kingdom of God; and all Israel.  God was again linked with all Israel from Dan to Beersheba, and the people of Israel again had a place they could go to meet God for guidance and fellowship.  Making Israel a Theocracy again.  The word Theocracy means: Government of a state by the immediate direction of God; or the state thus governed. (Facsimile American Dictionary of the English Language  Noah Webster 1828 Edition.)
While God was establishing Himself again in Shiloh (the place where the Tabernacle was), the consequences of Eli and his sons sins are being played out on the hills of Ebenezer.  A battle was being waged between the Philistines and the people of Israel.  The first battle raged with the Philistines the victor and approximately 4,000 men of Israel killed.  The elders in the camp of Israel reasoned, that the Philistines won, because the people of Israel had left God in Shiloh.  Some Israelites came to Shiloh to get the "Ark".  Hophni and Phinehas, gladly helped the Israelites bring the "Ark" into their camp.  The whole camp of Israel cheered when the "Ark" arrived in the camp.  The Philistines hear the great commotion and feared they would all be killed tomorrow in battle at the hands of the Israelites.  The battle was fought with the same result that the Philistines had won.  This time the Israelite death toll was higher with 30,000, and the whole Israelite army fled to each person's home. In the battle Hophni and Phinehas both died and the Philistines had captured the "Ark of the Covenant".  How could this have happened?  The Israelites had fallen so far from God, that they treated His "Ark" as an idol.  All of things that were accomplished with the "Ark" present, was because God also was present.  The Israelites had forgotten to ask God for His help and direction.   Their moral leaders were just as lost from God's Ways as the rest of the country.  This is why God appeared to Samuel who had no family relationship to Eli and his house.  And used Samuel to start  a new renewal in Israel, starting with the office of High Priest,  Think about what I just said.  We could say the same thing about the U.S.A. today.  God provides the compass, when we are left to our own, we are very capable of all sorts of evil.  Israel is in a better situation because God cares deeply for Israel, and will not let Israel fail.  The U.S.A, does not have this same guarantee.  The U.S.A. was protected only as long as we lived according to His Statutes, as we drift further and further away from His Word and teaching, we will lose more and more of God's protection.