Father Mike Schmitz hosts day 97 of the Bible in a Year podcast, reading from 1 Samuel chapters 3-5 and Psalm 150. This episode covers Samuel's divine calling as a young boy, the tragic capture of the Ark of the Covenant, and Eli's death.

The reading follows The Great Adventure Bible Timeline framework, approaching the 100-day milestone and the Messianic checkpoint. Father Mike emphasizes how Samuel positioned himself in God's presence to hear His voice, contrasting this with Israel's attempt to manipulate God's power.

The narrative reveals the consequences of treating God as a tool rather than recognizing His sovereignty, as seen in the Philistines' experience with the captured ark and the destruction of their god Dagon.

Samuel's Divine Calling in God's Presence

Samuel slept "within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was" during a time when "the word of the Lord was rare" and "there was no frequent vision"

"While others were going about their business, Samuel had parked himself, had camped himself in the very presence of God" - Father Mike

Eli instructed Samuel to respond "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears" when God called, establishing the proper posture for receiving divine revelation

God's message to Samuel confirmed the anonymous prophet's warning that Eli's house would be punished forever for his sons' blasphemy and his failure to restrain them

Israel's Defeat and Misuse of the Ark

The Philistines defeated Israel, killing about 4,000 men in the first battle at Ebenezer

Israeli elders decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh, treating it like a weapon: "Let us bring the Ark...that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies"

"The people of Israel were treating the ark, not as it truly is, which is the presence of God Himself, but as a toy" - Father Mike

The second battle resulted in catastrophic defeat: 30,000 Israeli foot soldiers died, the ark was captured, and Eli's sons Hophni and Phineas were killed

Eli's Death and the Glory Departing Israel

Eli, 98 years old and blind, "fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died" upon hearing the ark was captured

Phineas's wife died in childbirth and named her son Ichabod, saying "The glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God had been captured"

Eli had judged Israel for 40 years, but his failure to discipline his corrupt sons led to the fulfillment of God's judgment against his house

God's Power Over Philistine Gods

The Philistines placed the captured ark in Dagon's temple, but "Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord" the next morning

On the second day, "the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him"

"God can fight his own battles. It turns out that God is pretty tough and that God has the ability to fight his own battles" - Father Mike

The ark caused tumors and death in Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron as the Philistines moved it between cities, demonstrating God's sovereignty