The LORD's calling of Samuel has always been an interesting story to me. This is where Samuel's relationship with God becomes very personal. God speaks to Samuel, but he does not recognize God's voice at first. Eli had the wisdom to know what was happening and to him to say, "Speak, your servant is listening". Samuel is going to be used by God in mighty ways, and this is the beginning of the recognizing the voice of the LORD in Samuel's life. We will not likely hear an audible voice speaking to us as Samuel did, but we do need to recognize when God is leading and prompting us in our lives. We need to recognize God's will in decisions we make. God really does speak through the Bible.
Eli was given terrible news by Samuel. There was going to be accountability for the sins of his sons. This accountability also includes Eli because he did not restrain or correct them in their sins. This is a statement of judgment to be coming to the house of Eli. Yet, Eli did not make excuses or try to explain away the problem. His response was simply this: "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." The news was not desirable to hear, but because he knew it was from the LORD he had to consider it to be the right thing.