You cannot sustain a perpetual lament for God and stand still. You either move toward God or away from Him. When the flame is allowed to flicker and die, the downward spiral of misery and suffering seems to intensify. Family, social and business relationships may begin to turn sour. Tension in your marriage often increases and civility decreases.
Opportunities seem to die on the vine.
Life goes nowhere as you continue to shoot yourself in the foot. No one in their right mind would want the flame to flicker and die. The Children of Israel couldn't stand the thought of another 20 years of paying high taxes to the Lords of the Philistines. Wickedness and idolatry were taking their toll. Samuel exercised leadership and called an assembly of the people.