Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 7:1-4

"And the men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Jehovah, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah. And it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto Jehovah with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served Jehovah only." — 1 Samuel 7:1-4 (ASV)

God will find a resting-place for his ark; if some thrust it from them, the hearts of others will be inclined to receive it. It is nothing new for God's ark to be in a private house. Christ and his apostles preached from house to house, when they could not have public places.

Twenty years passed before the house of Israel cared about the absence of the ark. During this time the prophet Samuel labored to revive true religion. The few words used are very expressive; and this was one of the most effective revivals of religion which ever took place in Israel.