“Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.” The book became the standing record, useful indeed when the people became unfaithful in their new position. In like manner God keeps His book today, in which is recorded everything relating to us; all and which will be opened to us, as it were, at the judgment seat of Christ.
Saul began well. He made no effort to assert himself. At the moment he sought no pageantry, but went quietly home to his house and to his farm. A few men “whose hearts God had touched” went with him. Certain factious spirits spoke of him with contempt, “but he held his peace.” Samuel, we may be assured, went home to pray. The people might be jubilant, but his heart felt solemn and sad. A serious position had been created, the gravity of which Israel was too dull to understand.