25 Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.
26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
Pagan kings were considered gods by their people, made the laws, and answered to no one. The kings of Israel answered to God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Now, Israel had a king like the other nations around them. Samuel wanted to make sure that way the king ruled in Israel was different from the pagan kings, so Samuel wrote everything in a scroll. This was an agreement and a witness to how the king should rule under God. Saul was now the king the people had wanted. As he lead there was criticism. Saul took no notice of some of it at first, but later he would take his eyes off God and be overwhelmed with it and become consumed with jealousy. The people had gotten what they wanted, but leadership without God is going to go bad. Are you a leader of something? As a you lead, put God first. Listen to constructive criticism. There will be those around you willing to help. When you focus on God and answer to God, as well as, have good people around you, you will be guided in the right direction, and your leadership will flourish.
