Samuel's final address to the nation is recorded in 1 Samuel 12. He pointed out to them the constant faithfulness of the Lord to them from the deliverance from Egypt until that hour. He had never failed them, although they had frequently failed Him. In all the distresses which had come on them from time to time as the fruit of their sin, He had readily responded to their cry of need and had granted deliverers to them. Samuel assured them that all would yet go well if they judged once for all their rebellious spirit and became amenable to the word and will of God. The past could not be recalled, and the king of their carnal desire was before them; it was theirs now to walk humbly in the new circumstances.
He spoke also of himself and of the manner of his going in and out among them from his youth up. “Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before His anointed: whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed, or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith, and I will restore it to you.” To this the people could only reply, “Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.”