Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 12:1-5

"And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you; and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth unto this day. Here I am: witness against me before Jehovah, 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 taken a ransom to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man`s hand. And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness." — 1 Samuel 12:1-5 (ASV)

Samuel not only cleared his own character but set an example before Saul, while he showed the people their ingratitude to God and to himself. There is a just debt that all men owe to their own good name, especially men in public stations: to guard it against unjust blame and suspicions, so that they may finish their course with honor, as well as with joy. And that we have lived honestly in our positions will be our comfort, under any slights and contempt that may be put upon us.