Appreciating the Ordinary

(Reflections from 1 Samuel 12–17)

Saul was only thirty years old when he became king. Just two years into his reign, he built an army for Israel. These details remind me that significance and self-worth are not confined to early success or youthful achievement. God can do a lot with very little. Two years is not enough time to be seasoned for war, and thirty is young to lead a nation. To put it into perspective, Saul was only three years older than I am now when he faced a kingdom-defining moment. I say this to admit that I am nowhere near ready for a presidency or war! We strive for instant fame and fortune. Meanwhile, God buys us time to be equipped for what will become our greatest feats.

The Israelites, overwhelmed by the size of the Philistine army, hid in caves. We’re conditioned to see power in numbers, but God often works through the few, the weak, and the average.

Samuel instructed Saul to wait seven days for his arrival. When the final day came, and Samuel had still not shown, Saul panicked and offered sacrifices meant for Samuel. It’s often in these run-of-the-mill waiting periods that our faith is tested. He didn’t receive a backup plan to follow. God rarely gives us those specifics since His instructions should be enough for our faith to cling to.

Saul acted out of fear and insecurity, taking control of something that never belonged to him. A man leading God’s people cannot prioritize his image over obedience. And through this moment, we are introduced to the next king: David.

“But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

Ordinary Days Turned Extraordinary (1 Samuel 14)

When it came time for battle, the only men with proper weapons were Saul and his son, Jonathan. Victory would depend entirely on trusting that God would provide strength and direction.

“One day,” Jonathan woke up and decided he and his armor-bearer would approach a Philistine outpost (14:1). It began as a normal morning until Jonathan allowed God to turn it into something extraordinary.

On the way, he was led through an unusual path that gave him a strategic advantage.

“Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether He has many warriors or only a few” (14:6).Confidence in God is not the same as entitlement. Jonathan trusted Him. Again, in verse 12: “The Lord will help us defeat them!”

Jonathan’s faith resulted in victory. What started as a common moment became a miracle. “Suddenly,” God sent an earthquake that distracted the Philistines (14:15), and “the Lord saved Israel that day…” (14:23). Jonathan was a willing vessel for God’s glory.

Meanwhile, the men were hungry, and God provided honey in their path. God can transform regular goods into strength. But Saul placed them under an oath not to eat, not as a spiritual fast, but for his own pride. He wanted a story of victory earned through extreme discipline, not through God’s generosity. What God intended as provision, Saul twisted into a burden. Appreciate the “little” things sent from the Lord.

Selective vs. Ordinary Obedience (1 Samuel 15)

God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, a nation that opposed Israel during the Exodus. Saul destroyed only what he saw as worthless, and kept what he considered valuable. He even built a monument to himself.

Samuel confronted him: “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king…” (15:17).

Saul knew he was just a regular man placed in leadership only through God’s grace. Even when Saul questioned himself, God saw greater potential for him, his family, and Israel. But Saul’s refusal to obey grieved the Lord: “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king…” (15:11).

God knew Saul’s heart would lead him astray, and this became a painful lesson about the danger of honoring human leaders over God Himself.

Samuel reminded Saul of what matters to God most: “Obedience is better than sacrifice… Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft” (15:22–23). 

Old Testament sacrifices were rich in symbolism to the people, but God desired the heart behind them. We superficially misconstrue items as important when it is the act of surrendering to God that is truly powerful. God does not want our goods; He simply wants a relationship with us. 

Saul lost his reign. Samuel mourned his friendship with Saul deeply, but Saul’s restoration could only come from Saul himself.

Hidden among the Ordinary (1 Samuel 16–17)

At least twenty years had passed. In what was thought to be silence, God used for Samuel to grieve Saul while simultaneously preparing the next king. We like to rush past these in-between seasons, but they are never a waste.

Samuel naturally assumed one of Jesse’s older or stronger sons would become the next king. But it would be David who was chosen. David was not someone of muscle or seniority, but young, small, and nearly forgettable. 

“But the Lord said… ‘People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (16:7).

The unexceptional details of David’s life mattered. Shepherding taught him patience, compassion, courage, and responsibility. There were parallels to his previous role and his future position. 

As Samuel anointed David, the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a tormenting spirit troubled him. Without God’s protection, Saul became vulnerable. Saul sought a musician to soothe him, and God used David, the next king, to comfort the very man he would replace.

In chapter 17, we are introduced to the infamous Goliath. He was large, strong, with armor and advanced weaponry.

David was only delivering food to his brothers in the army when he stepped forward boldly. 

“Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (17:26).

A simple task by an unexpected suitor would transform into a major victory for the Israelites. This is great encouragement to continue fulfilling our responsibilities, no matter how trivial they may appear in the moment.  

Saul scoffed at David’s intrigue, dismissing him as “only a boy” compared to Goliath, who was referred to as “a man of war since his youth” (17:33). 

But “David persisted” (17:34). He was confident because God had given him experience as a shepherd to protect his flocks from dangerous predators. David refused to wear the provided military armor. It didn’t fit the calling God gave him. Picking up five random stones, David faced Goliath, loaded his slingshot, and hit his target’s forehead. David was victorious, defeating the Philistine with one simple stone. This was the methodology that worked for him as a shepherd against animals, and it remained successful in battle with man.

God within the Ordinary

Age, size, and accumulation are the world’s measures of value. To the world, there is no glory in the mundane. But God moves in places others consider lacking. He chooses people the world disqualifies. He prepares us in seasons we label as insignificant. We often overlook the leaders, problem-solvers, and heroes of the Bible because their beginnings seem boring. Yet God specializes in transforming monotonous lives into remarkable testimonies.

May we trust that the great I AM is equipping us, even in unnoticed, unimpressive places.

May we firmly step into our calling, serving God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

May we accept that Jehovah-Jireh is transforming the ordinary into extraordinary glory. 

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Gratitude List:

• Jesus’ humility

• Jordan’s claps, fart noises, and high fives

• Baby belly laughs

• Recovering from illnesses

• Empty airports

• Steam mops

• People remembering things mentioned in passing

• Doggy doors used by a rambunctious crew

• Hair touch ups

• Christmas through the eyes of an infant