Persevering As the Underdog

By Samantha Rodriguez

“Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness. Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, ‘Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!’ So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.”—1 Samuel 13:16–22 (NIV)

Were you ever the underdog in a situation? Whether you were the youngest, the smallest, or just a person others didn’t expect much from, it’s a really hard place to be in. Some of the best stories; however, are about how the underdog actually comes out on top because of the perseverance, grit, and dedication they put into whatever it is they’re working at. Whether that be a job or a sport, there are countless movies that depict this type of story because it can resonate in some way with most people!

In today’s Scripture, it’s important to notice that the Israelites probably felt like the underdogs in this situation. The Philistines clearly had the upper hand in their military technology. They were seafaring people, situated on the coast, which allowed them to trade with many technologically advanced cultures to the west, such as the Greeks (Enduring Word Bible Commentary). With this advantage, they could keep a powerful hold over the Israelites who relied on them for weapons. They gave them so few weapons that only the royal family, specifically Saul and his son Jonathan, could actually carry weapons on them. Imagine how defeated they probably felt simply because they couldn’t be better equipped!

But the best underdog stories always involve the underdog not letting obstacles get in their way. This unfortunate obstacle with the Philistines made it clear that the only way the Israelites could succeed against them was to rely on the greater power of their God, Yahweh! We don’t get to that part of the story in this devotional, but I want to draw your attention to something important. The strength of Israel as the underdog would only be able to come from God. Saul didn’t view it this way, and we’ll continue to see that in this series. He wanted to do things from his own strength, and that made all the difference.

Yesterday, our devotional looked at Saul’s hasty decision to sacrifice without Samuel (the priest and prophet) being there to perform it correctly. This led to Samuel confronting Saul on his disobedience and declaring that his reign would not endure. Saul’s heart was more concerned with fame, success, and image than serving God. Saul’s hasty decision was more than just impatient, it was ignorant and selfish. An act that should have been about worship and surrender was actually about winning.

In the verses following this, we don’t see any reaction from Saul. Whatever he might have felt or thought, the Scriptures don’t show us, but we know that any type of repentance was not documented. This is why David will later be such a contrasting character to Saul.

For now; however, this leaves us with some questions we should ask ourselves: When do we rush our worship for the wrong reasons like Saul? How might we be relying on our own strength, instead of God’s, to try and win a battle that only belongs to Him? As we consider these questions, remember that without God, without a humble heart devoted to Him alone, we’ll never have the strength to persevere through this life.

Pause: Consider what it feels like to be losing or to be the underdog. Although it might help you sympathize with Saul, it should still cause you to consider where you might be making the same mistake! Where are you rushing spiritual disciplines in your life? How might you be relying on your own strength instead of God’s?

Practice: Take time today to practice repentant prayer. Whether you write it down or spend time alone speaking to Jesus, pray and repent for any areas you may be trusting yourself more than God. Then, ask the Lord to center your attention on Him!

Pray: Father God, You’re the only one worthy of my trust and worship! I repent of the ways I try to take matters into my own hands because of my own impatience, greed, and selfishness. I don’t want to rush past You, and I don’t want to miss out on what You’re doing! I surrender my plans, desires, and control. I trust in You my Lord, my Defender and Savior. Thank You for Your grace! Amen.