i will vs. Thy Will

To learn who God is, is to understand that His nature is beyond that which can be confined to the 3D reality we live in. And thus, as a people called to live in a way that reflects His mysterious and awesome nature, our call can equally complex:

We are told be strong, and also to be weak

We are to Speak truth and show grace

We are in the world but not of it

We hate sin and love sinners

We are told to Judge rightly and also to not judge

While each of these examples are important to understand, today’s text points to another that as christian’s, we tend to struggle with.

Paul clearly tells us, that the Christian life should be one of peace. He says in:

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Then, in 2 Corinthians 13:11 he reiterates this writing:

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

But, in that exact same letter, Paul describes the christian life saying in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 ESV

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

I would argue that one of the greatest paradoxes we often overlook or misunderstand in the Christian life is this: we are called to be a people of peace, who live our lives at war.

In the passage we just heard from 1 Samuel 17, God shows us how to fight our battles. But before we explore that, I want to give you a glimpse of what happens when we fight the wrong way—or with the wrong heart.

On the night of Jesus’ arrest, He warned Peter that he would deny Him three times. Peter was shocked—he couldn’t imagine such a thing. He wasn’t driven by fear; in fact, just hours earlier, Peter had drawn a sword and struck a man who came to arrest Jesus. Peter wasn’t afraid of a fight, and he certainly didn’t intend to deny Christ. But Peter couldn’t see all that was happening.

Jesus tells him in Luke 22:31-32.

Luke 22:31–32 ESV

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

You see, Peter thought that man was his adversary, but he didn’t realize that a far greater power was preying on him. So, resolute, Peter wouldn’t accept Christ’s words, and in three gospels he attests to this with the words:

Matthew 26:33–35 (ESV)

“Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

“Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

In Peter’s words, there is a short phrase that’s easy to miss. The words “I will” have a history of proceeding defeat.

And perhaps, that history begins with the fall of Lucifer as described in Isaiah 14:

Isaiah 14:12–15 ESV

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Throughout Scripture, the phrase "I will" reveals much about the posture of a one’s heart:

1. Lucifer: “I will ascend...” (Isaiah 14:12–15)

“I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high… I will make myself like the Most High.” (v.13–14)

Lucifer’s string of “I will” statements is rooted in self-exaltation and ambition.

It reflects a heart disconnected from submission, driven by the desire to control, elevate, and dominate. The result is his fall from heaven.

2. Peter: “I will not deny you” (Matthew 26:33–35)

“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will… Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

Peter’s “I will” sounds loyal, but it in many ways, his phrase echoes the words of the one who sought to sift him, it’s self-confidence.

He believes his own resolve will carry him through the trial ahead, because he doesn’t understand the nature of the battle he’s in.

3. King Saul: “I forced myself” (1 Samuel 13)

With the Philistines closing in, Saul was under pressure. God’s prophet, Samuel, had told him to wait—wait for the sacrifice, wait for the word of the Lord, wait so that God might act on Israel’s behalf. But Saul was impulsive, fearful, and far too impressed with himself. And so, instead of trusting, he took matters into his own hands. His confession in 1 Samuel 13:12 is startling in its honesty:

“I have not sought the favor of the Lord. So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

That phrase—I forced myself—is striking. Saul doesn’t claim to be right; he just claims he did what he had to.

Phrases such as "I will" or “he did what he had to” are some of our favorite cultural slogans. We pride ourselves on overcoming obstacles with raw determination. Grit, hustle, self-made success—we celebrate the power of personal will.

And to be fair, there is a place for that. Let’s be honest: getting out of bed, showing up to work, raising kids, serving in the church, caring for our health—these all take discipline and grit. Life in this world demands resolve.

But here’s the danger, here’s why Peter and Saul stumbled in the midst of battle: When we carry that self-reliant posture into the battles of the spiritual realm, we are bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Our willpower is no substitute for God’s power. What wins the day in spiritual warfare is not "I will," but "Thy will."

Peter had all the grit in the world, he was known for it, but in the midst of spiritual warfare, with the enemies sights set on him, his gumption faded real quick.

In contrast to the spirit of prideful self-reliance—the spirit of “I will” on my own terms—today’s story shows us something far different. We see the Spirit of God at work in the life of a young shepherd boy. A boy who, years later, would write these words:

“I will trust in You.” “I will wait for the Lord.” “I will call upon the Lord.”

His “I will” wasn’t rooted in self, but in dependence on “Thy Will.”

This story today begins in 1 Samuel 16 (Ben was kind and left me the good stuff)

In Ben’s sermon on 16 last week, we saw that God had rejected Saul, and hS appointed David King privately, before Israel had any idea.

And verse 13 tells us, “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David.”

This point, is key to understanding the story ahead.

In Judges 14, we see a similar phrase when the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Samson, and he tore a Lion into pieces.

And then again, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he struck down thirty men.

and in Judges 15, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that bound him became like flax, and his bonds melted off his hands.

In contrast, 1 Samuel 16:14 says:

1 Samuel 16:14 ESV

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.

Saul rejected God, and thus, God rejected him, and the people closest to Saul could see the effects. And so Saul, seeking to drown out the wickedness in his head and heart, asked his servants to bring him someone who could play music, and one of the young men told him of a shepherd boy who was a strong, skilled musician, and filled with the presence of God, so Saul summons David.

And whenever this wicked spirit was tormenting Saul, David would play his music, and the spirit would flee, giving Saul relief.

But, then came the sound that David’s music couldn’t silence:

The Philistines had gathered their armies—and they were loud, proud, and poised for war.

They took their stand on one hill, with Israel camped on the opposite slope, and between them stretched the Valley of Elah—like a stage awaiting a battle.

This was more than a military standoff; it was a spiritual battleground.

The Philistines were encamped between two places: Socoh and Azekah.

The word “Socoh” means essentially a “thorn bush.” This takes us back to the wild, untamed curse of the ground after the fall.

And Azekah, is a word that means “broken soil,” again, taking us back to the ground cursed by the fall.

These names aren't just geographical markers; they tell a story. They frame the Philistine camp in the language of the curse—thorns and brokenness. This was not just a pagan army preparing for war; this was Babylon clothed in armor, standing in defiance of God.

Across the valley, Israel was encamped in Elah. That word—Elah—refers to a great tree, lush and full of shade. In this dry and sun-scorched land, the image of a tree like that is a symbol of life, rest, and restoration. It reminds us of Eden, where humanity walked with God under the covering of the trees in the garden.

It's the kind of place where peace was intended to dwell.

You see, the author isn’t just giving us a battlefield report. He’s painting a theological picture. This battle is not primarily about Israel and the Philistines—it is a cosmic confrontation between two visions of the world. On one side, a world marked by thorns and broken ground, ruled by any enemy who desires dominion.

On the other, a world that remembers Eden.

Thus the valley between them becomes symbolic of the tension we all live in—a tension between the way things are and the way they were meant to be.

On one hand, the shadow of exile hangs over this scene, but so does the promise of redemption.

So the tension hanging over this story, is the question: Which world will prevail?

And at the moment, things weren’t looking so hot for God’s people. For, the Philistines had a secret weapon.

His name was (Go, lee, aht) - or, Goliath.

And he is given the title of “the champion"—but the Hebrew phrase here, literally says “the man of the in-between.”

Goliath was more than a soldier, he stood in the valley between two armies, representing a power that stood between God’s people and God’s promises.

He stood in defiance of the promise of God, and in defense of the promise of the serpent.

This morning, I want you to feel the weight of this scene—not just as history, but in your own heart.

Goliath is more than a man; he’s a picture of everything that rises up to keep you from trusting in God’s Promises.

And like every one of those threats, he was intimidating—towering over nine feet tall, armored head to toe in bronze like a human tank. His spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the tip alone weighed fifteen pounds.

A little more imagery here worth paying attention to. We are told that his armor was made of bronze, but this word nechoshet is more descriptive than that. The root of this word, is nacash which is the word serpent found in Genesis 3.

And so, this mutant giant, was dressed head to toe in armor that looked like the skin of a snake, because again, there is more going on here than what Israel could see.

And twice a day—morning and evening—this Snake Giant stepped into the valley and shouted his challenge.

“Choose a man to fight me. If he wins, we serve you. But if I win, you serve us.”

And for forty days, not one man in Israel moved.

Not Saul.

Not the commanders.

Not a single soldier.

They were paralyzed by fear. Because the moment you measure battles by human strength, the biggest man wins.

But then comes David.

He wasn’t in the army. He was the youngest of eight brothers. He had been sent by his father to bring bread and cheese to the front lines—basically delivering snacks. But when he heard Goliath’s taunts, something stirred in him that hadn’t stirred in any of Israel’s trained warriors.

He didn’t just hear a giant. He heard someone defying the living God, demeaning His promises.

And David said what no one else dared to say:

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

His brother Eliab tried to shut him up saying “Go back to your sheep, David.”

But courage will always look like arrogance to those who have given in to fear.

Word of David’s boldness reached Saul, who finally called him in. And 1 Samuel 17:32 says:

1 Samuel 17:32 ESV

And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

Saul laughed him off at first—David was just a boy.

But, David was God’s boy, and God had been preparing him for this moment his whole life.

In the wilderness, alone with just God and his sheep, Dad had fought lions and bears, and had seen the Lord deliver.

And so, he remembered God’s faithfulness, and He said,

“The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will deliver me from this Philistine.”

Saul has nothing to lose at this point, and the fact that his mind seems to be fading probably helped David’s cause.

So he offered his armor. David tried it on—but it didn’t fit. What had worked for Saul in the past wasn’t what was meant for David.

So David took it off.

Instead, he went down to the stream and picked five smooth stones. Just five. That’s all he needed.

Goliath saw him coming and laughed.

“Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?”

David didn’t flinch. He said,

“You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and all the earth will know there is a God in Israel.”

Then David ran toward him. Not away—forward.

He reached into his bag, took a stone, slung it, and struck Goliath in the forehead. The giant fell like a tree cut at its roots.

This morning, I want to share three gospel encouragements with you before we close:

1. Your battle is no less real than David’s.

The valley David entered is the same valley we walk through every day—a place between Eden and Babylon, between the world as it was meant to be and the world as it now is. This morning as we gather, we are reminded that this is not our true home. We were made for Eden, for communion with God, and one day—because of Christ—we will return to the garden restored, God has promised this and sealed that promise through His Son.

But as you leave this place today, and step back into the land of thorns and broken soil, the battle will begin again.

Somewhere this week, you’ll feel the tension. You’ll be tempted to doubt God’s promises. The voices in your head and heart will rise—fear, anxiety, shame, temptation—and like Saul, some king will peddle you a solution: a new method, a fresh strategy, an app, a book, a shortcut.

But friend, no manmade armor will win this fight.

Victory comes only through the Lord.

Most days, all you have is the equivalent of a few rocks—but what you’ve been given, is more than enough when God is your strength.

The Spirit that empowered Samson and David to defeat Lions and Giants, now dwells in you permanently and completely.

The enemies only play, is to convince you to quench that Spirit, and:

2. Your enemy is no less tenacious than David’s.

Goliath didn’t just show up once. Morning and evening, day after day, he came back into that valley to taunt God’s people, and like the serpent, to challenge God’s promises.

In the same way, the lies you face—about your worth, your future, your identity, your God—will come back again and again, until Jesus calls you home.

This world, is a battle ground, and the enemy doesn’t sleep. He prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour, to sift like wheat.

But take heart: his persistence is no match for your endurance in Christ.

When the enemy sought to destroy Peter, Jesus told him not to worry, for He said “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”

Peter would stumble, but He wouldn’t be defeated, because Christ advocated for him just as He did David.

And now, scriptures assures us, that Christ is doing the same for you!

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Your enemy is real, and the obstacles that seem to stand between you and Eden, are often far more intimidating that Goliath.

Some of you believe you’re not enough, your pocket full of stones won’t cut it.

Some of you believe you’re alone, and so you hide like David’s brothers, trying to ignore the enemy that taunts you.

Some of you have lost hope, like Saul, you depended on your own strength and failed, and now not even music can drawn out that which burdens you.

But hear me: none of these lies are true.

The truth is this—your enemy has already been defeated.

Because Jesus walked out of the grave, the fiercest champions of darkness have lost their power. Yes, they still roar. Yes, they still threaten. But in the light of the resurrection, they are nothing more than shadows.

The serpent’s head has been crushed. The curse is being undone. And now, Jesus—the risen King—is not only your Savior… He is your Advocate.

He sees you. He intercedes for you. He equips you with everything you need.

He has given you His word to be built up and strengthened,

He has given you direct access to the throne room through prayer,

He has given you His Spirit, to fight your battles,

And, He will win, because:

3. Your God is no less faithful than David’s.

The same God who strengthened David, who guided that stone, who silenced the giant—He is your God too. He hasn’t changed. He is still in the business of toppling giants, still mighty to save, still faithful to His promises.

So whatever you face this week—whatever valley you step into—you do not go alone. The Lord of hosts goes with you. He has gone before you, He stands beside you, and He will finish what He started in you.

The battle is real. The enemy is relentless. But your God is faithful.

The profound truth of the story of David and Goliath, is not primarily David’s courage, or even his faith…

The profound truth of this story, is that God sent a Redeemer to rescue his beloved people from death

Jesus is the better David!

Jesus, is the faithful, warrior King, that David only point to.

The victory that God granted David and the Israelites, is NOTHING, in comparison to the victory that Jesus has won for His Church.

Christian, do not be afraid to go forward today, into whatever God has called you to, whether mission, or forgiveness, He is enough!

Luther stood alone before the religious and political powers of his day in 1521, facing intense pressure to recant his writings. But like David, he trusted not in armor or status but in the truth of God's Word. His famous words echo David’s courage:

“Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me.”

Harriet Tubman was a small, unarmed woman who took on the powerful institution of slavery—repeatedly risking her life to lead people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. She often said:

“I always told God, ‘I’m going to hold steady on You, and You’ve got to see me through.’”

Desmond Doss was a medic in WWII who refused to carry a weapon due to his Christian convictions. At the Battle of Okinawa, he ran into gunfire to save the wounded, rescuing 75 men in a single night. And his repeated prayer was:

“Please Lord, help me get one more.”

Closing:

As we close this morning, I want to draw your attention to one more detail in this story.

After David strikes Goliath down with a stone, he doesn’t walk away. He finishes the job, which you might remember from a few chapters back, this is what Saul wouldn’t do.

David takes Goliath’s own sword, and he removes his head.

Then he lifts it high for all to see—first showing it to the Philistines, who flee in fear, and then carrying it to Jerusalem, that Israel might be be strengthened!

The final verses of 1 Samuel 17 mention Goliath’s head repeatedly—and that’s not an accident. The biblical authors want us to feel the weight of this image. Because this isn't just about a boy and a giant—this is about God keeping a promise that goes all the way back to Eden.

When humanity first fell, God made a promise to the serpent. In Genesis 3:15, He said:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

David’s victory over Goliath is a preview, a shadow, a whisper of something greater.

Jesus is the true and better David. He didn’t just enter the valley to fight on our behalf—He entered death itself.

And at the cross, it looked like He was struck down.

But just like David lifted the head of Goliath to declare victory over Israel’s enemies, Jesus walked out of the tomb, declaring once and for all:

The enemy has been defeated. The promise has been fulfilled. The King has won.

The valley may be dark, but your Champion has gone before you. And the promise made in Eden still stands.

Friend, whatever stands between you and God this week,

Don’t just move toward it

Don’t just strike it down

But put it to death!

At the beginning of this sermon I read these words to you - For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Timothy Treadwell had made it through 13 summers living among grizzly bears in Alaska. He filmed them, named them, slept near them, and convinced himself that they were his friends. He believed he had a special relationship with them—that they somehow understood he wasn’t like other humans. That they wouldn’t hurt him.

In the fall of 2003, his time with the bears was up. The season was ending. He was scheduled to fly home.

But something pulled him back.

A flight mix-up, combined with his growing attachment to the animals, led him to make a fatal decision. He turned back into the wilderness—“just one more time.”

He and his girlfriend Amie set up camp once again, even though the bears were becoming more aggressive, hungrier, and more dangerous as winter neared.

And on that fatal night, the bear didn’t share his perceived friendship. It didn’t care how many summers he had spent talking to it or defending it. It did what wild animals do—it attacked. And by morning, both Timothy and Amie were dead.

He was just about to leave. He was so close to safety. But he went back—just one more time.

And that’s exactly how sin works.

We toy with it. We think we’ve learned to live alongside it. We convince ourselves it’s different this time. We can handle it. We know the boundaries.

But sin is not your friend. It’s not your pet.

It’s not tame—it’s waiting.

And so, for someone today, it’s time to tear down the strongholds bro.

It’s time to stop dancing with sin and lies, and start crushing heads. And the good news is—you’re not alone.

Jesus, your Advocate and true Champion, has already won.

And now He has sent His Spirit to dwell within you—to empower you to walk in freedom. Not by your might, not by your cleverness, but by His strength.

So today, rise up like David—not because you’re strong, but because your God is.

Let your life be a living testimony that causes the enemy to run in fear like the Philistines.

Because when God fights for His people, the giants fall, the serpent is crushed, and the victory is certain.

Let us Pray

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