God’s Distinction (Judges 13:1–7)
God’s Distinction (Judges 13:1–7) 6/7/2026
When people think of Samson, the first thing that often comes to mind is his involvement with a woman named Delilah, how he lost sight of his calling, and the miserable period that followed. Why would such a person become a judge, a leader of God’s people? Why does Scripture record such dark details so specifically? Samson’s story is the longest account in the Book of Judges, and reflecting on it can make one’s heart heavy.
As mentioned in last week’s message, this is one of the purposes for which the book of Judges was written. The failures of Israel’s people and leaders were intended to serve as a mirror. Even those who are saved can fail in this way if they are not watchful and do not guard themselves.
Of course, it is precisely because human beings are incapable of standing on their own that Christ came as our Savior (Luke 2:11), our Redeemer (Hebrews 9:12), and our Mediator (Hebrews 9:15). Human judges can fall, so God sent His own Son, who never falls and never fails. Samson was a man prepared, set apart, and born within God’s absolute plan.
- Before looking at Samson, We must see the God who set him apart, trained him, and raised him up again even after his failures.
This is the very heart of the gospel that reformers throughout church history sought to restore, even at the cost of their lives.
1) We constantly read Scripture from a human-centered perspective and try to find answers. That is why we cannot understand the Bible. As a result, people have attempted to interpret Scripture through human reasoning and standards, even producing liberal theology.
① In Scripture, we must not merely look at people and their accomplishments. Rather, we must see God behind them. If someone was greatly used by God, we must recognize the God who chose, trained, and established that person for such service. Therefore, after accomplishing everything, believers should live giving glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).
② Even when people fail and suffer shame, we must see God’s purpose behind those events. God sometimes permits events because of human sinfulness, weakness, and selfish desires. This is often called God’s “permissive decree.” When Job suffered without apparent cause, God permitted Satan to test him (Job 1:12). When Peter denied Jesus three times, even cursing and swearing as he did so, God allowed that failure as well (Luke 22:31–32). Through those painful experiences, they saw their own weakness, learned to look only to God, and were later used to save others who were just like themselves.
2) God established an absolute plan and an absolute covenant for the people He intended to save. This covenant was first established with Abraham and ultimately fulfilled through Christ, Abraham’s descendant (Galatians 3:29). Scripture calls Christ “the mediator of a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6),” “the mediator of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15).”
① Adam failed under the first covenant. Adam fell under the original covenant (Genesis 3:1–6), and all humanity followed the same path (Hosea 6:7). That is why God established a new covenant. Because Christ is the mediator of this new covenant, God cannot abandon those whom He has saved (Romans 8:26, Romans 8:34, Philippians 1:6). This doctrine is known as the Perseverance of the Saints.
② God helps with compassion, but believers should not continue walking in disobedience. God grieves over His children and helps them, but He does not desire them to continue down a destructive path (Ephesians 4:30). Some children constantly grieve their parents. Eventually they realize their mistakes, but often only after much suffering and regret.
3) Through Samson we see three things God does according to His covenant.
① God establishes an absolute plan, sets people apart, and calls them. This is the covenant emphasized in this week’s message.
② Within His sovereign choice and plan, God blesses and builds His people. This will be the focus of next week’s message.
③ God raises up His people again after they have been deceived by the world and Satan and have failed. This becomes the final conclusion of Samson’s life.
- Through Samson we must see how God sets apart and establishes His people
1) The standard by which God sets apart those He will use is His sovereign grace.
① It is not something we obtain because we desire it or work hard for it. Scripture says it depends entirely upon God’s mercy and sovereign choice (Romans 9:16). The gospel was prepared before the ages (Romans 16:25). Those who would be saved were chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Likewise, those whom God uses are people whom He Himself has chosen and set apart (Acts 9:15). This is why Ananias helped Saul, who had previously persecuted believers.
② This is why those entrusted with important offices and missions in the church should be both humble and confident. There are many capable people in the world, yet someone like me has been saved and set apart as God’s worker. That reality leaves no room for pride. At the same time, the eternal God has chosen and uses me. That is the source of true confidence and dignity (Isaiah 43:1–4).
③ Even the smallest actions should be done for God’s glory. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Even eating and drinking become matters of consecration. My life and my body do not belong to me. I am not so insignificant that I can live carelessly or recklessly.
2) Scripture gives three names to people who have been set apart in this way.
① Nazarites. People such as Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were called Nazarites. The term comes from the Hebrew word meaning “set apart” (nazar) and is related to the word for “crown” (nezer). Because they are set apart, they may experience loss or persecution in the world, but special glory and blessing await them(John15:19).
② Remnants. Isaiah calls them a “holy seed” (Isaiah 6:13). They are the people saved through the covenant of Christ and the spiritual descendants who belong to that covenant. They are holy lives preserved within God’s covenant.
③ Disciples. Jesus “called to Him those whom He Himself wanted” (Mark 3:13). Then He trained three things and sent them out. The blessing of “being with Him” (Immanuel). The blessing of “evangelism”, sending them as witnesses to the world. The blessing of “spiritual victory”, establishing them as those who would overcome to the end. Because Christ is with them, they lack nothing and no circumstance can ultimately defeat them.
3) How does God choose and establish such people? This is where we must be used for God’s work.
① Samson was first prepared through his family. God often uses families and family lines when preparing those He intends to use. Parents must be prepared. When Samson’s mother received the announcement of his birth, she was instructed to abstain from wine. Later she and her husband sought confirmation from the messenger who delivered the news, and they discovered that he was an angel sent by God. They possessed the spiritual discernment to recognize this. They also offered a thanksgiving offering to God.
② Samuel was prepared through family hardship. In the midst of her hidden pain and suffering, Hannah grasped what God truly desired and prayed with tears.
③ John the Baptist was prepared through the crisis of his generation. His father, the priest Zechariah, prayed while witnessing Israel’s condition after centuries of living under foreign domination and subjugation (Luke 1:7–13). This is why we are called to pray to raise up people who can save the three ages (A world covered in darkness, a church that is collapsing, a wandering next generation).
Conclusion – Within God’s absolute covenant, we, our families, and our church have been set apart and called by Him. Pray that from our families and churches there will arise Nazarites who shine as lights to the world, Remnants who preserve God’s covenant, Disciples who can save their generation. God will surely bless us.