Church bulletin:
Chapter 11 of Hebrews is often referred to as the hall of faith. One name in particular on the list, may raise eyebrows – Samson (Heb 11:32). Here is a man who defied the commands of God by marrying a Philistine, he fornicated with a prostitute and then Delilah (most likely another Philistine woman). His idolatrous love of women proved to be his downfall when he revealed the source of his strength to Delilah and she betrayed him. Samson may seem more suited to a reality TV show, than an example of faith in the Bible.
The first thing to note is that all of God’s people are flawed. Every example of faith in Heb 11 sits side by side with failure – Noah got drunk, Abraham lied, Sarah laughed, Jacob deceived, Moses lashed out, David committed adultery, etc. There is not a single account of faith / faithfulness which is not also accompanied by failure. No sooner had the apostle Peter declared that Christ is the Son of the living God, and he rebuked Christ stating that he would never allow Him to die. Jesus’ response deservedly and necessarily packed a punch, “get behind Me Satan.” One moment a monumental affirmation of faith, the next moment a monumental descent into unbelief.
Samson should not be held up as a hero of faith as he is sometimes depicted in children’s books. While many believers past and present deserve commendation, it can be overdone. The hero is always God. God had a purpose for Samson and through him, demonstrated His sovereignty. God is not dependent on holy vessels to accomplish His will as Samson reminds us. God uses whom He wants, when He wants, how He wants – righteous and unrighteous. We should pursue righteousness, we should be prayerful, we should serve, obey and worship because these are the practices that God commands. But it is God’s prerogative how He uses His creatures. He can raise up a donkey if He wants to do so.
Just because Samson appears in Heb 11 is not to say that God ignored his sin. God was not “okay” with Samon’s behaviour and though he served God’s purpose by destroying the Philistines, he suffered for how he lived. Samson serves as a warning, sow to the flesh and you will reap corruption (Gal 6:7-8).
Samson, like all believers, is something of an enigma. He was flawed and inconsistent (perhaps we could say he was consistently flawed!). Nevertheless, he is included in the Hebrews hall of faith as Richard Phillips states in his commentary “because he waged a one-man war against the Philistines, and especially for the way he ended his life, achieving by faith in his death what he had failed to do during his life because of unbelief.” Through faith Samson did many super-human feats – he tore a lion to pieces, he slew 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, he carried the gates and posts of Gaza on his back, he broke the strongest cords which bound him, and finally he pushed over the pillars of Dagon killing the lords of the Philistines and many others.
Samson’s last act of faith was his greatest and through it he left this world and returned to his Maker. Samson stands as a testimony to Ecc 7:8 – the end of a thing is more important than the beginning. We cannot change past failures but we can learn from them and move forward in faith, looking to the Lord. Samson did not always live well and it cost him dearly, he did, however, end well.