When children’s Bibles and songs mention Samson, his low morals are often pointed out. He visited a prostitute, fought and murdered freely, and ignored his parents’ advice. Yet, in Hebrews 11, Samson is mentioned in the account of Old Testament believers who lived and acted by faith (Heb. 11:32). He is listed alongside “heroes of faith” like Joseph, Moses, and David. Most of the other examples mentioned are also open to ethical criticism, but in Hebrews 11, we learn a lesson in how God views them, and us as well. What matters is faith.
Destined by God
Samson’s path was determined by God. Samson knew this (Judg. 16:17) and submitted to it. We find several indications in history that God ordained Samson’s course in this way:
Judges 13
5 For behold, you will conceive and bear a son. (…) the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb (…)
(…)
24 And she bore a son, and she named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judges 14
4 Now his father and mother did not know that this was from the LORD, that he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines, for the Philistines were rulers over Israel at that time.
Judges 15
18 But when he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great deliverance through your servant.”
Three times we read that the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon Samson (14:6 and 19; 15:14). And at the end of his life, Samson turned in faith to his God so that He might receive strength one last time to take revenge on the Philistines (16:28). The act that followed meant his death, but it was also the greatest victory of Samson’s life.
Type
Samson is a magnificent type of Jesus Christ in His first coming. Samson married a woman who did not love him, entered into a marriage covenant that ended in failure, was betrayed in the house of the one he loved, and achieved the greatest victory over the enemy in his death.
Thus, Jesus came to His people who did not love Him, to establish a new covenant, but He was rejected and betrayed by Israel and was killed. It was precisely through His death that He achieved the great victory. All of this points to the beginning of Israel’s redemption, accomplished by the Lord and which will be completed in the future.
Judges 13
5 …the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin to redeem Israel (…)