Samson, the legendary warrior, sent fear sweeping through the mighty Philistine nation and its mythic armies. As a judge over the captive nation of Israel for 20 years, his legacy brought hope.

The biblical account of this leader, renowned for the prodigious strength derived from his uncut hair, is in the Book of Judges, chapters 13-16, yet little is known about him except at the beginning and end. The lessons we can learn from his life can make an eternal difference today!

What we know about Samson is that just before his mother conceived him, she was visited by an angel who told her that her son would be a Nazarite. This unique vow was described as being “holy unto God,” as mentioned in Numbers 6:1-21, that required abstaining from all strong drinks derived from grapes, refraining from cutting one’s hair, and avoiding ritually impure contact with a dead body.

We are also told that Samson grew up to possess extraordinary physical strength. His reputation spread like wildfire as he killed wild animals with his bare hands and annihilated the storied Philistine combatants again and again.

However, no retelling of the Samson saga is replete without mentioning Delilah. Today, music and film continue to spotlight their torrid love affair, and what happened as the mighty warrior fell victim to her mesmerizing wiles.

Delilah was able to get him to reveal the secret to his strength; his long Nazarite hair. She quickly betrayed him and led Samson to his haircut at the devil’s barbershop:

“Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ So he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’ But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.” (Judges 16:19-21, NKJV)

Samson lost God’s presence, which led to his loss of strength, sight, freedom, and consequently, his life.

In Samson’s final moments, God granted his last request. After Samson’s hair had grown out again, the blinded, chained hulk was brought to the massive Philistine temple at Gaza. His captors rejoiced at what their god Dagon had done. 

Then, Samson called to the Lord, saying:

“O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed against the pillars with all the strength God gave him, and the temple fell on all the people who were in it. So those that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. (Judges 16:28-30, NKJV)

I’ve often thought of the story of Samson, especially when a leader falls. I think about what people lose when they disobey God. Yet, at the moment of death, Samson ultimately became a testimony of repentance, forgiveness, and the grace of God!

There is a blessed ending after Samson returns to God, despite the catastrophic tragedy. Samson’s final decision is an example of our path to deliverance. We can come back to God, who is waiting for us, but Samson also had to face the horrible consequences of his sin and disobedience.

Oh, that we would heed those lessons!

The Difference

Many times, I’ve read the story about Samson, wondering what might have been.

There are many accounts in the Bible of how things could have turned out so differently. One of the best examples is David, another great leader of Israel.

His tenure as leader was notable, but his sexual sins resulted in a tragic chain of events that reached his family and ripped through his kingdom. David learned the value of avoiding sin and its destruction, remaining clean in God’s sight. He wrote:

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9-11, NKJV)

You can follow the same two life-changing principles that made the difference between the outcomes of Samson and David

1. Take heed to God’s Word.

There is so much treasure in this one phrase. Reading the Bible is important, but taking heed of God’s Word is vital. It means receiving the Word as you fellowship with Him.

When you eat, seeing your food on the plate is inconsequential. For it to have a positive effect on your life, you must portion it, put it in your mouth, chew it, and swallow it.

Getting God’s Word in your head is one thing, yet getting it into your heart is quite another.

Taking heed requires fellowship, spending time with Him, communication back and forth with Him.

I do this every day; I thank Him, bless Him for what I receive, and praise Him for what His Word means to me.

Fellowship means praying, thanking, and consuming His Word.

The Word brings life. When God’s Word is in your life, you will have the power to say “No!” to sin. When you say “No!” to sin, you won’t be tempted to say “Yes!”

There is no record that Samson had a deep fellowship with God. By contrast, the Psalms are filled with David’s yearning to know and understand His Father’s ways, even as he hid God’s Word in his heart as a fortress for the future.

We are told, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NKJV).

Likewise, God tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NKJV).

When the devil and his demons come looking for someone to destroy, they see God’s Word in you keeping them out, and they move on.

How do you get sober and be vigilant? By the Word! That’s your responsibility.

One of the most glaring examples in the Bible of failing to do what David taught about being clean and staying away from sin is Samson. Samson’s strength became his weakness, as he disobeyed God, toyed with his evil enemies, Delilah, and the Philistines.

When you walk away from the Lord and His protection, you are vulnerable to His enemies.

Yes, God used Samson in the end to fulfill His will, but look at what Samson had to go through to see God’s will done.

Even though David also fell into sin with Bathsheba and faced widespread consequences, he quickly faced his sin and began reforging his deep fellowship with God. David lived a long life and saw great abundance begin to pour into the kingdom. By the time his son Solomon became king of Israel, silver and gold were as plenteous in the land as stones (2 Chronicles 1:15).

There is no greater pattern to follow for returning to the Lord than in Psalm 51. Every believer should know this chapter!

David knew, as each of us must learn, that proximity to God is protection. When you are close to Him, you are safe: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8, NKJV).

David repented and returned to God quickly. Proximity is powerful. It brings you into that place where the fellowship of God lies. When you are within God’s Word and fellowshipping with Him, you are within His proximity!

2. Seek God with your whole heart.

God wants you to be clean and holy. His will for you is sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NKJV).

The definition of sanctification is to set apart to a sacred purpose, to consecrate, to free from sin, to purify, and to make productive of holiness. It means seeking God with your whole heart.

Jesus Himself said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NKJV).

When you seek God with all your heart, and stay in close fellowship with Him daily, you will hear Him speaking to you, guiding you out of temptation. Deep within you will hear His voice saying, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21, NKJV).

He desires to guide your steps into a life that fills you with His love, joy, and peace that passes all understanding, guiding your heart and mind into a deeper fellowship with Christ
(Philippians 4:7).

The best part is that anyone, even with the greatness of Samson or David, can find a way out.

Both Samson and David heard God calling out to them. When they repented, God was merciful, forgiving, and both men returned to God’s favor.

No matter where you are right now, there is a way out. God is the answer, whether you want to stay free or to become free.

The key to staying clean is given to us: Take heed of God’s Word, and seek Him with all of your heart.

David, the Giver

Little is said about Samson’s personal life. Scripture implies that he was blessed with immense power to use mightily in the battle against the Philistine captors. Yet, he appeared to be self-centered, caring largely about his own desires. He ignored his parents’ warnings and went against his Nazarite vow to get what he wanted.

I truly believe the long-term difference between the two men was David’s willingness to be a generous giver. He knew that his acts of giving would impact generations to come! His heritage was blessed beyond imagination as long as they walked in obedience and generosity.

God has given us the same promise that He gave to David and believers throughout the ages: “All these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 28:2, NKJV). “Overtake” means being overpowered by God’s blessings in every area of your life, no matter what challenges you currently face!

David knew the life-changing key (and the prospects for others) is in the seed that you sow. Giving puts you in line for God’s covenant blessings of protection, power, peace, and plenty!

Today, as in David’s day, as a covenant believer, givers can lay claim to all of God’s promises:

“I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence, even in your time of pressure and trouble.” (Psalm 91:14-15, TPT)

What do you need from heaven right now? The answer is in your seed.

Take a step of faith by making the divine connection between your need and your seed. The harvest is always determined by the seed! God wants to bless you in abundance, surprising ways so you can be a blessing!

Send your best offering today, not only to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, but to seal His protection, promises, and plenty in your life!

Wrap your seed with expectant faith and watch God “open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10, NKJV).

With great expectation for you,