5 Spiritual Truths From Samson’s Life to Transform Your Faith

The book of Judges is a high-drama Old Testament account of how God’s people (the Israelites) disobeyed God time and again. And how He would show them mercy by sending a judge to save them – on repeat.

Samson was one of those judges. A very flawed one. His story goes a bit like this…

From birth, Samson was set apart for God. His mum was barren and childless, but God intervened and promised her a child – with conditions. She wasn’t allowed to drink a drop of alcohol or fermented drink, or eat anything considered “unclean” during her pregnancy. And her son, Samson, was to never cut his hair. You see, his hair was the vessel through which he carried the anointing (power of God).

When Samson grew up, his strength made him stand out big time. He would easily defeat the odds when they were stacked up against him in battle. Apart from God, Samson was Israel’s strongest asset. So the Israelites’ enemy, the Philistines, set out to find out his weakness and take him down. And they used the women in his life to try and uncover his secret. But for the most part, Samson saw through it.

Until, after many failed attempts, Samson’s lover Delilah convinces him to share the real secret. When the Philistines shave off Samson’s hair, his strength leaves him. They seize him, gouge out his eyes, then send him to prison to put him to work.

Samson’s hair begins to grow again and while he’s being used as entertainment, he asks God for one last chance to take down the Philistines. So God grants him that. Samson pushes down the pillars of the temple, killing more people than when he lived – including himself.

It’s thrilling stuff, right? But Samson’s story isn’t documented in the Bible for our entertainment. There are spiritual truths we can learn and apply to our personal walk with God.

I’ll share five of those spiritual truths with you now.

#1 The enemy targets our weaknesses

Samson’s weakness was forbidden women. From the Philistine woman to the prostitute to his love affair with Delilah – he couldn’t get enough of them. And the Philistines knew it. So they exploited this weakness and used Samson’s relations as opportunities to overcome him.

You might have noticed the same in your life. There’s an area where you’ve always felt weak and you’ve seen the enemy target it multiple times. Like he can’t come up with a new strategy. But he does this because coming after a weakness logically means he doesn’t have to try as hard to trip you up.

Maybe it doesn’t take much to make you angry and it seems like you’re constantly in situations that set you off. Maybe you trust too easily, and you keep coming across people who take advantage of you. You might struggle with insecurities and feel like your mind is bombarded with thoughts about how you’re not good enough.

But how can you overcome these weaknesses, so the enemy doesn’t win?

Follow Jesus’ example. He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit (Matthew 4:1-11) and hungry from fasting when the devil approached Him. Each time he came at Jesus with a lie, test or temptation, Jesus rejected it and spoke the Word of God.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 NIV

Find scriptures from the Word of God that relate to your area(s) of weakness and have them ready to speak aloud when the enemy comes prowling. Renew your mind and meditate on the truth – keep it in your heart and always on your lips.

#2 God keeps His promises

As I mentioned, before Samson was born, the Lord made a covenant with his parents – called a Nazirite vow. He promised Samson would deliver Israel from the Philistines if a razor never touched his head.

God anointed Samson with supernatural strength for that assignment. Though Samson kept this vow for some time, he still engaged in sexual sin that would’ve been displeasing to God. Yet, God didn’t turn away from Samson or take away his strength because of his impure relations. That only happened when the covenant was broken.

Because when God says He’ll do something, He’ll do it.

For no word from God will ever fail.

Luke 1:37 NIV

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19 NIV

When you read God’s promises in the Bible, you can know they’re as good as done. Promises like:

• God will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
• God’s peace will guard your heart and mind when you come to him with requests and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7).
• God will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).
• God hears your prayers and answers them (1 John 5:14-15).

All these promises and so many more are yours for the taking when you live a life surrendered to Jesus. And God makes good on all of them. Not always in the way or the timing we expect – but always for our good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 NIV

Photo by Aaron Owens on Unsplash

#3 Repeated sin desensitises us to God’s Spirit

You might read Samson’s conversations with Delilah and think, “Why didn’t Samson end that relationship the moment she first tried to capture him for the Philistines?”

Sure, Samson was in love with Delilah. But love and wisdom/sound judgement aren’t mutually exclusive, right? It seems over time, Samson’s lustful pleasures had defiled his heart, clouding his judgement and ability to see what was or wasn’t of God.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8 NIV

When you have a pure heart – allowing the Holy Spirit to help you become more like Jesus – you’re able to see more clearly in the Spirit. You can recognise God’s voice better and know what comes from Him and what doesn’t.

Like Samson, each time you knowingly do something that’s wrong in God’s eyes, you’re feeding your flesh (your sinful self) and denying your spirit (your true, godly self). Your flesh grows stronger and your spirit becomes weaker. And it’s your spirit that’s influenced by the Holy Spirit. But when that connection grows faint, your sensitivity to feel the Spirit’s promptings weakens.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 

Galatians 5:16-17 NIV

That’s why it’s so important to develop and nurture a friendship with the Holy Spirit. You can do that by inviting Him into your day, asking for His help during the day and speaking in His language (tongues). As you do that, you allow His voice to lead you and shape your heart.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:24-25 NIV

#4 Disobeying God can open doors to the enemy

Eventually, Samson’s sin and weakness led him to reveal the secret of his supernatural strength – which meant he broke his Nazirite vow with God.

It all went downhill from there. Samson’s enemies shaved his head while he was still asleep (must’ve been a very deep sleeper!), removing his ability to defend himself. So, he was captured by the Philistines.

Samson’s sin led him into the hands of the enemy. And that can happen with us today.

Let’s go back to the example of anger. There’s nothing wrong with being angry – it’s a human emotion. But when you give into anger by letting it influence your words or actions, it becomes a problem.

And if you continue to allow a pattern of anger directing your behaviour, it could lead to losing control. In other words, it’s an open door for the enemy to guide you (rather than the Holy Spirit).

Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].

Ephesians 4:26-27 AMP

In more severe cases, open doors through habitual sin can lead to demonic oppression. But that’s a topic for another day.

So how do you stop this from happening and keep doors closed? Repent from the behaviour and reject the lie that it’s who you are or part of your personality.

To repent doesn’t just mean saying sorry for doing something wrong, it also involves turning away from that thing and changing your behaviour.

The good news is you don’t have to do it in our strength – that’s what the Holy Spirit is for. He helps us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26). We just need to ask Him and then do what He says.

As I said before, rejecting the lies, focusing on and declaring God’s Word is how we overcome the enemy’s strategies. Now, if anger was the area I was struggling with, I could go to a scripture like James 1:19-20:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

After renewing my mind with this truth, I could say something like: “I’m a child of God – therefore, I am quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. I choose to not dwell in the place of anger because it displeases God and doesn’t reflect Jesus.”

It seems simple because in many cases, it is. And so powerful when we put it into practice!

#5 God is always merciful

Even after all the disobedience and debauchery, God didn’t leave Samson. God showed him mercy, answering Samson’s final prayer to give him strength one more time – so he could defeat the Israelites.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 

Judges 16:28 NIV

Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

Judges 16:30 NIV

Samson didn’t deserve that final victory, but God gave it to him out of His great mercy – and it accomplished His will.

There are a lot of things God gives us and prayers He answers that we don’t deserve. But that’s who He is – a kind, forgiving, gracious and merciful God. And our failures and mistakes don’t stop us from receiving God’s blessings.

Though the consequences of our sin can sometimes hinder us from receiving the fullness of what God wants to give us, He doesn’t outright withhold them from us. The Lord has already displayed His ultimate act of mercy once and for all by sending Jesus to take the fall for us. We’re already forgiven – but it’s no excuse to sin regardless.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Hebrews 10:26-27 NIV

God’s mercy is a gift that He freely gives. When we abuse it, we might not see the impact in this life but there will be a day when we’re held accountable!

For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 AMP

So let’s thank God for His mercy and show Him honour and respect – for He is worthy to receive it! He’s a good God and His love for us never fails (Psalm 136:1).