We’ve been posting this series of articles focused on various biblical figures. This week, the prompt was to write about Samson. This article will not say much about Samson the man and his life; however, he is the catalyst for some thoughts I’ll share here.
Lately, the first passage that comes to mind when I think of Samson is Hebrews 11:32. After recounting the faith of many biblical “heroes”, it says “32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through . . .” (ESV) and it goes on to recount faithful deeds. This verse comes to mind because Samson’s name seemed out of place to me when I recently read it. He is mentioned in this passage that I’ve heard called the “Hall of Faith”. His name seemed to me like it didn’t belong because I associated the “Hall of Faith” so strongly with images of shrines to sports heroes or talented musicians, like our human Halls of Fame. Therefore, the Hall of Faith must be filled with the names of people who were more righteous than everyone else, right? However, what we have recorded about Samson shows him falling short more often than not. He is vengeful, violent, and driven by lust. So why mention Samson among these people of faith?
Interestingly, he is mentioned along with some other men about whom we might have the same questions to varying degrees: doubting Gideon, timid Barak, and rash Jephthah. Also, the previous verse says: “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Heb. 11:31, ESV). Similar to Samson being in the “Hall of Faith”, the inclusion of Rahab’s immoral and stigmatized occupation along with the description of her faith is jarring. Perhaps we’d also question David’s inclusion in this passage if we didn’t have in scripture his contrition and devotion to the Lord despite his many failings.
This passage seems to me more a reflection of what God can accomplish through the faith of deeply flawed people than it is a reflection of the goodness of an elite club of God-followers. There is hope in how, through God, blessings can come through imperfect people; we can be useful to God despite our shortcomings. This idea – and Samson’s inclusion in the “Hall of Faith” – is also a reminder that our purpose as the creation, as followers of God, is for God’s glory, not our own.