Samson in Hebrews 11 — Why Is He in the Hall of Faith?

Named Among the Faithful

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Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. It names people who trusted God. Samson's name is there. How can a man who sinned so much be on that list?

The list. “For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32).

What faith is. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith means trusting God and what He says, even before you can see it.

Why faith matters. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6).

Not a list of perfect people. Abraham lied about his wife (Genesis 12:13). Moses killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12). Gideon asked God for sign after sign (Judges 6:36-40). Barak would not go to battle without Deborah (Judges 4:8).

Samson's sins were real. He married outside God's people, broke his vow and told his secret to Delilah. God does not pretend sin is small: “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

But Samson trusted God. At Lehi, nearly dying of thirst, “he cried out to the Lord” (Judges 15:18). God split open the ground, and water came out.

And again at the end. Blind in Dagon's temple, he prayed, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray!” (Judges 16:28). He turned to the Lord when he had nothing left.

He knew who Israel's God was. Samson never prayed to Dagon. Even at his worst, he knew his strength came from the Lord.

Rahab too. “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe” (Hebrews 11:31). God's list includes people with very messy pasts.

Faith is counted. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). God credits faith, not a perfect record.

Sins removed. When God names Samson in Hebrews 11, He mentions his faith, not his failures. “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

Grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Not an excuse. Samson's place in Hebrews 11 does not mean sin is okay. His sin cost him his eyes, his freedom and his life. His story shows how great God's grace is.

What we learn. God's list is a list of sinners who trusted Him. You get into God's family the same way: by trusting Jesus.

What to do. Read Hebrews 11 this week. Pick one person from the list and find his or her story in the Old Testament.

Samson sinned openly and often (Judges 14-16). Yet Hebrews 11 names him with the heroes of faith. Both are God's Word, and together they show how God sees a flawed believer.

Pistis (Hebrews 11:1). The Greek word for faith is pistis (say: PIS-tis), trust or confidence. Hebrews 11:1 calls it “the substance of things hoped for”: a firm foundation under what God has promised.

Faith pleases God (11:6). Faith believes “that He is” and that He rewards “those who diligently seek Him.” Both of Samson's recorded prayers were cries to the Lord, never to another god.

The quick list (11:32). Hebrews 11:32 says time would fail to tell every story, and it names Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel together. Every one of them has failures recorded in Scripture.

The deeds (11:33-34). Some of the phrases fit Samson closely: “out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Lehi (Judges 15:18-19). Samson called himself God's servant and credited the victory to God: “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant.” That is a confession of faith.

Counted righteous. Romans 4:3 quotes Genesis 15:6: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” The word accounted is a bookkeeping word. God credits faith to a person's account.

Not by works. If Hebrews 11 were a list of good behavior, Samson would not be on it. It is a list of faith, and salvation has always been “through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Sin still matters. God's grace never makes sin harmless. Samson reaped what he sowed: blindness, chains and an early death. Grace forgives sin; it does not make sin wise.

Psalm 103:10. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.” Samson's name in Hebrews 11 is a picture of that mercy. Psalm 103:12 adds that God removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west.”

Something better (11:39-40). Hebrews 11 ends by saying that none of these people received all that was promised in their lifetime. God had something better in store: the promise is completed in Jesus, and they share it with us.

Application. Your past sins do not have the last word if you trust Christ. Confess them (1 John 1:9), turn from them, and keep walking by faith.

Out of Weakness Made Strong

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Hebrews 11:34 describes people who “out of weakness were made strong.” That fits Samson better than almost anyone.

Strong arms, weak heart. Samson could tear a lion apart, but he could not say no to what pleased his eyes. His body was strong, and his heart was weak.

His weakest moment. At the end he was blind, chained and laughed at. A boy had to lead him by the hand. He had nothing left but God.

Made strong. When he cried out, God gave him strength one more time (Judges 16:28-30). God's strength showed up in Samson's weakness.

The caller's spring. After God gave him water at Lehi, Samson named the place En Hakkore (say: en hah-ko-RAY), the spring of the one who called (Judges 15:19). God answers people who call on Him.

Paul's weakness. God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God chooses the weak. “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Strength for the tired. “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29).

Waiting on God. “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). To wait on the Lord means to trust Him and depend on Him.

Strength in the soul. Our memory verse says God “made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3). The best strength God gives is on the inside: courage to trust Him and do what is right.

A cloud of witnesses. Hebrews 12 begins, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). The people of Hebrews 11, Samson among them, show us that God is faithful.

Lay it aside. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1). Samson shows how sin can trap a person. Put it down early.

Look to Jesus. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Samson is not our hero. Jesus is.

The One who never failed. Every person in Hebrews 11 fell short. Jesus never did. He was tempted in every way “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), and He went to the cross for people like Samson, and like us.

What to do. When you feel weak, tell God. Ask Him for strength to obey Him today, and thank Jesus that He is strong for you.

Hebrews 11:34 has a phrase that sums up Samson's life: “out of weakness were made strong.” The pattern runs through the whole Bible and ends at the cross.

Weakness first. The Greek word astheneia (say: as-THEN-ay-ah) means weakness, sickness or lack of strength. God's people are made strong out of weakness, not out of their own strength.

Two kinds of weakness. Samson's body was strong, but his will was weak against temptation. His deepest weakness was in his heart, and that is where God met him at the end.

En Hakkore (Judges 15:19). The name means the spring of the caller. The place itself remembered that God answers the one who calls. Psalm 138:3 says the same: “In the day when I cried out, You answered me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul begged God to remove his thorn. God said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said he would boast in his weaknesses, “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

1 Corinthians 1:27. God chooses “the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty,” so that no one can boast before Him.

Isaiah 40:29-31. Even young men “shall utterly fall,” but “those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength.” Waiting means looking to God instead of to ourselves.

Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul learned to be content when he was hungry and when he was full (4:11-12). Christ's strength is given for doing God's will, not for showing off.

The cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). The word witnesses, martys (say: MAR-toos), means people who give testimony. The people of Hebrews 11 testify by their lives that God keeps His promises.

Weights and sins (12:1). Hebrews tells us to lay aside “the sin which so easily ensnares us.” Samson's life shows the danger of a sin that is never laid down.

The author and finisher (12:2). Jesus is the archegos (say: ar-khay-GOSS), the pioneer who goes first, and the finisher who completes our faith. He “endured the cross, despising the shame.”

Application. Weakness is not the end of your usefulness to God. Bring your weakness to Him in prayer, put away the sin that trips you, and fix your eyes on Jesus.

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