Why is Samson in Hebrews hall of faith?

Hebrews 11:32

I believe with all my heart that Samson didn't fill God's will for his life. I know he cried out to him at the end...is that where the faith was??

Since he's in Hebrews Hall of Faith...does that mean he went to heaven? Even if he didn't fufill his call?

Because God is gracious. Lot is called Just in the New Testament. God is the one whom is long-suffering and merciful. His judgments are reflected in the New Testament in a way that often shows just how much greater His grace and mercy are than we often recognize. Samson pulled down the pillars and defeated the Philistines by faith. The just are justified by faith, not by fulfilling Gods specific personal will. Noah lived a life of faith, and that is recognized all over the New Testament, even though the last thing Genesis says about him is sketchy. If David was not in the Bible, and all the things he did were not Covered by Gods Grace, then many of us even here could and would be justified in questioning if ANYONE could be saved.

Thank God for His Grace.
And no, I am not an antinomian.

Exodus 34:6

The just are justified by faith, not by fulfilling Gods specific personal will.

Thanks. I needed to hear that.

And what exactly is "antinomian"?

Off-topic but I've wondered why Barak is in there.

I believe it wasn't God's will for Samson to be defeated by Delila. Yes, he killed more Philistines in his death than life but it wasn't God's will to be captured due to sin.

I think he would've killed more Philistines if he was like Joseph...and didn't sin against God.

Possible Calvinism/Arminian debate coming over the will of God being thwarted?...Anyhoo, to answer this:

And what exactly is "antinomian"?

Antinomiansim is cheap grace. It means that once you're saved, you can do whatever you want because Christ's blood has covered you. It's what Paul combatted in Romans 5 and 6 where he said,

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Seems to be that the more we sin, the more grace we get, but---)

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Antinomians trample under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are sanctified, as an unholy thing, and insult the Spirit of grace.
Heb. 10:29

I'm amazed at how many people second guess God's placing of Samson by name in Heb 11 without really reading Samson's account, what God gave him to do, and what he did.

It's amazing.

However, given the amount of literature out there that promotes Samson as the biggest failure in the bible, it's understandable.

The question is, Why is God's placing of Samson in Heb 11 so different from the many men that don't think he should be in the chapter at all?

Why the great gap?

My other question would be, What exactly did God give Samson to do that he failed in?

The question is, Why is God's placing of Samson in Heb 11 so different from the many men that don't think he will even be in heaven?

Because God chose to articulate the failure of Samson so that we are able to read about it and pass judgment; whereas the ones that sit in judgment often have their sins following after them. There is something about concealed sins- that allow the guilty to pretend as if they are somehow better than the person that was caught. This is why the pregnant teen gets scorned and the other fornicators who didn't get caught can look down their long nose. But, as surely as God is just they are equally sinful. The ones sin went before her the others will follow after.

I heard a judge once ask a young man what the difference was between him and the judge; the judge answered, "You got caught and I didn't!" That brazen attitude is more subtle in the one that may think somehow Sampson was a sinner above most others. The longer I live and the more skeletons come out of closets- the more I am prepared for the disillusionment that may well attend Judgment Day. We are all human beings. Even those that are exalted as spiritual are human. Keep this in mind. Many people have wavered in the faith when the comic book was slapped from their hands.

Nice answer. Definitely part of it.

I'd like to put forward the opposite direction of this thread.

I believe Samson is one of the greatest 'types' of Christ in the entire Old Testament. His faith was amazing and he typified the Lord's first and second comings as no one else did.

I agree he should be in the Hall of faith but he kept going back to sin...flirting with sin and God allowed his enemies to capture him and gouge out his eyes.

I'm just wondering if there was another life God intended for Samson?? Did he die when he was supposed to? Who knows how many more Philistines he could have killed if he didn't fall into sin and paid the consequences with death.

On another note...Ceedub,

How was he a type of Christ?

Samson as a type....

Brief notes from a message I gave about 3 years ago (if any would like, I could post it)...

His birth proclamation delivered from heaven to his mom

Nazarite for life (first one mentioned in bible)
- hair:submission vine:purity death:eternal

Never once promised great strength, only given commission to 'begin' Israel's deliverance (David finished it)

Deliverer of Israel

Only man in bible other than Christ that is never once aided in his work by a single person

Never once shown to use a conventional weapon of war

Took a gentile bride, much to the chagrin of his people
-many see this as sin, though the Philistines were not one of the 7 nations Israel was forbidden to marry. And it was of the Lord.

At the feast he gives a riddle to the guests (parable). His bride tells them the answer to the parable (church). The prize is new garments (salvation)

Left bride in care of companion (Spirit) until he came back from his father's house at the time of the harvest.

Killed a lion with bare hands (as did David, the other deliverer) representing Satan. Sweetness came out of the Lion's defeat. Could represent his own death that brought sweetness of the gospel.

Never told any of this great conquest, not even his dad who was close by. Great humility.

Came unto his own (Cave of Etam). His own received him not (bound him and took him to their enemies). He made them promise they would not kill him themselves (Jews didn't do the killing, but gave Christ to Romans). Also a great type of 2 comings: first with humilty and sacrifice, second with power and vengeance.

Took gates of Gaza to top of hill, on his shoulders, outside the city. (Jesus did same, said I am the Gate)

Died with outstretched arms to deliver his people.

Fulfilled Nazarite vow by having his head shaved and offering up a sacrifice (himself). See OT law for concluding the Nazarite vow.

Was beaten and mocked with no eyes ('prophecy who hit you..')

There are more. I can include the whole message if any are interested.

When you consider what God asked Samson to do, never promising him great strength, and how all his people never aided him once and mostly opposed him as he endeavored their deliverance, not only is his faith staggering, but his typifying of Christ is amazing.

Interesting insights into Samson as a Christ-type ceedub. I'd like to see the rest of the notes!!

Also, good post brothertom.

I'm just wondering if there was another life God intended for Samson?? Did he die when he was supposed to? Who knows how many more Philistines he could have killed if he didn't fall into sin and paid the consequences with death.

I think this question pertains to all of our lives. Typically the question is, "Did Samson reach the potential God set forth in his life?" I think the answer is clearly no- if we consider the direction of his life independent of the influence of Delilah.

[i]And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.[/i] (Judges 16:30)

I find it interesting how God is able to restore to a person the years that the 'cankerworm has eaten'.

These are all great posts and I'm very encouraged. I'm sure if I haven't had sinned so much (after salvation) I would have been somewhere else...or still getting there. But thanks all.

Ceedub...please post the whole thing. you wet my appetite. I want to read the whole thing.

I agree he should be in the Hall of faith but he kept going back to sin...flirting with sin and God allowed his enemies to capture him and gouge out his eyes.

The thing Samson did not do was serve other gods. This is true of David also. they had problems, but they were loyal to God as their God. I am not saying it's OK to have failures in these areas. I think the New Covenant brings better possibilities. But we also need to know that our salvation is based on the finished work of Christ. If we question Samson's salvation- then we risk questioning our own salvation if we should happen upon failure ourselves. I am not saying that God tolerates sin. In Samson's life the sin had a great consequence. But I believe Samson still loved God and God loved Samson. How do I know things were right between God and Samson? The testimony of Hebrews 11:13b:

These [u]all[/u] died in faith... (Hebrews 11:13b)

Samson, whatever his faults, died in faith. He died with the full measure of his trust in God- calling upon his name- believing that He (God) was able. He did not die in rebellion. He died turned to God and calling on His name. This has to be our posture. Samson had no confidence in himself at the last; but came to realize, perhaps, more than ever- that it was God all along that enabled Him to be anything at all. I think this posture of the heart is critical and very challenging in times when we think we stand. I am not saying it's OK to sin- yet what Samson suffered is an example of how we may want to respond when we fail. Turn your heart to God and call upon Him to fulfill His purposes in your life in spite of your failure.