Samson: Grace, Failure, and the Call to Return

Summary

The story of Samson is a powerful reminder of God’s calling, our human frailty, and the relentless grace that pursues us even in our failures. From the very beginning, God set Samson apart for a unique purpose, calling him before he was even born. This divine calling is not exclusive to Samson; each of us is intricately formed and called by God for His glory and purposes. Yet, like Samson, we are faced with the daily choice: will we follow God’s will or our own desires?

Samson’s life is marked by a cycle familiar to many of us: a clear calling, a tragic fall, a return to God, and then, heartbreakingly, a return to sin. His story reveals that the real battle is not against external temptations, but the internal struggle of whose will we will follow. The heart, as Scripture says, is deceitful and unreliable as a guide. When we let our desires chart our course, we inevitably drift from God’s best for us. The analogy of the compass that points not to true north, but to whatever we want most, illustrates how easily we can be led astray if we are not anchored in God’s Word.

Despite his repeated failures, Samson’s story is ultimately one of hope. Even after his greatest defeat—blinded, imprisoned, and humiliated—Samson turns back to God. In his final moments, he calls out for God’s strength, and God responds, restoring his purpose and fellowship. This restoration is not just for Samson; it is a promise for all who return to God, no matter how far we have wandered.

For those who have placed their faith in Christ, our relationship with God is secure because of Jesus’ finished work. Yet, our fellowship—our closeness and usefulness to God—can be hindered by unrepentant sin. The call is to continually examine our lives, to seek God’s will above our own, and to let His Word be our guide. For those who have not yet trusted Christ, the invitation is open: admit your need, believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, and choose to follow Him. God’s grace is sufficient to redeem, restore, and empower us for His purposes.

Key Takeaways

- God’s Calling Is Personal and Purposeful
Before we were born, God formed us with intention and called us to participate in His story. Our uniqueness is not accidental; every detail of our lives is woven by God for His glory. The question is not whether we are called, but whether we will respond in obedience or resist His purposes. [12:50]

- The Heart Is a Deceptive Guide
Our desires, left unchecked, can lead us far from God’s will. Like Samson and Eve, we are tempted to trust what looks good to us rather than what God has said. True wisdom is found in submitting our hearts to God’s Word, which alone points us to true north and lasting fulfillment. [23:08]

- Sin’s Cycle and the Need for Continual Return
Even after experiencing God’s grace and restoration, we are prone to return to old patterns of sin. The real issue is not the external temptation, but the internal battle of whose will we will follow—ours or God’s. Recognizing this cycle is the first step toward breaking it and living in ongoing repentance and dependence on God. [32:11]

- Restoration Is Always Possible
No matter how far we have fallen, God’s grace invites us back. Samson’s final prayer, offered in weakness and humility, was met with God’s empowering presence. Our usefulness and fellowship with God can be restored when we turn back to Him, even after repeated failures. [38:28]

- Relationship Is Secure, Fellowship Requires Obedience
Through Christ, our relationship with God is eternally secure, but our closeness and effectiveness in His kingdom depend on our obedience. Sin does not sever our sonship, but it does hinder our fellowship and fruitfulness. Regular self-examination, repentance, and immersion in God’s Word keep us aligned with His will and ready for His purposes. [43:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Next Gen Ministry and Summer Recap
[03:30] - VBS Vision and Invitation
[06:45] - Introduction to Samson: Why This Story Matters
[09:30] - What Is a Judge? Israel’s Cycle of Faithfulness
[11:08] - The Call of Samson: Set Apart from Birth
[13:57] - The Fall: Samson’s Desires and the Pattern of Sin
[16:35] - The Heart’s Deception: Lessons from Genesis
[19:30] - The Compass of the Heart vs. God’s Word
[23:08] - The Real Struggle: Whose Will Do We Follow?
[25:32] - Samson’s Riddle, Betrayal, and Consequences
[28:12] - Return to God: Repentance and Restoration
[31:00] - The Return to Sin: Delilah and Spiritual Blindness
[34:31] - Ignoring Red Flags and the Cost of Sin
[37:24] - Samson’s Humiliation and God’s Grace
[39:35] - Final Restoration: Samson’s Last Prayer
[41:26] - The Holy Spirit: Old Testament vs. New Testament
[43:42] - Relationship vs. Fellowship with God
[45:43] - The Gospel Invitation
[49:54] - Prayer of Salvation and Closing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Story of Samson – God’s Calling, Our Choices, and His Relentless Grace

---

### Bible Reading

- Judges 13–16 (Samson’s story)
- Psalm 139:13–16 (“You knit me together in my mother’s womb…”)
- Jeremiah 17:9 (“The heart is deceitful above all things…”)

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to Judges 13:2–5, what instructions did the angel of the Lord give to Samson’s mother before he was born? What was Samson set apart to do?
2. In Psalm 139:13–16, what does David say about how God forms and knows each person?
3. What does Jeremiah 17:9 say about the human heart? How does this connect to the choices Samson made?
4. In the sermon, what was the real root of Samson’s struggle—was it external temptation or something deeper? ([13:57])

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says God’s calling is personal and purposeful for everyone, not just Samson. What does it mean that God “knit you together” and has a plan for your life? How does this affect the way someone sees themselves? ([12:50])
2. The heart is described as “deceitful and desperately sick.” Why is it dangerous to let our desires or feelings be our main guide in life? ([19:30])
3. The sermon describes a cycle in Samson’s life: calling, fall, return to God, and return to sin. Why do people, even after experiencing God’s grace, often fall back into old patterns? ([31:00])
4. The sermon says that even after failure, restoration is possible. What does Samson’s final prayer and God’s response teach about God’s grace and forgiveness? ([39:35])

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon says God has a unique calling for each of us, just like Samson. Do you believe God has a purpose for your life? What is one area where you sense God might be calling you to trust or obey Him more? ([12:50])
2. The heart is compared to a compass that points to whatever we want most, not to true north. Can you think of a time when following your own desires led you away from God’s best? What would it look like to let God’s Word be your “true north” this week? ([23:08])
3. The story of Samson shows that ignoring “red flags” and following our own will can lead to painful consequences. Are there any warning signs or “red flags” in your life right now that you might be ignoring? What would it look like to pay attention to them? ([34:31])
4. The sermon says that even after repeated failures, God’s grace is still available. Is there an area in your life where you need to return to God and ask for restoration? What is holding you back? ([38:28])
5. For those who have trusted Christ, the sermon says our relationship with God is secure, but our closeness (fellowship) can be hindered by unrepentant sin. Is there a specific sin or habit that is keeping you from close fellowship with God? What step could you take this week to address it? ([43:42])
6. The sermon invites those who haven’t trusted Christ to admit their need, believe in Jesus, and choose to follow Him. If you haven’t made that decision, what questions or doubts do you have? If you have, how can you share this hope with someone else? ([45:43])
7. The sermon encourages regular self-examination and immersion in God’s Word. What is one practical way you can make time for God’s Word this week, and how might that help you stay aligned with His will? ([44:20])

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for His calling, His patience, and His grace. Ask for help to recognize and resist the pull of your own desires, to listen to His Word, and to return quickly when you stray. Pray for courage to obey and for restoration where it’s needed.

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Call and Purpose for Every Life
God’s call on Samson’s life began before his birth, as God set him apart for a unique purpose and gave his parents specific instructions for raising him. In the same way, each person is intentionally created and formed by God, with every day of their life known and planned by Him. Nothing about your life is an accident; God has knit you together with care and has a purpose for you to bring Him glory and further His kingdom. The choice remains whether to walk in obedience to His call or to go your own way, but His invitation is always present. [12:50]

Judges 13:2-5 (ESV)
“In those days there was a man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally seek God’s purpose for your life today, trusting that He has uniquely called and formed you for a reason?


Day 2: The Danger of Following Our Own Desires
Samson’s downfall began not with a Philistine woman, but with his decision to follow his own desires rather than God’s will. Like Eve in the garden, he was led astray by what looked good to his eyes, showing that our hearts and desires can easily deceive us. The heart, Scripture says, is desperately sick and cannot be trusted to chart the course of our lives. Instead, we are called to trust God’s wisdom and direction, knowing that our own desires often lead us away from His best. [19:30]

Genesis 3:6 (ESV)
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to trust your own desires over God’s wisdom, and how can you surrender that area to Him today?


Day 3: Returning to God and Restored Fellowship
After a season of rebellion and self-will, Samson turned his heart back to God, acknowledging that his victories and strength came from the Lord alone. In his moment of need, he cried out to God, who graciously provided for him and restored his strength and fellowship. This return to God is always possible, no matter how far we have wandered; when we humble ourselves and seek Him, He revives us and welcomes us back into close relationship. [28:12]

Judges 15:18-20 (ESV)
“And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, ‘You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; it is at Lehi to this day. And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.”

Reflection: Is there an area where you need to return to God and ask Him to restore your fellowship with Him? What step can you take today to turn your heart back to Him?


Day 4: The Cycle of Sin and the Need for Spiritual Discernment
Even after experiencing God’s grace, Samson fell back into old patterns, ignoring warning signs and following his own will, which led to devastating consequences. Sin often entices us to ignore red flags and make small compromises, but it ultimately takes us further than we want to go and keeps us longer than we want to stay. Like Samson, we must recognize the danger of letting our hearts lead us and instead seek spiritual discernment, asking God to open our eyes to His direction and the traps of sin. [37:24]

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Reflection: What “red flags” or warning signs might God be showing you right now, and how can you respond with spiritual discernment instead of following your own will?


Day 5: Lasting Strength Comes from God’s Spirit, Not Our Own
At the end of his life, Samson’s strength was not in his hair, but in the Spirit of God who empowered him. Though his fellowship with God had been broken by sin, when he humbled himself and called out to God, the Lord restored him and accomplished His purposes through him. For believers, our relationship with God is secure through Christ, but our fellowship and usefulness depend on our obedience and reliance on the Holy Spirit. True contentment and strength are found not in following our own hearts, but in seeking the will of the Father and walking in step with His Spirit. [43:42]

Romans 8:11 (ESV)
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop relying on your own strength and instead ask the Holy Spirit to empower and guide you today?

Quotes