Samson is mentioned in Hebrews 11:1–40 alongside other Old Testament saints, noted for their saving faith in the Lord. Often the passage is called the hall of faith.
And then often it’s asked, How could Samson be there? Are we really expected to think that Samson, or for that matter Jephthah, Gideon, Barak went to heaven when they died? The writer says, Through faith,
they conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight.
Samson was broken, flawed. But Scripture says that even he was made whole through faith. Yes, immature faith. But surely Hebrews is talking about Samson when the author says that through faith the saints of old were made strong out of weakness.
Never was Samson weaker than when he stood between those two supporting columns. But God opened the eyes of his heart to see the enemy, which prompted him to utter a cry of faith. Through which God made Samson, in his weakness, strong. So neither Samson nor any other of those mentioned in Hebrews 11:1–40 are heroes. That honour belongs to God alone, who gave Samson faith, opened his eyes, revealed the enemy, and used him as a tool to accomplish his divine purpose. The victory is the Lord’s; faith does not, cannot take any credit. The Lord is our strength and our salvation.
28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”