“Fallen, Yet Not Forsaken - Samson Part 3”
SERMON Title: Fallen, Yet Not Forsaken - Samson Part 3
SCRIPTURE: Judges 16 ESV
Introduction
As we open to Judges chapter 16, we come to the final chapter of Samson’s life—a chapter that reveals not only the tragic end of a man driven by his desires but also a surprising glimpse of God’s grace.
Today’s message is really a continuation of what we looked at last week: a life driven by senses. We saw how Samson repeatedly lived according to what was right in his own eyes—doing whatever felt good or seemed right in the moment, rather than what was right in God’s eyes. That pattern doesn't stop—it intensifies here in chapter 16. Now, this chapter can be broken down into three major scenes:
Samson and the prostitute of Gaza,
Samson and Delilah,
And finally, Samson’s death.
Each of these moments reveals the consequences of a life led by unchecked desires—but also, they point us to the depths of God’s mercy. So let’s begin with the first section: Samson and the prostitute of Gaza.
Samson and the Prostitute of Gaza
Judges 16 opens with Samson going to Gaza: “Samson went to Gaza, and there…” (Judges 16:1). This Gaza is the same region known today. Historically, Gaza was a major Philistine city, making Samson’s journey there significant—it was intentional, not accidental. From Ramath-Lehi to Gaza was about 68 kilometers, deep into enemy territory. Gaza was a known center for prostitution, being a port city. Verse 1 tells us, “he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her,” meaning he had sex with her. This act mirrors his earlier behavior in Timnah, showing a pattern of pursuing Philistine women. Samson acted without shame or secrecy. Verse 2 reveals the people of Gaza knew he was there and planned an ambush. His actions showed: Disregard for his Nazirite vow, Disrespect for his identity and calling, Disregard for God’s glory.
His conduct was akin to a modern spiritual leader walking publicly into a brothel. What Samson sowed in Gaza, he would later reap in Gaza. Sensing danger, Samson left during the night and demonstrated his strength by tearing out Gaza’s city gates and carrying them to Hebron—around 64 kilometers away.
Samson and Delilah
Verse 4 introduces Delilah: “After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah” (Judges 16:4). Delilah, likely beautiful, caught Samson’s eye as many women had before. He loved her, but she didn’t love him—she betrayed him for money. The Philistine leaders offered her 5,500 pieces of silver (Judges 16:5). With five Philistine lords offering 1,100 shekels each, Delilah was essentially offered 5,500 years’ wages—comparable to around $385 million today. This massive bribe suggests she may not have been a Philistine, as such an incentive likely wouldn’t have been necessary for someone loyal to them.Delilah used their relationship to exploit Samson. She repeatedly asked him the secret of his strength:
“If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings…” (v.7)
“If they bind me with new ropes…” (v.11)
“If you weave the seven locks of my head…” (v.13)
Each time she tried what he said, and each time Samson broke free. But on her fourth attempt, she emotionally manipulated him: “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?” (v.15). This led him to finally confess the truth: “A razor has never come upon my head… If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me” (v.17). Despite his repeated failures, Samson knew his identity. His strength came from the Lord through his Nazirite consecration. Delilah lulled him to sleep and had his hair shaved off, and “his strength left him” (v.19). Verse 20 is tragic: “He did not know that the LORD had left him.” His strength wasn’t in his hair, but in God’s presence. Once the last symbol of his vow was gone, so was the Spirit of the Lord.
Death of Samson
The Philistines seized Samson, gouged out his eyes, and imprisoned him in Gaza (Judges 16:21). His physical blindness mirrored the spiritual blindness he had long lived in. Samson repeatedly acted on what was pleasing to his own eyes: He saw the Timnite woman (Judges 14:1–3), He ate honey from a dead lion (Judges 14:8–9), He visited a prostitute (Judges 16:1), He fell in love with Delilah (Judges 16:4). Eventually, he lost his eyes—a powerful symbol of the consequences of a life ruled by desire. Though called to deliver Israel, Samson mostly fought the Philistines when personally provoked. Now, he was reduced to grinding grain like an animal (Judges 16:21).
In verses 23–25, the Philistines celebrated by praising their god Dagon and mocking Samson. They brought him out to entertain them—humiliated in front of his enemies. Yet in verse 22, hope appears: “But the hair of his head began to grow again.” This suggests the possibility of restoration and God’s ongoing mercy. Then, for the first time, Samson prayed: “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once” (v.28). He finally acknowledged God as the true source of his strength. God answered his prayer—not because Samson got everything right, but because God is faithful. Samson pushed the temple pillars and collapsed the structure, killing more Philistines in death than in life (Judges 16:29–30). Still, his motivation—“that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes” (v.28)—was personal, not rooted in God’s mission or Israel’s deliverance. Even in failure, God used Samson to fulfill His purposes. This demonstrates God’s grace: even when we are faithless, He remains faithful.
Lessons from the Chapter
My brothers and sisters, we’ve now walked through the story of Samson—and I know it leaves many of us with an uneasy feeling. The way it ends is tragic, even unsettling.
But even through this painful story, God is speaking. He is offering clear warnings and hopeful reminders. Let me highlight three important takeaways:
1. If you keep going into enemy territory, you will end up in trouble.
Samson’s downfall didn’t happen in a single moment. It was the slow, steady drift of a man who kept placing himself in places where he did not belong.
He went to Timnah—and married a woman from the enemy’s camp.
He went to Gaza—and ended up in the bed of a prostitute.
He went to the Valley of Sorek—and handed over his heart and secret to Delilah.
The locations mattered. Being in the wrong place led to the wrong choices.
And the same is true for us. Today, enemy territory may not be marked on a map, but we know when we’re walking into places—physically, mentally, emotionally, or digitally—that pull us away from God.
Physical places like:
The party scene where you’re pressured to drink or hook up.
Late-night hangouts where boundaries blur.
Co-ed sleepovers or isolated hangouts where accountability disappears.
Even certain coffee shops, gyms, or workplaces that stir up temptation.
But more often, it’s the unseen places—the ones in your heart and mind:
Harmful websites and content that feed lust, anger, or envy.
Social media that fuels jealousy, insecurity, or idolatry.
Entertainment that normalizes sin and desensitizes your spirit.
The echo chamber of your own mind—where bitterness, pride, or unforgiveness grow unchecked.
Let me say this clearly:
If you keep walking into enemy territory—in body, mind, or screen—the enemy will eventually bring you down.
Don’t assume you're strong enough to resist. Samson thought he was.
So did many others—seasoned Christians, pastors, missionaries—and they fell. Not because they were weak at the start, but because they stayed too close to the line for too long.
So if you know you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be, get out.
You don’t belong there. God has something better for you.
2. If you live to satisfy your self-interest, you will be ruined by others doing the same.
Samson lived for what pleased his eyes. His cravings, his emotions, his desires ruled him. But look what happened: His lust for Delilah met her lust for money. His desire to use her was matched by her desire to use him. He was manipulated, betrayed, and destroyed—by someone just as self-serving as he was. That’s how self-interest works. If you cheat to get ahead, someone else will cheat better and bring you down. If you manipulate people for your gain, others will out-manipulate you. If you step on others to climb the ladder, someone else will step on you. Why? Because in a world where everyone is out for themselves, there’s no loyalty, no trust, no mercy—and no lasting peace. Samson lived a self-centered life. And in the end, he was alone, blind, chained, and humiliated.
This is a warning for all of us: A life centered on self will always collide with others doing the same. But a life centered on God—cannot be shaken. It is built on love, truth, and grace.
3. Even if you’ve failed again and again, there is still hope in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here’s the most powerful part of Samson’s story: it’s not just a tragedy. It’s a story of grace.
- Yes, Samson blew it—over and over again.
- He wasted his calling. He disobeyed God. He compromised every vow.
- And eventually, he lost everything: his strength, his freedom, his sight.
But even in that prison cell, blind and broken, God wasn’t done with him. Once again, V.22 - “But the hair on his head began to grow again.”
- That wasn’t just biology—it was grace.
- God was saying - I haven’t given up on you. Even here, in your failure, I can still redeem you.
And in his final breath, Samson called out to the Lord—and God listened. Not because Samson had earned it, but because God is merciful. This is the hope of the gospel, my brothers and sisters
We Are All Samsons
You and I—we are all Samsons in some way. We’ve all stepped into enemy territory. We’ve all chased after our own desires. We’ve all broken promises to God. But even after all of that—Jesus doesn’t abandon us. Instead, He steps into our story. He takes our place. He dies the death we deserved so that we could live the life we could never earn. That’s why we need Jesus—not just as a helper, but as our Savior.
My brothers and sisters, hear me clearly: Our strength will fail. Our desires will deceive us. Our willpower will run dry. But Jesus never fails. His grace never runs dry. Maybe today you feel like Samson— Trapped by your own mistakes. Bound by guilt. Ashamed of what you’ve done.
But listen: If you call on the name of the Lord, He will answer you. Not because you’re strong—but because He is. Not because you’re worthy—but because He is gracious. As Paul declares in Romans 5:8: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” So how should we live, in light of this message? Let us live with our spiritual eyes wide open.
Let us stop chasing what pleases the flesh, and start asking: “Lord, is this pleasing to You?”
Because when we fix our eyes on Jesus: We’ll avoid the traps of the enemy. We’ll stop being ruled by selfish ambition. And even when we stumble, we’ll rise again—not in our own strength, but in His mercy and power. So let’s not repeat Samson’s mistakes— Let’s receive the same grace he finally embraced at the end. Let’s run to Jesus—not just as our example, but as our Redeemer.And as we do, we won’t live in defeat—we’ll walk in the freedom, joy, and victory of the gospel.
Reflection and Response
As we close, I want to invite you to close your eyes and take a moment of quiet reflection before the Lord.
Samson was called by God, set apart from birth to live for God's purpose and to deliver His people. But instead of walking in his calling, he kept going to places where he didn’t belong, giving-in to what was pleasing in his own eyes. He pursued his own desires and self-interests, only to be ruined by someone whose self-interest was greater. And in the end, though God still used him to fulfill His purpose, Samson’s life ended in tragedy—bound, blind, and broken.
Yet even then, God’s grace was not absent. His hair began to grow again. God remembered him. And in his final moment of weakness, God gave him strength.
So, as reflect, let’s take a moment to ask ourselves:
Have I been wandering into enemy territory—physically, emotionally, or spiritually? What places, habits, or relationships do I need to step away from?
In what ways have I been living for my own desires and self-interest rather than for God’s purpose?
Where have I fallen short—again and again—and begun to believe the lie that God is done with me?
Do I believe that the grace of Jesus is enough for me, even in my lowest moments?
Let’s take a moment in silence to bring these things before the Lord.
If He’s convicting you, respond in repentance.
If He’s encouraging you, receive His grace with gratitude.
If He’s calling you to change direction, surrender in faith.