Samson had a special calling of God upon his life. He is one of three people in the Bible who was a Nazarite from birth: the prophet Samuel and John the Baptist were the other two. Normally, Nazariteship was a voluntary vow, and it was for a limited period of time (Num. 6), but Samson, like Samuel and John who followed him, was a Nazarite from the womb until death.

A Nazarite was someone who embodied the principle of entire separation to Jehovah. God desires separation in those He uses as His vessels of service. The story of Samson recorded in Judges 13–16 is a very tragic one because he defiled his Nazariteship through disobedience and sinful behavior. In the end, he revealed the secret of his strength, and ultimately lost his sight by the hand of the Philistines (16:21). This was the government of God in the life of Samson—physical blindness reflected his spiritual fall.

In captivity, Samson’s hair began to regrow, as did his strength. The Philistines took Samson from prison and brought him to their temple in order that he might “perform” while they praised their god, Dagon. Samson called on God one last time: “O Lord God, remember me, I pray!” God answered and Samson brought down the temple upon his enemies, “So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life” (16:30).

Samson is credited with faith in Hebrews 11:32. In this way, he can be viewed as a type of Christ, who through death destroyed “him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). God gave Samson victory in death. This Lord’s Day, let us honor our great Victor, the true Nazarite of God, who said, “Remember Me” on the night of His betrayal, as His death approached.