Samson is famous for being a strong man and someone who just can't resist the woman named Delilah. Aside from these things, Samson has a lot more things to teach us, and we ought to learn from him if we want to follow God's purposes.
Here are some of Samson's traits and what we can learn from them.
1) He had a serious problem with self-control
Samson, might be a strong man, but he had a very serious problem with self-control. In Judges 14 we read some accounts where this is shown.
First, we see him falling madly in love with a Philistine woman (v. 2). His father and mother tried to dissuade him, but nothing could change his mind:
"Get her for me, for she pleases me well." (see v. 3)
Thankfully, God was in the details. Verse 4 tells us,
"But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel."
Later on we read that that Samson became a huge problem for the Philistines.
Here's the lesson here: Samson might have had a great problem with self-control, but God was able to use flaw for His purposes. As for us, we can make the wrong decisions, but if we allow God to redeem our wrong choices, we will have received the best learning from our own mistakes. And this learning will be a powerful testimony and weapon in our walk with God.
2) He was proud
The Bible tells us that Samson was a Nazirite, and as a Nazirite, "no razor shall come upon his head" (see Judges 13:5). In Judges 16, however, we read that he lost his strength because Delilah had his hair cut after discovering his secret (see Judges 16:15-19).
"Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him."
Samson mistakenly thought he'd always be strong. He thought that his strength would always be with him, "and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him." (see Judges 16: 20)
Here's the lesson: we must not be proud and think of ourselves too highly. We can't be complacent and expect that we will always succeed in whatever we are doing.
While the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5), there are times when our prayers won't be answered (see James 4:3), our efforts won't succeed, and our circumstances won't be favorable (see 2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
We must always humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (see 1 Peter 5:6).
3) He called on God in desperation
Although he was proud, Samson was still quick to call on God when he realized his dire situation. In Judges 16:28 we read him crying out to God, while his enemies were making fun of him,
"O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"
Here's the lesson: while taking revenge is something we are taught against (see Romans 12:19), we should at least learn from Samson's act of calling out to God.
Samson acknowledged that his strength came from God. While earlier he was proud of his own might, this time he acknowledged his need for God. We should also do that: acknowledging that we are nothing without Christ (see John 15:5).
