King David fell into adultery while Samson the judge fell into prostitution & a godless woman.

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her…” (2 Samuel 11:2 – 4)

“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she (Bathsheba) became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” (2 Samuel 11:26 – 27)

“Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.” (Judges 16:1)

(1) A Happier Comeback

David himself was forgiven untouched. The punishment received was “not” on him directly.

“Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

(2) A Sad Comeback

Samson was punished by his eyes being gorged (or plucked) out by the Philistines. But it didn’t end there. His last comeback was to bring the whole building down by divine strength as revenge over his enemies & him to die in the process as well.

“Then the Philistines seized him (Samson) and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.” (Judges 16:21)

“Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.

And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.

Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. Thus he had judged Israel twenty years.” (Judges 16:28 – 31)

Conclusion:

Both Comebacks were valid (regardless if they’re sad or happy ones) and their names (Samson & David) remains mentioned in the ‘hall of fame of faith’ (Hebrews 11):

“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32 – 40)