INL June 22, 2007  

SOUNDING OUT:
Twelve Reasons for Scripture Memorization

  There are many reasons to memorize scripture. Following are twelve of them:

  1. We are commanded to. Deuteronomy 6:6; 11:18
  2. Hiding the Word in the heart helps one to obey it. Deuteronomy 30:14; Psalms 37:31
  3. It allows for meditation, which increases our understanding of the scriptures. Psalms 119:98-100
  4. It will prosper us. Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:1-3
  5. It provides a means to control one's thinking. Romans 12:3; Philippians 4:8
  6. It will cleanse and transform the mind. Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:4
  7. It brings victory over temptation. Psalms 119:11; Ephesians 6:17
  8. It aids in witnessing and teaching. Colossians 3:16; I Peter 3:15
  9. It provides a basis for an effectual prayer life. I John 5:14,15
  10. It provides comfort during trials and bereavement. Psalms 119:50; I Thessalonians 4:13-18
  11. It provides a basis for life. Matthew 4:4; Psalms 119:93
  12. It improves our everyday conversation. Matthew 12:34

  Over the next few months we will look at these on one Friday a month. Today, let's look at number one. We should memorize scripture because we are commanded to.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

   God gave Moses the law and commanded that he keep it in his heart so that it is available to use all the time. In a similar section of scripture in Deuteronomy 11, God instructs Moses on how to accomplish hiding it in our hearts.

Deuteronomy 11:18:
Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. [See also Exodus 13:9,16.]

  Called by the Hebrews tefillin and by the Greeks phylacteries, these aids to memorization were used to keep Word of God before one's eyes so that one could hide it in one's heart. They were designed to be a visual reminder of a heart commitment to keep God's Word ever in one's thoughts and life.

  Many scholars noting that Jesus kept every jot and tittle of the law surmise that Jesus wore tefillin. [Find examples at: http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/JJew.html and http://judaism.about.com/od/beliefs/a/jesus.htm] In Matthew 23:5 Jesus lists "make broad their phylacteries" among several attention getting, egotistical activities. There is no indication that Jesus disagreed with laying tefillin, but rather, that he explained that one should not do the commands of God in such a way as to be seen as more righteous and more zealous by others.

  Our modern use of "retemories" (small cards with scriptures on them carried in one's pocket or purse to aid in the memorization of scripture) are similar to the tefillin or phylacteries. You will not find the word retemory in an English dictionary. It was a term that was introduced to help in retaining God's Word in our memory.

  God commands us to have His Word in our hearts. When His Word is in our hearts, it will issue in our lives. That's what God wants. He wants us to talk of them when we sit in our houses, and when we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise up. He wants His Word in our hearts so it will issue in our lives. Therefore He commands that His Word be in our hearts.

  Proverbs 4 is another place that describes how we get the Word to be in our hearts. It does not happen by accident; it is an act of will and a feat of affection.

Proverbs 4:20-23:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
  Verses 20 and 21 show a gradual assent. That's the figure of speech anabasis, which is a figure of speech where what is written ascends up step by step, each with an increase of emphasis or sense. The first three steps bring us to the final plateau. If we want to keep the words of God in our hearts, we will get there by taking the steps God directs. We must attend to it. Not only must we pay attention to it, we must incline our ears in an eager attempt to insure we hear it all. We must not only put forth the effort by inclining our ear, but we should not let them depart from our eyes. As we attend to God's Word, put forth the effort to incline our ears, make sure we keep them before our eyes at all times, then we will keep them in the midst of our heart. Verses 22 and 23 present other reasons for memorizing scripture, but we will save them for another occasion.

  This first reason for memorizing scripture is because God commands us to. None of His commandments are grievous (I John 5:3). He gives them for our benefit always (Deuteronomy 6:24). As with everything God asks of us, when we faithfully do what He asks we will understand why. You now have the knowledge that God wants you to memorize His Word. You will demonstrate wisdom as you do so. When you faithfully apply your wisdom over time you will gain understanding. Then you understand how good acceptable and perfect His will is (Romans 12:2). God commands that His Word be in our hearts. Let's make sure we put it there by a deliberate act of our will.