Bible Memorization

Deut 11:18-21

3-15-09

When I was younger, we were warned by Harlan Popov and a POW, whose name I cannot remember, that we should memorize scripture because the day would come when we wouldn’t have our Bibles.  Then the only scripture we would have would be the scripture we had memorized.

In the summer of my freshman year in college, I memorized the first chapter of the Gospel of John one week and was amazed that I could so easily retain the verses.  But that was the only time I remember memorizing scripture and promptly quit trying.

One of our daughters memorized Colossians for a camp memory contest.  She and two other girl campers had the book so perfectly memorized that the moderator of the contest gave up trying to stump them.  Instead, he asked them to take turns quoting verses in order out of the epistle.  As they alternated verse after verse, they went through the entire letter without missing a single word.  That was something to see.

We are told by these verses that we are to memorize God’s words.

  1. Why should we memorize them?

    1. Because we are commanded to memorize them – Deut 11:18, “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul.”

    2. Because they keep us from sin – Ps 119:11

    3. Because they give us a scriptural answer in witnessing – 1 Pet 4:11, 3:15

    4. Because they guide us in life – Ps 119:105

    5. Because they make our meditation acceptable to God – Ps 19:14

  1. When should we memorize them?

    1. In our youth – Deut 11:19 teach them your children

    2. As soon as we get saved – 2 Pet 2:2, they give us a sound mind 2 Tim 1:7 and straighten out our thinking 2 Cor 10:3-5

  1. Where should we memorize?

    1. Everywhere – Deut 11:19-20 – sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up

    2. Make some small index cards and write a verse reference on one side and the words of the verse on the other side – carry these with you everywhere you go and look at them on your break, in the car, in the waiting room, in the bathroom, in the breakfast room and in the bedroom – anywhere and everywhere you can take even a little time to go over the verses

  1. How should we memorize?

    1. By repetition – Is 28:10 - For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little – just the way a child learns his ABC’s and his math tables

  2. What should we memorize?

    1. Verses that give you comfort – 1 Thes 4:18

    2. Verses on salvation – Jas 1:21

    3. Verses that defend against sin – Eph 6:16, Rom 10:17

    4. Verses that give you hope - Ps 130:5

    5. Verses that reprove – 2 Tim 4:2

    6. And so forth

Start memorizing now and don’t stop until Jesus comes or you go to him.  Amen!
 

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