How Memorizing Scripture Helps Us

Last week I talked about how watching “The Chosen” gave me a greater perspective on the disciples and what they really gave up to follow Jesus. Another thing that stood out to me while watching was how they used Scripture throughout their day and how much time they spent memorizing it.

In the movie about Jesus’ life, I was amazed by how everyone knew and used the Scripture in such a natural way each day. I know that I shouldn’t have been surprised, for I’ve known that Jesus’ life on this earth was in fulfillment of prophecy. But when I saw that they all knew and believed the prophecies, it was so much more clear why this truth is emphasized in the Bible. From what I know, there are 351 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. That’s an amazing number! Even so, many people did not understand that He was the Messiah that had been promised. Their interpretation of who the Messiah would be and what He would do were wrong. They were anticipating a king that would defeat Roman rule to free them from the oppression. But that’s not what Jesus came to do; He came to defeat death and to make salvation available to everyone. That was truly a radical idea in His day.

For the last few years, the administrative team has been studying a book on leadership together. The book that we’re reading this year speaks to the importance of memorizing God’s Word. I can think of numerous times throughout my life when I was going through a certain situation and a passage or verse would come to mind. One memory is when I had a student in my office when I was a principal at another school. I had received word that a group of seniors had broken a school rule, and I knew this boy was one that I could trust to tell me the truth. When I told him what I had heard, he very quietly said to himself, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I could just hear his father quoting from the book of Numbers. Here was someone who knew Scripture, and it came to him at a time when he needed to learn something about saying you’ll do one thing and then doing another.

One way of memorizing that has worked well for me is to put the words to music. The psalms were actually songs. I absolutely love going to elementary chapel when I hear the students singing songs with words that they will always remember. One of my favorites is “Something Good.” I am convinced that when these kids go through a difficult time, the words that they have sung and memorized will come back to them and help them through. (If you have an elementary student, ask them about this song, and be sure they show you all the motions.)

I must admit that my “memorizer” isn’t as good as it used to be, but I encourage you just as I encourage myself, that memorizing Bible verses is not a waste of time. God will use them to remind you of His goodness and faithfulness, especially when life gets tough.

Because of His Faithfulness,
Dr. Sharon Brobst. Director