Psalm 119:1-24
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11, NKJV)
When our daughter was a child, she was very musical. She showed an interest in playing the piano, so we gave her lessons. She attended a private Christian school at the time, and part of her homework was memorizing Scripture. As I helped her with this, I discovered that if I put the Scriptures to music they were easier for her to memorize.
Why is it that we can remember lyrics from songs we heard decades ago? I’m sure there must be a scientific explanation. Probably it engages multiple areas of the brain, which aids in recall. But whatever the reason, I’ve found that I can remember Scripture easier when it is a song. The psalms were originally songs that taught people the Word of God.
In Psalm 119, only 5 verses out of 176 don’t include some kind of reference to the Word of God. In verse 11, the psalmist speaks of hiding the Word in his heart so that he would not sin against God. I love that picture. Before Christmas I will usually buy Cindy gifts and hide them in places where she never looks. (At least I don’t think she looks there!) I will sometimes check on them just because it builds anticipation in me to give them to her. But they are hidden for a purpose, and I will bring them out at the right time.
When we make the effort to hide the Word of God in our heart, we are building up an arsenal of weaponry, for the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is our offensive weapon against Satan and his lies. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, it was because the Word was written on His heart that He was able to quote it and overcome temptation. Jesus didn’t do anything that we can’t do.
Because I have memorized Scripture, if I start to do something I shouldn’t, the Holy Spirit arrests me with His Word. If I am teaching on a Sunday or sharing with a friend, the Holy Spirit recalls Scripture that I am unaware that I know. By reading, meditating on, and memorizing the Word of God, we are giving the Holy Spirit lots of material to work with. And all of these good treasures that we have stored in our hearts benefit us and others. Scriptures I memorized as a youth are my old counselors who continue to guide me in the right way.
Are you making the effort to memorize the Word? Can you remember a song? If you must sing the verses to remember them, then sing! There are some good apps available to help in Scripture memorization. But however we do it, let’s make the effort to store up God’s Word in our hearts. It will benefit us and others in more ways than we can count!