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Feed Yourself Lesson Eight

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Scripture Memorization

"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Ps. 119:11, NIV

As we said earlier, part of Bible Study is becoming familiar with the entire Word of God. We began our daily reading program to discover this Greatest of all Books.

Another part of becoming familiar with the Bible in general is Scripture memorization. Some people shudder at the idea of memorization, but actually it can be a great part of Bible Study as you implant specific verses in your heart. You place them in as seeds and you never know how great a harvest you will receive.

When Satan tempted Jesus [Luke 4:1-13], Jesus was familiar with Scripture. He did not have to run to the Synagogue and unroll scroll to see if Satan was using Scripture in context. He recognized the wrong use of Scripture and responded with Scripture in context. Some may say, “Yes, but He was Jesus.” Jesus walked this earth as a human being. He had to learn and apply Scripture the same way the rest of us do.

There are different ways of memorization, and many different themes. Some people memorize key Scriptures on a variety of topics, others memorize many Scriptures on the same topic before moving on to other topics. Some work on a chapter or even a book. In the biography of Hudson Taylor it is mentioned that children at a mission-run school in China had memorized the entire Bible except for two or thee books.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not once reported that a blind beggar in India could quote the entire Bible!

One objection to Scripture memorization is that we tend to forget what we have memorized and so we feel that it is useless. In the course of my life time I have memorized the books of 1 John, James, and Ephesians. When I was finished with each book I could quote the entire book. Could I quote them now? No. Did I waste my time? I don't believe so for several reasons:

1. Scripture memorization puts the Bible in your heart whether it is in conscious memory or not.

2. The Holy Spirit brings things to our mind as we need them, but in order to remember something you must have known it in the first place. Read John 14:26, 2 Peter 1:12, 2 Peter 3:1 [You can’t remember something you did not know to start with.] The more we memorize and become familiar with the Bible, the more the Holy Spirit has to draw upon in ministering to and through us.

3. The Word of God never returns void [Is. 55:11]. It is working in us even when we are unaware of it.

4. When I go back and read the books I have memorized - or verses from them - I have a better understanding of the general context.

5. When someone asks me about a verse in one of those books or I am trying to think of it, I can find it quicker - i.e. "That sounds like Ephesians, probably around chapter 4."

So how do we memorize? No matter what you choose to memorize - topical verses, chapters, or books - write down the verse on an index card [I prefer putting several verses on a piece of paper]. After you have written it down, read it out loud ten times. Carry it with you all day. When you have a few spare moments, take it out and read it. Repetition is the key. Repeat the verse over and over. Meditate on it as you repeat it. Do a devotional mediation on it. Don't forget to memorize where it is found!

Another way to remember the general idea of a verse or series of verses over a long period of time is to connect the words with visual images. These images don't have to make sense, in fact, if they are wacky and far out they will stick in your mind longer. For example, if you are memorizing John 3:16, you could picture in your mind a bolt of light [God] shaping itself into a heart surrounding the earth followed by a Man pointing at the earth to His only Son then the earth changing to a million people falling down before the Son then shooting upward out of fire into a pair of giant arms. The idea is not to make logical sense but to have series of images which remind you of what you have memorized. You can have a lot of fun with this. Let your imagination roam.

Still another way to effectively memorize Scripture and remember it longer is to make a song out of it. Sing it. You do not have to be musical to do this. Only you and God need to hear. So make up a little tune or sing it to a tune you already know and like. Singing Scripture will lift your spirits as well.

The largest book of the Bible, Psalms, was written as a book of songs. Ever since the time of David and before [Moses wrote one of them - Ps. 90] the Psalms have been memorized and used in praise and worship. No matter what you are feeling or thinking, you can find a Psalm that covers it and sing it to the Lord.

When you are done, review some of the previous verses you have memorized to keep them in your mind.

Note: As an aid to Bible Study you may want to work on memorizing the Books of the Bible in correct order. It helps to improve your general knowledge and speed in finding verses.

WEEK EIGHT PROJECT

1. Set out a Scripture memorization project for yourself. Memorize 2 - 4 verses a week. Make this a lifetime project.

2. Continue with your daily reading program.

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Reference Works Used In This Course:

Bible Study Methods by Mrs. Shirley Davis

The International Inductive Study Bible by Harvest House Publishers

Effective Bible Study by Howard F. Vos, Zondervan

How To Understand Your Bible by T. Norton Sterrett, IVP

How To Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur, Harvest House

Independent Bible Study by Irving L. Jensen, Moody

How To Study The Bible For Yourself by Tim LaHaye, Harvest House

Return to Feed Yourself Lessons.

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