Value of Memorizing Scripture: Part Two

In my last post I summarized a few quick points about the value of Scripture Memory, laying out three categories of relationships where a knowledge of God's Word helps us. The truth is, all three of these categories (vertical, horizontal, and inward) are inter-related, but we can say some distinctive things about each relationship. Today I will start with the vertical relationship.

How does memorizing Scripture help our relationship with God?

This hopefully is obvious and redundant to any believer, but it cannot be said enough: The Bible is God's Word. A less redundant concept that is lacking today: To know God, you must know the Word. If you do not know the Word, you do not know God. We may learn certain subjective things about God through nature or our experiences, or objective facts about God told in the Bible may be confirmed in other ways, but God is not ultimately known through searching *deep* inside yourself or going on some kind of processing journey.




Reading through the seemingly endless Psalm 119 is a great aid for those who want to gain a deeper appreciation for God's Word, as the psalmist marches on and on in his love and devotion for the word, commands, precepts, statutes, and laws of the Lord. All of these Scripture-descriptors may sound a little legalistic to our New Testament ears, but we should remember that the Law (i.e., the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible) was all of God's Word that the psalmist had access to. A major way that we should read the Psalms, distinct from most other biblical genres, is to allow our soul to empathize with the emotion of the verses, letting the words of the Psalm in context became our words. So as we focus on the stanza beginning in Ps 119:89, let us allow the devotion to Scripture become our devotion!

   89 Forever, O LORD, your word
        is firmly fixed in the heavens.
    Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
        you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
    By your appointment they stand this day,
        for all things are your servants.

The psalmist begins this stanza talking about God's Word in the heavens. "Wait a minute, Stephen, I thought we were talking about knowing God's Word in Scripture, not God revealed in Creation?" Yes, of course! Here we have a great metaphor comparing the static nature of the stars and the planets; as surely as the Sun will rise, God's Word remains faithful, because they both spring forth from the mouth of the Creator. In fact, Scripture and all its contents are a servant of God, accomplishing His will. The psalmist continues with a personal connection to the Word:
   
    93 If your law had not been my delight,
        I would have perished in my affliction.
    I will never forget your precepts,
        for by them you have given me life.
    I am yours; save me,
        for I have sought your precepts.

The Word of God that is a sure foundation, firmly fixed, is also the life-giver. There is a double conditional statement here (can you spot it in the first 4 lines?). God's Word gives life as it is delighted in, and as it gives life it becomes a delight. May we seek God fully, richly, and boldly through His Word.

This is the Old Testament's perspective on Scripture. It is exactly the same as the New Testament's, applied to Christ! Paul challenges the church that faith will only come from hearing the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17), just as foretold by Moses, David, Isaiah, and the rest of the Old Testament writers. Paul also encourages us to allow the same word of Christ's teaching which saved us to set up house inside us, so that we may be completely thankful to God in everything we do (Col 3:16-17).