"What if I offered you $1000 for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days? Do you think your attitude toward Scripture memory and your ability to memorize would improve? Any financial reward would be minimal when compared to the accumulating value of the treasure of God's Word deposited within your mind."Donald Whitney introduces the section on Scripture Memory in his now standard book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, with this financial illustration to encourage Christians to memorize Scripture. I think Whitney could have used the same illustration for nearly every other Christian practice and discipline, but it works especially well for Scripture memory because I can think of very few "bad" ways to memorize a verse, other than objectively not memorizing a phrase correctly or by memorizing a verse with the wrong attitude and motive, but those are topics for another time. I started to address the topic of improper, or rather, inadequate memory habits earlier on this site and perhaps will get back to that soon. Fortunately, in a few weeks I am set to give a short seminar at my church's youth retreat on Scripture Memory, so you may be seeing several more posts here about it!
For today, I want to summarize the main benefits that Whitney proposes for memorizing God's Word. I have organized his points into three categories: our vertical relationship with God, our horizontal relationship with others, and our inner relationship with the devil and our sinful flesh.
Memorization Helps our Relationship with God
Knowing Scripture can strengthen our faith. When we come upon times of struggle or weakness, we should turn to God and his promises of faithfulness. More often than not, we do not have a concordance or a John MacArthur standing next to us who can point us directly to the verse we need (and we may not even have a Bible readily accessible). "Memorizing Scripture strengthens your faith because it repeatedly reinforces the truth, often just when you need to hear it again."
In the same light, knowing the Bible in our hearts can push toward meditation and further study of the Word. Like a tune that gets stuck in your head, if you have memorized Scripture then you will be continually be reminded of these verses and they will force you to consider and apply their Truth.
Memorization Helps our Relationship with Others
The most tangible use of Scripture is in witnessing or counseling to those around us. If we claim to be followers and disciples of Christ, then we should always be telling others about God's very Word, and perhaps the most effective way to do so is by having it memorized. It is always a joy for me to be in casual conversation with someone else, and to be able to interject Scripture that comes to mind. The fewer portions of Scripture I know, then obviously the fewer I can talk about!
Memorization Helps our Inner Battle
One of the interesting things we learn from Matthew 4 is that Satan uses God's Word in a superficial and twisted way to deceive (see also: Genesis 3, Job 1), while Christ battles and defeats Satan with God's Word correctly (sidebar: there's a bigger point to this passage about Christ's victory on behalf of us, but that's another blog series!). Meanwhile, over in Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on God's armor, including Scripture, so that we may be equipped to stand against spiritual battles. 2 Timothy 3:16 says point-blank that the Bible tells us about doctrine and trains us in righteousness. To escape from sin, we must flee to the words found in Scripture.
One benefit Whitney mentions that may overlap between these categories is that memorization can help to guide us. The Holy Spirit is promised to be a Counselor and an Advocate for us, but how does that happen? John 14:26 tells us: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Jesus is specifically talking about the creation of the books of the New Testament, but I think he is also making an application for us, that the Holy Spirit will work to impress upon us passages from Scripture as a Helper for us.
The benefits of memorizing Scripture are about as numerous as the amount of methods published on how to memorize Scripture. I have only given a few of the points here, and they are a tiny introduction. Hopefully we will be able to elaborate on these categories of why we memorize. But for now, I pray this encourages you to get in God's Word, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection more intimately. Take to heart the words of Proverbs 22:17-19:
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
and apply your heart to my knowledge,
for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in the LORD,
I have made them known to you today, even to you.
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