In a previous post on Psalm 119, I mentioned that in Hebrew, it is written in an acrostic pattern – likely making it easier to be memorized by the original audience. I also said that even though I don’t speak Hebrew, (thereby not making the acrostic pattern very helpful) it should not prevent me from memorizing the chapter.
Did you know that David Livingstone a 19th-century missionary to Africa had memorized Psalm 119 by the age of 9? William Wilberforce, the 19th-century British politician who led the fight to abolish slavery in England, also had it memorized. I know countless other saints through history memorized this psalm and had it written on their hearts. I want it written there too. Scripture memorization is an important spiritual discipline that we don’t practice enough.
Wurmbrand is the story of Richard Wurmbrand who was a pastor in Romania during the communist after WWII. He was imprisoned twice (once for 5 years and once for 8 years) for denouncing Communism and professing Christ as Lord. In the movie when he was arrested by the secret police, he was hooded and thrown into the back of a car, and taken to prison. On the way there, he asked the men what the date was. They laughed at him and mocked him for asking. But the reason he wanted to know was that he had memorized all 365 “fear not” passages in Scripture. One for each day, and he wanted to recall that day’s passage because he needed the reminder.
ALEPH
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blameless are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart
when I learn your righteous rules.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Psalm 119:1-8
The psalmist is committed to keeping, fixing his eyes on, and learning God’s word in these verses. Memorizing helps us do just that. When we learn and obey the Word of God, we will walk in it, keep it, seek him, and have an upright heart. When we commit scripture to memory, the Holy Spirit will bring it to us when we need it. Have you ever heard something and had a scripture verse come to mind? Or have you been in prayer and found yourself praying scripture that you had memorized? That is the work of the Spirit. We don’t memorize it just to say we did it. God will use it to transform us and renew our minds.
The above verses are the ones I have memorized so far. I plan to do 8 verses each week – some weeks that will be easier than others. My prayer would be that these verses and others that I memorize will be ingrained in my mind and that I would meditate on them as I commit them to memory, and that I would grow in my love for the Word, my obedience to it, and have peace knowing that it is in my heart where no one can ever take it away from me.
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