Memorizing with Meaning

Why I never knew, but Psalm 121 was scripture we had to memorize as boys involved in Royal Ambassadors. No one told us what it meant, so I grew thinking it meant “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.” Meaning the help comes from the hills. Not so. I didn’t memorize the question mark. Correct meaning: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – From whence comes my help?” Then the answer comes in verse two that I never connected to verse one. “My help comes from the Lord . . .” It seems that I was led/forced to memorize Scripture just for the sake of memorizing Scripture. I’m glad I did, and I wish I had memorized more when I was young and had the capability to do so. I had a 12th grade English teacher who made us answer the roll call by quoting a verse of English poetry. As much as I hated that assignment, I still remember many of those verses. Her motive was clear: English poetry committed to memory is part of a balanced education. My RA Director’s motive seemed to be to memorize Scripture because the Manuel says to do so. I wish the motive would have been different and the biblical meaning taught along with the emphasis on memorizing. So memorize if you can. Hide the Word in your heart (Psalm 1119:11), but memorize it with meaning.

Join me in remembering the following global prayer concerns before the Father this week:
• Pray for the Vancouver (Canada) Vision Tour which begins today with my semi-leadership.
• Pray for Darrel and Kimberly as they begin their new assignment in Eastern Hungary.
• Pray for Jan as she winds down her assignment in Spain and comes to the U.S. for a few months of stateside assignment.
• Join with Lori in ten days of prayer for the Samogho Muslims as they participate in Ramadan.