In Deuteronomy chapter 6 Moses begins to lay down the law to the children of Israel. They had been wandering around in the desert for 40 years due to the disobedience of their grandparents (their refusal to possess the land that God had given them) and now they are finally about to take possession of the land.
In 6:6–9 Moses states, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
In chapter 11 Moses is still at it (and we complain that we have long sermons today!). In 11:18–21 he states, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”
Do you notice some commonalities? In both passages we are told basically to fix God’s words in our hearts, tie them as symbols on our hands, bind them on our foreheads, teach them to our children, talk about them at home and wherever we go and when we lie down and get up, and write them on the doorframes of our houses and on our gates. One thing that I have learned in my study of the scriptures is that when God says something twice in the same passage I had better listen up!
God expected his children to literally tie his commands onto their garments and bodies. They put them on strips of cloth and tied them on their clothes and around their hands. They had little boxes that they tied to their foreheads that had God’s laws in them.
In Daniel chapter 3 we read of another story of tying things. This time it’s tying rope with knots to bind three Israeli boys - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (this is the second story of knots not holding in the Bible - the story of Samson in Judges 15 - 16 was the first). In Daniel 3:19–25 we read of the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that the boys worship his gods and his image of gold. The boys refused saying, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. But even if he does not (save us from the furnace), we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
This, of course, ticked old Nebby off. He ordered the boys to be bound and thrown into the furnace that he had had made seven times hotter than normal. Now if you were one of King Nebby’s guards, wouldn’t you tie those ropes with your best knots to keep those boys from getting free and possibly escaping? You would know that if the knots didn’t hold it would be curtains for you!
The rest of the story is well known. The fire was so hot that it killed the guards who threw the boys into it. King Nebby looked into the furnace, and to his amazement, the boys were unbound, unhurt, and walking around with someone who looked like a god (verse 25). The knots didn’t hold because Jesus Christ untied them!
Have you ever tied a hook or lure onto your fishing line with a poor knot or have you ever not checked a knot after catching several fish with a hook or lure? What happened? A common experience is for the hook or lure to go sailing off during a cast or for a fish to take the hook or lure off of your line.
On the 4/7/06 – 4/9/06 Hog Hunt and Fishing Trip with David Chalmers, Warren Hoke, Ken Miller, and Daryl and Mike Shipper, we fished after our morning hog hunt at the CzC Ranch's lake. I caught the largest black bass that I’d ever caught, about a seven pounder, on a dark bass colored Rapala Jointed Shad Rap (a medium depth running crank bait). I then caught a couple of two pounders. Shortly thereafter another big bass hit. I set the hook, he jumped and shook his head, and the next thing I know I had a limp line and he was jumping around like mad trying to shake the lure out of his mouth! I had forgotten to check my knot after the fight with the big bass. He had evidently weakened it.
On the 5/5/06 - 5/7/06 Hog Hunt and Fishing Trip with Tim, Isaac, and Tyler Price, John Bobo, and Ed Harris at the same ranch and lake the same exact thing happened. I caught a couple of nice bass with a red Rattlin’ Rapala (a shallow running crank bait) and then a big one hit. It jumped, shook its head, and got to keep my $4 lure. I should have checked the knot after I caught the first two nice bass, but I had forgotten the lesson from the month before.
How many times have we not bound the word of God into our hearts with good knots and watched as things got away from us during the day? How many times do we start the day off right – spending time with God in reading His word and in prayer but by the time we get to 183 and 360 we’ve lost all thoughts of spiritual things? Then someone cuts us off in traffic and the next thing out of our mouth isn’t spiritual at all.
The problem is we as Christians have become too dependent on God’s written word. We have a Bible at work, three or four at home, and one in the truck (I’ll bet you that my family has over 20 copies). But how many times have we had an opportunity to minister to someone who is hurting and desperately needs an encouraging word and there isn’t a Bible to be found? In these situations we often find that we can’t share His word because we haven’t taken the time to memorize it. In many cases we are the only Jesus that these hurting people will ever see but our lack of being prepared results in needs not being met.
That is one reason why scripture memorization is so important! We just never know when we’ll be called on to meet a need or to offer a defense. It makes all the difference in the world to have the words of life firmly hidden in our hearts. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Another reason to hide God’s word in our hearts is to keep us from sinning. In Psalms 119:9-11 David states, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
There have been many times when I have been tempted to sin and remembering a passage from God’s word kept me from doing so. There have also been many times when I'm depressed, worried, weary, etc. and remembering a passage from God's word has lifted my spirits.
When I’m tempted to not forgive I remember Matthew 6:14–15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
When I'm discouraged with my ministry I remember Galatians 6:9-10, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
When I’m tempted by materialism I remember 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world, for he who loves the world the love of the father is not in him. And all the things of the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life are not from the father but from the world. And the world is passing away and also its lusts but he who does the will of God will live forever.”
When I'm depressed or anxious I remember 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
When I’m tempted to not try to understand my wife’s point of view I remember 1 Peter 3:7, “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
When I feel like everyone is against me I remember Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
I could give many more examples but you get the point. I encourage you to develop a habit of scripture memorization. If you already have this as a habit I encourage you to periodically review the verses that you have memorized. It’s amazing how quickly you can forget. As a teenager I memorized the book of James but I can only remember bits and pieces of it now. Oh how I wish that I had been more diligent in retaining what I had learned!
I conclude with a question: What kind of knot have you tied with your spouse, children, and the Lord?