Yes, the Bible commands us to memorize Scripture. But the command probably doesn’t come in the form you think.
Normally, people think of a biblical command as direct instruction to do a particular action. For example, they might look for a command like:
“You shall memorize Scripture.”
Since no such command is found in the Bible, a well-meaning Bible-reader might be tempted to think, “Well, maybe Scripture memorization is a good idea, but it isn’t actually commanded.” (Whew…off the hook!).
But Scripture memorization is commanded in the Bible—just in a different way. There is a category of actions Christians must do—that is, actions God really and truly expects us to do—that are necessarily linked to other commands in such a manner that the implied commands have to be done in order to fulfill other explicit commands.
Let me give you four examples of such necessarily-linked commands in the Bible (unrelated to Scripture memorization):
1. The Bible explicitly instructs us to “Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I’ve commanded you…” (Matt 28:19-20). It does not explicitly tell us to translate the Bible into other languages. But we cannot fulfill the explicit command to disciple all the nations without translating the Bible for those who don’t have access to the Bible, even though translating the Bible into other languages is not explicitly stated in the Bible.
2. The Bible explicitly teaches that qualified elders should be appointed to lead churches. The Bible even includes two notable qualifications lists for potential elders (Titus 1; 1 Timothy 3). The Bible does not explicitly teach that current church leaders should set up a procedure for determining which future leaders are qualified. You cannot, however, obey the explicit command without setting up some sort of vetting process for potential leaders.
3. The Bible explicitly instructs us to always be ready “to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). It does not explicitly tell us to study theology, worldviews, or philosophy in preparation to give such a defense. But to offer an adequate defense of the faith requires prior study; and if the challenge to one’s faith is academic, at least some of us need to take deep dives into theology and philosophy to be prepared.
4. Here’s a more whimsical example: God explicitly told Noah to build an ark (Gen 6:14). God even gave a few explicit instructions about how to construct it (i.e., the layout of the ark and the directive to use pitch—presumably for waterproofing). God did not explicitly tell Noah to wield a saw, hammer, or trowel, but Noah could not carry out the explicit command to build an ark without using a saw, hammer, and trowel.
Scripture memorization is commanded in the Bible since it is impossible to carry out another command in the Bible—that is, to meditate on Scripture—unless the Scripture to be meditated upon is first memorized. Memorizing Scripture is the saw, hammer, or trowel needed to build the ark of meditation.[1]
It only takes a moment of reflection before acknowledging that when the original Bible commands (and positive examples and words of encouragement) related to Bible meditation were originally written, they could not have been obeyed unless the Scripture to be meditated upon had first been memorized. It isn’t like people in Bible times could carry around a big ol’ scroll in their backpack and crack it open to meditate on it for ten minutes during lunch break. People during the times of the Bible either had Scripture memorized or they couldn’t obey the command to meditate on it day and night.
Meditation in the Bible presupposes memorization. In fact, I venture that a proper definition of meditation must include memorization. Consequently, here’s my definition of biblical meditation: Meditation in Bible times was repetitive thinking about the meaning and implications of previously memorized Scripture—morning, evening, and night.
Accordingly, since meditation is commanded, then so is memorization. Here are three passages that instruct us to do continual thinking (meditation) on Scripture all the time:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night” (Joshua 1:8).
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 11:18).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16)
I have no desire to make anyone feel guilty about not memorizing the Bible. I do, however, want to reclaim a precious means of grace that God has used for millennia in the lives of his children. Most of us have not been encouraged to memorize Scripture by our mentors or church leaders. (We actually live during a self-imposed famine regarding the Word of God.[2])
Furthermore, I want to grant that some of what people in Bible times couldn’t do without memorizing can be done today because we have access to print and electronic Bibles. But we can’t do all—and probably not even a majority of what is envisioned in the minds of biblical writers when they write about meditating on Scripture. You cannot slowly and carefully think (meditate) about the meaning and implications of Scripture as you walk from class to class or meeting to meeting without having some Scripture memorized. Nor, for that matter, can you meditate on Scripture as you take a shower, or sit through a boring lecture, or when your insomnia kicks in at three o’clock in the morning.
The Bible commands us to memorize Scripture—not directly, but as a necessary prior step to obey the repeated biblical instruction to meditate on Scripture day and night.
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[1] The Westminster Confession of Faith (1.6) summarizes the principle that there are certain things that must be done prior to obeying something that is clearly taught in the Bible: “The whole counsel of God…is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture…”
[2] For further consideration of this self-imposed famine of biblical illiteracy, see my book Bible Revival: Recommitting Ourselves to One Book, chapter 1.
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