Dale Ridge church of Christ

Following dinner one winter’s night an elderly husband & wife settled down into their favorite positions to enjoy a quite evening at home.  Nestled in his chair the husband began searching channels.  The husband took up some knitting and determined to ignore the TV.  After a time, husband thought a snack was in order.

“Say wife, I think some ice cream would be just the thing.  How about you?”

“Ok dear” came the reply.   “I’ll have some too”.

As his wife arose from the sofa, husband added “Say wife, some chocolate syrup & whipped cream would be great.”

“Yes dear”.

On her way to the kitchen, husband offered one last request :

“And a cherry too.  Now darlin’ – you know your memory isn’t quite what it used to be.  Don’t you think you should write all this down?”

“I’ve never worked as a waitress & I’m too old to start now.  I’ll be fine” said wife.

Back to the TV, husband soon heard the rattle of pots and banging of pans from the kitchen.  “Can’t find the ice cream scoop” he thought.

Shortly wife emerged carrying a tray, laden with fresh coffee, wheat toast, and two perfectly scrambled eggs.

More than a little disturbed, husband cried “WIFE!” 

“Yes dear?”

“I said poached eggs!”

This humorous story helps illustrate what can often be a funny thing : memory.  God has created Man as the pinnacle of His creation (Genesis 1:26-28), and endowed us with marvelous mental faculty.  Scientists estimate that our brains respond to mental stimuli within the incredible speed of 200 – 500 milliseconds.  All of that information is communicated, analyzed, directed through our bodies as needed, and ultimately stored away in our memory banks.

Scientists have come to classify memory into three groups – working, or for immediate function – short term, what we retain for limited application – and long term, that which remains with us indefinitely.

We tend to apply our working memory to make split decisions and our short term for things we want to know today (what is that 10.00 appointment?).  It is the long term memory which carries the greatest weight in ruling our lives.  Properly honed, long term memory will determine our life decisions such as morals, ethics, and long term goals.

The Bible has much to say about the rightful deployment of our long term memories.  Consider this: if man is simply an “elevated animal” as evolution teaches, true long term memory has no purpose.  At best, mankind would need only a seasonal memory to recall climate change, foods, and migration patterns required to sustain the species.  In other words, animal memory.  So why is man invested with long term memory?

Solomon teaches us that God has designed all things with purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  What then, is God’s purpose for our long term memory?

The Psalmist points out that his memory allows him to recognize the awesome scope of God in Psalm 139:17-18

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

The use of memory is critical to mathematics.  One must “remember” the components being added together into order to arrive at an accurate total.  Psalm 119:160 reminds us that God’s word is truth, from beginning to end.  The American Standard Version of 1901 eloquently offers this verse as:

The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

We may understand therefore, that as applied to Bible study, and Bible based doctrine, we must remember all that the Bible has to say on a subject before we may achieve the summation, or total teaching, on that subject.

Early in my own Bible study my beloved father in law offered me the best possible advice.  He said “Always remember, the Bible is it’s own best commentary.”  Now what did he mean by this simple statement?  While the comments and insights of faithful Christian teachers can indeed be helpful and noteworthy, we must first – and last – seek the entire instruction from God.

We often quote 2 Timothy 2:15 as the benchmark verse on Bible study.  Here again, I find the ASV to well complement the 1611 King James Version:

Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

“Handling aright” and “rightly dividing” both teach us the same thing – we cannot handle God’s word properly without searching out His total instruction.  And then adding that doctrine thus delivered (Romans 6:17) to our long term memory.

Ah, what about that memory?  Our Bibles are at their best when they are well used, oft recited, and applied to every moment of life.  How can I best carry that big book around to be on hand any time I need God’s guidance?  By adding it to my long term memory.

Psalm 1:2 teaches us that the child of God meditates continually upon His Word.  Psalm 77:12 shows us the best way to teach God is talk continually of His doings – with our memory recall being the most effective means.  Psalm 119:11 speaks specifically to the memorization of God’s word.

“You can make the Bible say anything you want!”  Most of us have heard this statement at one time or another.  This attitude only holds truth when we have no rightful knowledge, and especially memory, of what the Bible actually says, and not what Men say it says.  “It is written” was one of the most useful and frequently applied statements during our Lord’s earthly ministry.  It is remarkable and wondrous how effectively quoting book, chapter, and verse will immediately dispel religious conjecture, and reveal the human origins of false teaching.

Yes, God has given us wonderful powers of memory.  Let us deploy that gift well, and often exercise our memory by adding to it the Word of God.

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  Psalm 119:16

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Filed under: Authors, Gregg Alexander on December 5th, 2008