For many, school is back in session. For some, this can mean homeschool, online school, or in-class instruction, but for everyone it means memorization. Education requires us to memorize vocabulary, historical facts, and scientific formulas. Good teachers know that until we have the knowledge contained in the books firmly instilled into our heads, it will not be useful to us. We can’t use it in our daily lives and it won’t be able to inform our decisions when making decisions in the real world.

In the same way, we can't really benefit from Scripture on a real-time basis unless it is memorized. Until we get God’s Word firmly instilled in our hearts, it will not be useful to us as Christians. We can’t expect to the Bible to give us comfort, joy, and wisdom (not to mention doctrine, reproof and correction) for the hard things we deal with in our lives if we don’t really KNOW it. But, just like with education in school, memorization is hard. Trying to remember God’s truth can be a difficult task and even those who start out with high ambitions can quickly become frustrated and defeated by the prospect. However, this is not a new problem.

This was also the case for the people of Israel. Take a moment to read Deuteronomy 31:16-23. Moses was about to die after a long tenure as leader, interceder, and mouthpiece of God before the people. He had just commanded that the people should gather once a year to have the scripture read to them. It was vitally important for them to remember God’s Word and not turn away from Him. But God knew that reading Scripture once a year was not going to be enough to keep them on track. They needed a way to memorize God’s Word and dwell on it in their minds and hearts.

When God brought Moses in for his last charge, he told Moses how, despite his best efforts and exhortations, the people would still go astray. What was God’s solution? Music. He told Moses to encapsulate God’s instructions in a song. A tune could easily be learned and get stuck in their minds, making the recall of God’s Word easier for them. So, that very day Moses became a songwriter. The song he wrote would be taught and remembered for generations to come.

Yes, the people would still turn from God and the law would be neglected and even lost. But the truth contained in the music would never leave them. Those that learned the song would hear God’s truth on replay in their hearts during those times of rebellion. Perhaps for some, it was this truth in song that woke them from their haze of sin and turned their hearts toward repentance.

Music is a powerful tool to guide what our minds dwell upon. It can help us remember and meditate on God’s truth. Make it a discipline to be a good student and memorize Scripture and use music to help you with the task. Let God’s Word fill your mind, get stuck in your head, transform your heart, and then pour out of your life.