October 31, 2023

Deuteronomy 11: 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. (NIV)

We don’t usually need to be taught new ideas as much as we need to be reminded of old truths.*

Modern technology has provided us with many methods to remind ourselves of things we don’t want to forget, from Post-It Notes to phones that alert us that we have an appointment in ten minutes. I am pretty much old-school myself: a calendar in my purse; a calendar (from the funeral home) on my desk; and, even though I am not very busy these days, an occasional “to-do” list. We have pictures to remind us of loved ones and good times, and ceremonies to commemorate historic events.

God did not want his people to forget his commands or that his love for them was the purpose of his commands. He wanted them to remember the words in their heads and to treasure them in their hearts. Meditate upon the words. Be creative in devising methods to remind themselves of them. Tie them around their hands or plaster them across their foreheads if that’s what it takes. How about a tattoo?

There was nothing inherently wrong with the Jews’ literal interpretation of God’s figurative suggestion. If that’s what it took to fix God’s words on their hearts and minds, I’m sure God was pleased with their devotion. If only they could have maintained the purity of their intent! Instead, by the time Jesus came along, the symbols on their hands and foreheads had become nothing but a “a showy way of expressing spiritual pride.”* (see Matthew 23: 5)

But let’s not dwell on the literalism and self-righteousness of the Pharisees. Let’s look beyond the devolution of their devotion and search for our own methods of remembrance . . . because it is still vitally important today that we meditate on God’s word, store it in our hearts, and know how to apply it in our daily lives. Memorize scripture that speaks to your personal struggles. Take advantage of that modern technology I mentioned earlier – a Bible app on your phone allows you to read and research anywhere, any time. Make Bible study a part of your schedule every day. Know your Bible: memorize the books of the Bible. Become so familiar with scripture that you can say, “I don’t know exactly where that passage is found but I know it’s in there.” And then know where to start looking. Go to Bible study groups where you can discuss the word with others. And get a tattoo if you have to!

When people say they wish they could watch more football, or they wish they could spend more time on the Internet, most of them will actually find a way to do just that. But when . . . people . . . say they wish they knew the Bible better, will they actually set out to do it?*