Blog
“What would you do with a brain if you had one?”
I know almost every word to it. I can sing the songs, I know the scenes, I know the actors, and I know the mishaps behind the scenes. The Wizard of Oz has always been a favorite of mine, but how did I get to where I knew it in such great detail?
Repetition.
I took delight in watching it over and over and I would listen with the intent to memorize.
“I could while away the hours, confirming with the flowers, consulting with the rain…”
I didn’t have Google. I didn’t have the words in front of me. I simply listened and learned.
“Oh I, could tell you why, the oceans near the shore…”
Moses has led the Israelites to the border of the promise land and now Joshua will lead them in. Before Moses hands over the reins as leader, he instructs the people about the importance of learning and following the law.
“And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.” (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)
So, every seven years, the whole group would gather together for the feast of tabernacles and the law would be read to the people. There were no bibles, no written manuscripts, no phone apps, no Google… they simply had to listen with the intent to memorize. And then when they left, they would teach it every day to their children.
Can you imagine how hard that would be? I’m sitting here right now trying to remember all the laws from Leviticus and I’m thinking, “How in the world?!”
It took repetition and the people had to delight in the words that were spoken. They would listen over and over, year after year and memorize it. Family was extremely important, not only because they were your family, but they were also the source to history. Someone who was at the first reading of the law would have a great deal of knowledge by the time they were 100!
So, what’s our excuse today? We have every available resource at our fingertips and yet here I am quoting some movie but can I quote scripture like that? Lord, forgive me!
Do we take delight in the Lord’s word? Do we desire to learn more about Him, the history, the truth, and do we do so with the intent to memorize it?
What if our bibles were taken away today… what would you be able to teach your children or others? Let’s not take the word of the Lord for granted. We have access to the very throne of God! Straight from His lips to our ears, the Lord speaks to us!
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8)
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Today, let us be found in His word! Draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you! Meditate on His words! Search the scriptures for truth and guidance.
“If I had a brain, while I could…”
Study it, memorize it, teach it, live it!
Copyright © 2021 Lifeword.org. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org