Memorizing Scripture

AM Psalm 119:1-24 • PM Psalm 12, 13, 14
Deuteronomy 1:1-18 • Romans 9:1-18 • Matthew 23:27-39

Ever since I mangled the Preamble of the Constitution in front of my whole class in a required public recitation in grade school, I’ve felt that memorization of almost anything is boring, frustrating, and embarrassing if you get it wrong. In order to protect myself from those things, I convinced myself that memorizing scripture is rote and something you don’t learn from, even though Psalm 113:19 from today’s reading says, “With my lips will I recite all the judgments of your mouth.”

Now, I suddenly have different feelings. I thought that I would be able to read the stories and prayers I felt were important to Oscar at night, but it turns out that he prefers that the room is dark. Instead of reading him to sleep, I’ve found myself reciting and singing a lot more than I ever had in my life before. The act of memorizing and recitation has become something I do for my own devotion as well as the baby’s formation.

Father Charles let me borrow his copy of A New Metrical Psalter by Christopher Webber to help me with this endeavor. The book is filled with canticles and psalms that have been tweaked to fit the meter and rhyme of popular hymn tunes. Almost anything is easier to memorize if you can sing it and it rhymes!

A good example of a Psalm made for singing in A New Metrical Psalter is Psalm 13 from today’s readings, which can be sung to the tune called Bromley, which I’ve linked here:

How long will you forget me, Lord?
How long will you conceal your face?
How long shall I be so perplexed?
How long shall I live in disgrace?

Look down and answer me, O God,
Give light, not darkness, to my eyes;
Let not my adversary say,
“I have prevailed; he will not rise.”

But in your mercy, Lord, I trust,
And in your saving help rejoice;
The Lord has richly blessed my life
And in his praise I lift my voice.

Written by Haley Hixson

I am a mentor for Education for Ministry and my group is open for one or two more participants when registration opens in July. If you are interested in starting a 36 week course with theological reflection at its core beginning this September, reach out and we will see if we are a good fit for each other!