Christian Living

Old Tom Was Memorizing Scripture

by Dale Buchanan 
08/14/26
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I couldn’t believe it. The old man (he looked ancient to me) stood up and quoted a complete chapter of Psalms. Not only that, but at each Thursday night Bible Study group, he stood up and quoted another chapter. “Old Tom” announced that his goal was to memorize the whole book of Psalms. He gave his testimony that he accepted Christ as Savior at age 70. Tom loved the Lord and wanted to please Him.  So, one of the ways he would please the Lord was by memorizing the book of Psalms. I was in high school then, so I never saw “Old Tom” again after I left home. I don’t know if he accomplished his goal before he died.

 While working on campus in college, I met a student who had a goal to memorize the Bible. His method was to read through the entire Bible every two months. That seemed impossible – especially for a full-time student working a job. He told me that he spent two hours every morning reading the Bible and had been doing that for a couple of years. When we entered into a Bible discussion on any subject, he would not only give his presentation of the subject but also quote Scripture with a reference to back it up. I lost contact with him after college, so I don’t know if he accomplished his goal.   But he was on his way to that goal when I last saw him.

 Recently, I have been reading a booklet on missions telling how Christians are suffering in many restricted nations. Many of them do not have access to a Bible. Some have portions of the Bible. Some only have digital versions. In some countries, if the authorities or other persecutors find a Bible in their possession, they are arrested, fined, thrown in jail, tortured, and sometimes killed. 

Bibles are illegal in Brunei, Iran, Malaysia, N. Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Turkmenistan. In many other nations, it is perilous if authorities find you with a Bible. Sometimes Bibles are available in larger cities, but the price is so high that the average person cannot afford them. In some countries, the only way a person can access the Bible is through the internet or digital versions. Because of illiteracy, millions could not read the Bible if they did have one. And then some cultures still do not have a Bible in their language.

 There were many difficulties translating the Bible into the languages of the common people throughout the Dark Ages (various times designated by different sources, but generally between 500 and 1700 AD). During that time, the state church (Catholic) didn’t want ordinary people to have the Bible in the common language. Many scholars lost their lives because of translating or distributing the Bible. 

 As I thought about this, I couldn’t help but think about how little we appreciate the Word of God. I own six or more copies of the Bible, and my wife has about that many. How precious it should be to us. I need to value it, read, study, memorize, meditate, and let it guide and direct my life.

 What would happen if the authorities confiscated all our Bibles? How much of it have you memorized? In this anti-God, anti-Christian society today, it is possible for that to happen here. Are you prepared?

 Deuteronomy 6:6-7a KJV commands, “And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, - - “

Psalm 119:11 KJV “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.”

Colossians 3:16 KJV “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Psalm 37:31 KJV “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”

 If you lose access to all your Bibles, how much Scripture do you have hidden in your heart? Are you enjoying the blessings of Colossians 3:16, as quoted above? 

 If you love the Lord, how about dedicating time daily to Scripture memory?