Read these tips on first words to help you memorize a Bible chapter, and to specifically memorize this week’s verse, Deuteronomy 30:14.

Memorize this week

“But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
Deuteronomy 30:14 (ESV)

The Important First Word

When we’re memorizing a chapter, sometimes the first word of each verse is the hardest to get right, especially when it’s a small conjunction or pronoun.

But those first words are often the very ones that prompt us to recite the remainder of the verse.

Notice the first words we’ve learned so far (in ESV):

• For (v11)
• It (v12)
• Neither (v13)
• But (v14)

But . . .

We’re turning a corner this week with “But.” It signifies an orientation change.

Instead of where God’s word is NOT, this week we’re learning where God’s word IS. Once you remember to start with “But” this week, the rest may come easier than you expect. (NIV uses “No.”)

Where is the word?

The word is not only near you, it is VERY near you.

All 4 versions we’re using have the word “very” in them this week—ESV, NIV, KJV, NKJV. (See our newsletter for more on the word “very.”)

This week’s verse is also different in that it is two sentences instead of one. The second sentence begins with “It,” referring to the word.

Again, where is the word?

The word is in your mouth and in your heart.

And why is it there? So that we CAN DO it.

Keep a CAN DO spirit as you memorize and live out Deuteronomy 30 this week.

Download this week’s study guide here

Please share your thoughts here on what you’re learning or how you’re learning it.

Look for patterns as you memorize. Catch the pulse beneath the words in Deuteronomy 30:13.

Memorize this week

“Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'”
Deuteronomy 30:13 (ESV)

Similarities

If you learned Deuteronomy 30:12, you’ve almost learned Deuteronomy 30:13, too.

The structure and most of the wording is the same: “that you should say, ‘Who will…for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it’?”

Also notice this order remains the same: “should…will…may.” (I’ve been tripping over which of these three words to use; hopefully now I’ll remember their order.)

Differences

The main differences are that verse 12 says “in heaven” and “ascend to heaven,” whereas verse 13 says “beyond the sea,” and “go over the sea.”

Patterns

Another tidbit to notice is that verse 13 is also our third verse in a row with negatives.

• Verse 11: Not, neither
• Verse 12: Not
• Verse 13: Neither

Continue looking for patterns as you memorize. It will not only help you memorize, but also help you catch the rhythm of meaning underneath the words.

In these verses, there are many things that God’s word is NOT. And these are all things we can be grateful for.

Stay tuned for next week, when we turn the corner to what the word IS.

Download this week’s study guide here: “Neither is it Beyond the Sea, Deuteronomy 30:13 Study Sheet”

Please share your thoughts here.

Memorize this week

“It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'”
Deuteronomy 30:12 (ESV)

This is week 2 for memorizing Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

Each Monday we will share memory tips specific to each verse. Use these if they help; discard them if they don’t. We want to help you memorize these words.

But not so you’ll have a set of words in your mind, rather that you’ll have a collection of truths in your heart.

Notice the Similarities

In week 1, verse 11, we learned that God’s commandment isn’t too hard or too far off. This week in verse 12 we’ll learn that neither is it too high.

If you’re like me, the transitions between verses can be difficult to remember. Once you get going on a verse, you can keep going. But beginning a fresh verse can be difficult.

In Deuteronomy 30:12, the verse begins with “It,” which is a natural carryover from verse 11.

What is “It”? It is God’s commandment.

Also carrying over from verse 11 is the use of negatives (NOT too hard, NEITHER far off). Verse 12 says it is NOT in heaven. Verse 13 next week will also be a negative (NEITHER).

Who? You or Us?

Verse 11 was Moses (I) speaking to them (YOU).

In verse 12, he continues with YOU, but then he puts himself in the listener’s position. He asks a question by switching to US. This pattern will also be repeated in verse 13.

The Questions

Notice the doubles here. Who will ascend to heaven (1) FOR US and bring it (2) TO US? That we may (2) HEAR IT and (2) DO IT.

Also notice there are 4 IT’s in this verse.

Do Not

As you memorize these week, let these words develop gratitude in your heart for what we do NOT have to do. We don’t have to do the impossible to hear from God. God brings it down to us.

Want to dig deeper into this verse? Use our study guide, answering one question each day.

Did you memorize Deuteronomy 30:11? Are you memorizing verse 12? What helps you memorize? Please share in the comments.

Memorize This Week

For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
Deuteronomy 30:11 (ESV)

Today we begin memorizing!

And even if you’re not participating in the scripture memory challenge, these words can still benefit your week as you read them here and think about them.

Three Memorizing Tips

For the nitty-gritty of memorizing, take a closer look at each word.

(1) Are there any words that are repeated?

In Deuteronomy 30:11, we see both “commandment” and “command.” One is a noun and the other is a verb, making it easy to remember them as a pair.

(2) Also look for patterns or groupings. This verse contains two things that God’s commands are NOT:

• Too hard
• Far off

(Exact wording will vary according to the translation you use; we’ll refer here to ESV.)

Noting that there is a group or an order to the words will often help you remember them more clearly.

(3) Look it up. Another way to memorize more accurately is to dig into the original language, not to necessarily memorize the Hebrew or Greek words themselves, but to enhance your knowledge of the English word. Bible Hub is one of the many resources you can access online for word derivations.

For instance, when you look at “hard”, Hebrew pala, you see it also means “beyond one’s power.” Moses was telling them that God’s commands weren’t beyond their power. (I’m using it to also remind me that memorizing these words aren’t beyond my power.)

One Word

I like to highlight one word or phrase in my mind (and on paper) from each verse that stands out to me personally.

What stands out to you in Deuteronomy 30:11?

One special word to me is “today.” While Moses was using “today” to signify the very day he was in, it reminds me that I also am in “today.” The deep truth in this verse—that God won’t ask too much from me—continues to apply to me right now.

Remember the Goal

Let’s always remember that while one of our intentions is to memorize these words, our greater goal is to live them.

Memorizing is only a means to an end. Our real purpose is to use these words to help us love God and love others. That is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-40).

See the study guide for verse 11 here, “God’s Commandment Is Not Too Hard.”

For those who registered, check your email for additional encouragement. God’s commandments aren’t burdensome (1 John 5:3).

What are your memory tips? What stands out to you in this week’s verse? Please share in the comments.

Determine Your Choices

We’re going to be talking about choices a lot in the upcoming weeks.

Once we make the big decision to follow Jesus, we still have smaller decisions to make our entire lives.

Some of those decisions are strongly determined by:

• Where we are (such as, choice of available churches)
• What we’re called to do (such as, choice of jobs)
• Who we’re with (such as, choice of relationships).

But other decisions are determined by:

• How God made us (such as, choice of spiritual disciplines).

God designed some of us to love a crowd, while others prefer a table for two. Some prefer quiet times at 5am; others burn the midnight oil with young seekers.

Some grow through the spiritual discipline of fasting. And some grow by memorizing holy words.

I’m not saying we wouldn’t all benefit by having more of God’s words memorized in our hearts. His words bless whoever holds them.

But certain spiritual disciplines reach us more than others do.

Discipline of Scripture Memorization

Is scripture memorization a discipline that reaches you? It does me.

That doesn’t mean it comes easily to me. I don’t have a great memory. I don’t have a lot of patience to recite the same thing over and over.

But I’ve discovered this:

If I spend just a few minutes today reminding myself of the same truths I rehearsed yesterday, I am blessed.

• Blessed in the moment:
  Jesus is the Living Word and His presence is with us as we’re learning words with Him, being trained by Him, and soaking in His love.
• Blessed in the future:
  God’s word never returns void. Verses we memorize today will come back to us tomorrow at times when we need them most.

Maybe you’ve tried scripture memorization in the past. It wasn’t your thing. That’s okay. There are many spiritual disciplines that can nurture our relationships with the Lord.

Your Invitation to Memorize

But if it’s been awhile since you’ve tried memorizing—or if you’ve never tried at all—we invite you to join us for a simple, no-pressure challenge. Registration is open now; memorization begins September 25.

The ten verses we’ll be repeating to ourselves and each other are reminders that we have choices.

And that our choices matter.

As we said here, you’re not a good person if you choose to memorize and a bad one if you don’t. God doesn’t work that way.

But if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to memorize again, or to try it as something new in your Christian walk, give this a try.

Bible Study – The Context

Bible study (another spiritual discipline) is a beneficial addition to scripture memorization.

Fill out Ali’s downloadable worksheet this week on context. Answer one question per day for five days.

It will provide a great foundation for your season in Deuteronomy 30.

The time it takes is short, but the rewards will be long.

You choose.

What stands out to you in Deuteronomy 30?
Where do you see Jesus in Deuteronomy 30 via the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 10:6-10?
Which spiritual disciplines come naturally to you? Which don’t?

Please share your thoughts in the comments.