Learn these three sets of threes this week. God wants to bless you through them.

Memorize this week

“Loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30:20 (ESV)

1 – Love, Obey, Hold

We made it! This is the last verse in our memory challenge. Here are our memory tips for Deuteronomy 30:20.

Remember 3 sets of 3s.

The verse begins with a set of 3 verbs: Loving, Obeying, and Holding.

“LOVING the Lord your God, OBEYING his voice and HOLDING fast to him,”

(For me, I envision it beginning as LOV—LOVING, OBEYING his VOICE….)

2- Life, Length, Land

We have affection for, listen to, and cling to our Father.

Why?

Remember this set of 3’s: Life, Length, and Land.

“for he is your LIFE and LENGTH of days, that you may dwell in the LAND”

These were blessings not only to the Israelites back then, but they are blessings to us today. While we don’t necessarily live in the physical land of Israel, nor do we escape death or live to be 120, we do receive gifts of an abundant life, an eternal life, and life in the Kingdom of God now.

3 – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

The verse ends with three fathers of the faith.

“that the LORD swore to your fathers, to ABRAHAM, to ISAAC, and to JACOB, to give them.”

God gave to them. God gives to us. He is a good, good Father.

Thank you for reading, learning, and loving God with us these past 10 weeks and 10 verses in Deuteronomy. We pray that these truths you implanted in your heart will grow and bless you in your relationship with the Lord and with others for many months and years to come.

Study Guide

Download this week’s study guide here: “We Choose So That We May Live”

Please share your thoughts here.

You’ll have many choices this week. Watch the decisions you make. Let Moses’s voice help you choose wisely.

Memorize This Week

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,”
Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV)

Witness It

We are about to finishing memorizing Deuteronomy 30:11-20. This week we learn Deuteronomy 30:19.

Two things Moses does here: He calls and he sets.

“I CALL . . . , that I HAVE SET before you . . .”

The witness to this? Heaven and earth.

“. . . HEAVEN and EARTH to witness against you today . . .”

This is the third time we memorize “heaven” (twice in verse 12), and the first time for “earth” (although we learn “land” three times, v16, 18, 20).

Remember Heaven is “to be lofty” and Earth is “to be firm.” We need our eyes looking upward as well as our feet on the ground to make our best choices.

• Heaven – H8064, shamayim: to be lofty
• Earth – H776, erets: to be firm, the earth, land

The Choice?

Moses set choices before the Israelites. We have the same choices today.

In verse 15, the pairing was worded as similar/similar (life and good) and opposite/opposite (death and evil). But here the choices are situated as similar/opposite (life and death) versus similar/opposite (blessing and curse).

Because Moses has called and set this before them, he tells his listeners to do something: CHOOSE.

“Therefore CHOOSE life. . .”

Choose what? Life.

Why? So that they AND their offspring would live.

“. . . that you and your offspring may live,”

May we do likewise!

We’ll see the conclusion of this sentence next week in the conclusion of our memory challenge, Deuteronomy 30:20.

Be a witness this week to your own choices. Use Moses’s voice to help you choose God. God is life.

Study Guide

Download this week’s study guide here: “The Witness of Our Choice – Study Guide”

Please share your thoughts here.

Today’s declaration has consequences. Memorize Deuteronomy 30:18 with us this week.

Learn This Week

“I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.”
Deuteronomy 30:18 (ESV)

Memory Tips

Notice that Moses doesn’t simply “say” this; he “declares” it. He is announcing something important. As you practice reciting it, you can declare it, too.

“I DECLARE . . .”

Again, it’s “today.” This is the fourth of five times in this section of scripture that Moses points out “today.”

“. . . to you TODAY, . . .”

Sometimes it’s easy to confuse “will” and “shall” when we’re learning a verse. The meaning is the same, but in this verse we see “shall” twice (except in NIV).

“. . . that you SHALL surely perish. You SHALL . . . “

A thought is repeated within this verse, using different words: perishing and not living long.

“. . .  NOT LIVE LONG . . . “

And again, “land” is mentioned (as in verse 16), both entering and possessing.

“. . . in the LAND that you are going over the Jordan to ENTER and POSSESS.”

Next Week: Break

For Thanksgiving week, we’ll take a break from adding any new verses.

Study Guide

Use our accompanying study guide for this verse to think more about its meaning and its application in your own life: “I Declare – Study Guide for Deuteronomy 30:18”

Please share your thoughts here.

The direction your heart turns can make a big difference. Memorize Deuteronomy 30:17 with us this week to see how the sequence works.

Memorize this week

“But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,”
Deuteronomy 30:17 (ESV)

The Sequence

First, the choice was set up (Deuteronomy 30:15).

• Life or death

Then, we heard the good news (Deuteronomy 30:16).

• If obey, then blessed

Now, the other shoe begins to drop (Deuteronomy 30:17).

• But if you don’t

Next week we’ll learn the conclusion of that statement (Deuteronomy 30:18).

But . . . but

As you memorize verse 17 this week, remember there are 2 “but”s:

• But if

and

• But are

It’s also helpful to notice the subjects of the three phrases in this verse.

• Your heart
• You
• [You]

Then learn the three verb phrases.

• Turns away
• Will not hear
• Are drawn away

Finally, put it all together:

“But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,”

Only 3 to Go

Verse 17 is a short verse, especially compared to last week’s verse 16. Continue working on both and reviewing all the verses you’ve learned so far. After this week, we only have three verses left to learn.

Whether you have memorized all the verses or are only reading along, we pray that you are being blessed by your time with God through these words.

Download this week’s study guide here: “If Your Heart Turns Away”

Please share your thoughts here.

If you learn this verse, then you will be blessed. It’s long. But it’s worth it.

Memorize this week

“If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”
Deuteronomy 30:16 (ESV)

If . . . Then

If you panic, by seeing how many words are in this verse, by thinking you’ll never memorize it, by questioning why you’re doing this anyway, then you will get discouraged and stop trying and eventually quit.

But that is the opposite of this verse.

Instead of being a negative if/then statement, Deuteronomy 30:16 is a positive if/then statement.

Deuteronomy 30:16 assures us that God is active, that God is good, and that God wants to bless us.

Despite its length and wordiness, we CAN memorize even this verse. Don’t worry about getting it word-perfect this week. The details will come in time as you add on the remaining 4 verses in upcoming weeks (yes, that’s all we have left!).

For now, learn it enough to be life-giving, not life-draining.

Deuteronomy 30:15 set up the choice for us (choose life and good or death and evil). Deuteronomy 30:16 now begins explaining the answers.

Let’s break it down. By chunking it, we can do this.

Think in 3’s.

1. If

For the IF section, there are 3 “by”s. They explain how to obey.

“If you obey…, by loving…, by walking…, and by keeping…”

• by loving
• by walking
• by keeping

Under the last one, “keeping,” there are 3 things:

“…and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules…”

• his commandments
• his statues
• his rules

2. Then

For the THEN section, see 3 good results of obedience:

“…then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you…”
Deuteronomy 30:16 (ESV)

• live
• multiply
• bless

Under the last one, “bless,” there are 3 phrases:

“…will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”

• in the land
• you are entering
• take possession of it

3. “The LORD your God”

Also, you’ll see “the LORD your God” 3 times.

“…obey the commandments of the LORD your God…, loving the LORD your God, …and the LORD your God will bless you…”

• the commandments of “the LORD your God”
• by loving “the LORD your God”
• and “the LORD your God” will bless

If seeing these chunks helps you, use them. If not, use what works best for you.

God Will Bless You

Lastly, whether you memorize any of these words or not, remember this:

God doesn’t promise us a problem-free life if we follow Him, but He does promise us a blessed one.

Our blessings may differ in details, but we can trust they are for our good and His glory.

Download this week’s study guide here

Please share your thoughts here.

We have options. Do they get any plainer than this?

Memorize This Week

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”
Deuteronomy 30:15 (ESV)

The Choice Is Yours

See? We are doing this. We made a choice and we are memorizing Deuteronomy 30:11-20, one verse at a time.

This week we have another simple verse. (But be forewarned—next week is a long verse. Read ahead if you can!)

Moses lays down the ultimate invitation here.

This is it; this is the life-changing choice.

He first sets up two good options (life and good). Then two bad options (death and evil). Later in verse 19 we’ll see they’re phrased as good/bad (life and death) and good/bad (blessing and curse) instead of good/good and bad/bad in verse 15.

So as you memorize verse 15 this week, look for the areas in your life where you can “see” the choices you have to make. Make them visible as you recite this verse.

We’ll learn the consequences of these choices in upcoming verses.

Download this week’s study guide.

Please share your thoughts here.

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.