Several years ago, the Sabbath School lessons had a study of Isaiah 53. And, of course, now that we are looking at the book of Isaiah this quarter, we are studying that chapter again in our lesson this week. I remember last time there was a quote from Ellen G. White and it said we should memorize Isaiah 53. Here’s what it said…
“Prophecy foretold that Christ was to appear as a root out of dry ground. ‘He hath no form nor comeliness,’ wrote Isaiah, ‘and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.’ This chapter (Isaiah 53) should be studied. It presents Christ as the Lamb of God. Those who are lifted up with pride, whose souls are filled with vanity, should look upon this picture of their Redeemer, and humble themselves in the dust. The entire chapter should be committed to memory. Its influence will subdue and humble the soul defiled by sin and uplifted by self-exaltation. “ “Christ’s Humiliation,”, The Youth Instructor, December 20, 1900, 394
Fifteen years ago, my mother was experiencing blindness in her senior years, and I remember her telling me that she wished she had memorized more Scripture. That’s what got me started with memorizing certain chapters in the Bible. Isaiah 53 was the first one.
Linda, a school friend of mine in Florida, just lost her husband, Gordon Keller. He was a devoted Baptist minister. She told how he had memorized much of the Bible, and it was such a comfort to him during those sleepless nights, as he suffered the painful effects of cancer. I’d like to quote what she wrote, as it might encourage you to start committing more of God’s word to memory. You never know when you will need it.
- “Memorize Scripture because you never know when ol’ smutface [Satan] will attack you and you can put him in his place.
- Memorize Scripture because you never know when your faith may be shaken to the core and the promises of God flood your mind.
- Memorize Scripture because you never know who may need to hear from God, and He puts you in the right place to help.
- Memorize Scripture just because it will help you (us) stay the course, fight a good fight, and be a light in this dark world.”
~Linda Keller, March 5, 2021
