Your commands are always with me. (Ps. 119:98)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:98-99
It was 1914. World War I was raging and had captivated the attention of the world while other happenings of significance were forced from the front pages. Among these was the Shackleton expedition to the South Pole. In 1915 their ship the Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea and the crew of twenty-seven were stranded on the ice. They were rescued in 1916 after an amazing and near miraculous trek across shifting ice and raging winds and storms.
When abandoning the vessel, hard decisions had to be made about what to take and what to leave behind. Space was very limited. Shackleton allowed a banjo to be taken but not a Bible. When challenged about that, it was reported that he believed music could lift their spirits, so the banjo would be of greater use. For the Christian who has already committed God’s commands to memory, this may be true; however, a Christian who cannot recall God’s commands may need more than a banjo to lift their spirits.
The era of Bible memorization with its contests, Sunday school choruses, “sword” drills, and Bible quiz teams seems only a distant memory to many and a strange relic to others. Internalizing the Word was a high priority. The purpose was simple: to keep God’s commands with us always. Could we benefit from returning to memorization of Scripture?
Spend time in the Word to keep the Lord’s commands with you.
HC Wilson is general superintendent emeritus of The Wesleyan Church. He and his wife, Debby, reside in New Brunswick, Canada.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
