When I first became a Christian, I was introduced to kids Bible songs such as “Behold, Behold,” “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness ” . For many of them I didn’t even know I was singing Scripture. But when once I read the verses in the Bible, I found I already knew them.
Bible verse songs are a wonderful means of memorizing Scripture. When the words of the Bible are locked into the rhythm of a song, this makes it much easier to learn them. Television advertisers have used this for years to get the name of their product into the minds of the public. I can still sing commercials I heard 50 years ago!
However, though poetry is easy to put to music because of its meter, Bible verses are not so written. Methods for writing tunes to match Scripture words is the subject of another article. When it is accomplished, however, the meter of the song dictates the next word and locks it in.
Learning Scripture memory songs also helps us remember the verses. Many times when I am speaking, I think of a verse and then recite it accurately. However, mentally I am actually singing it in my mind quickly. The rhythm and accents of the song was the aid to remember it.
I started writing Bible verses to music when I first taught third grade in a Christian school. I was especially challenged as to how to teach the memory verse to the slower students. Music was the answer. When I sang the memory verse to them, they could pick it up and remember it much more quickly.
Bible verse songs also provide a means of meditating on the Scripture. The song plays over and over in my mind and so do the words. Verses have come to mind in this way that were just what I needed for a given situation.
A song can actually clarify the mean of a verse. One example is 2 Corinthians 5:21 that contains a misplaced modifier in modern English. The verse reads, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” Obviously, the last phrase refers to Christ, not us. Through repetition of the phrases, the song makes this clear.
Bible Songs are also effective means of presenting the Gospel. One year I taught my class all the verses for the Roman’s Road plan of salvation and they sang them for a parents’ assembly. The plan of salvation was clearly presented to any relatives who didn’t know the Lord.
Finally, Bible verse songs are a means of retaining Scripture as I get older. It is much more difficult for me to memorize Bible verses and remember them now, than it was when I was younger. However, I can still remember a song and in this way, I will remember verses as well when they are the words to the song.