As a new believer, I was introduced to some kids Bible songs like “Behold, Behold,” “The Lord is My Shepherd,” and “I am the Resurrection and the Life”. Many times I was not aware that I was actually singing a Bible verse. But when once I read the verses in the Bible, I found I already knew them.

This is but one use of Bible Songs- they aid in memorizing Scripture. Music locks the words into a rhythm so that this rhythm dictates the next word. Television advertisers have used this for years to get the name of their product into the minds of the public. I can still recall advertising songs I learned as a child over 50 years ago!

Of course, the Bible is not written like poetry in a metric pattern, and thus it is more difficult to set it to music. Methods for writing tunes to match Scripture words is the subject of another article. However, when this is done well, the words and meter of the song are locked together.

Scripture songs not only help us memorize verses, they also help us remember the verses. I can recall numerous times when I think of a verse while speaking and can quote it exactly. In my mind, however, I am really singing the verse quickly. The rhythm and accents of the song was the aid to remember it.

Several years ago I taught third grade in a Christian school. Some of the students were very slow at learning their memory verse and I wanted to help them. I found music provided that aid. By singing the verse, they were much quicker about learning and remembering it.

This has also been for me a means of meditating on the Bible. A Bible verse song runs over and over in my mind and, of course, so do the words. Many times just the right verse I need for a given situation comes to mind through a song.

A good song will, in fact, bring out the meaning of a verse. One example is 2 Corinthians 5:21 that contains a misplaced modifier in modern English. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” The verse is obviously not teaching that we are sinless but that Christ is. The song for this verse, by repeating the words, clarifies this.

Bible Songs are also effective means of presenting the Gospel. Several years ago I taught my class all of the verses in the Roman’s Road set to music and then we sang them for a parent assembly. Any unsaved people who were present heard God’s way of salvation without a sermon.

Finally, Bible verse songs are a means of retaining Scripture as I get older. I find it much more difficult to memorize anything and retain it now than I did when I was younger. However, I can still remember a song and through this means can learn and retain verses.