Category: HEAR Journal

Stop Regarding Man

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Here is a HEAR journal entry from my daily reading.

H – Highlight

Isaiah 2:22

Stop regarding man
in whose nostrils is breath,
for of what account is he?

E – Explain

For a good portion of this chapter, the Lord has shown us the evil and pride of a people who are supposed to be his people. They rejoice in their wealth, in their strength, and eventually in their idolatry. But God promises a day will come when all those godless things will no longer matter.

In verse 22, the chapter ends with God calling on us simply to stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath. The point here is not to devalue life. Instead, the point is to stop thinking that the opinions of men are more important than the righteousness of God. Stop thinking that winning in this life is the end-all-be-all of your existence. You do not even own your own breath. God gave you that breath. God gave the movers and shakers their breath. Stop regarding them. .Worship God.

A – Apply

The Lord reminds me here not to live for comfort, not to live for supposed stability in this life, and not to live for the approval of others. It really is easy to want people to think I’m something else. I naturally want them to think I’m smart or clever. I naturally want to know people who are supposedly important. But what matters is knowing the Lord. What matters is resting in his strength and not my own. What matters is his approval and not the approval of others.

R – Respond

Lord, I would ask that you help me to find my hope and my joy in you and in your presence. Do not let me love this world. Change my heart and sanctify me that I might long for you and your glory most of all.

A Genesis 1:1 HEAR Journal Entry

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I will not share every one of these I write, but I will, for a bit, share some examples of my HEAR journaling as I get started with the 2023 reading plans. Perhaps this model will help you to pick up a way that you too could take your reading a step deeper.

H – Highlight

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

E – Explain

Not much explanation is needed here. There used to be nothing except for God. God made everything. He did not use existing materials—there were none. He did not borrow from somebody else’s stuff—there was nobody else. God, by his power, for his purpose, made all that exists.

A – Apply

There are some days when the simplest thoughts are the strongest. Here, I look and am reminded of the simple point that, if this verse is true, everything changes. If it is false, nothing matters.

If God did not make everything, then a human being is only a bag of chemicals bouncing through the world. We move. Electrical impulses fire in our brains, we do what we want. We die. There is no basis for truth, for beauty, for morality. What does it matter if one set of chemicals changes the structure of another set of chemicals?

But, if this verse is true, and it is, then our world is not our world. God made it. God is in charge. God has the right of ownership over us all. God determines truth, beauty,. Morality, meaning, everything. Because God made us, we have a reason to live. Because God made us, we know what is allowed and what is not. Because God made us, it matters what we do.

R – Respond

Lord, as I begin this new year of Bible reading, I pray that you will help me to keep in mind the

truth of the first verse of the Holy Scripture. Help me remember that you made everything, and that is what gives us meaning. Help me keep my life centered on the fact that I exist to serve you, to live as an image of God on earth. You are God. I am not. You are Lord. I am your servant. Help me to live under your grace and to your glory.

A HEAR Journal from Luke 1

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As I wrap up the year in my Bible reading, I’ve returned to doing a little HEAR journaling. This is a technique that helps me to focus on something from the daily readings and unpack it a bit. HEAR stands for highlight, explain, apply, and respond. I find this pattern helpful, and perhaps you will too.

H – Highlight

Luke 1:76-79

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

E – Explain

Here Zechariah speaks a word of prophecy over his newborn son, John—later John the Baptist. John will prepare the way for Jesus to come. Even more, he will prepare the people of Israel to have something greater than they have known before. John is not going to simply prepare the way for the nation to have general success, land promises, and the rest. John will help the people toward knowledge of God and forgiveness of their sins.

Because of my recent work in the covenants, the topic of forgiveness coming to the people from the promised one rings in my mind. Much of the Old Covenant made room for the nation of Israel to live in the presence of God in the land. The forgiveness achieved in the sacrificial system was first a forgiveness that kept God from having to destroy the nation. God, of course, would not destroy the whole nation, because he intended to bring the Messiah through the nation of Israel. But personal forgiveness of sins and personal relationship with God was not achieved through animal sacrifice. Instead, relationship with God was achieved by God’s grace through faith as the faithful Israelites believed the promises of God. The sacrifices pointed toward the work God would achieve when he finally sent his Son.

Thus, what grabs me is just how much greater the salvation is that we see promised in Luke 1. What John will point the people toward is greater than the Old Covenant. It is sweet and merciful. It is glorious and gracious.

A – Apply

I think the best way to apply this passage is to again stop, think, and be very grateful for life in the New Covenant. We do not look at a bloody animal sacrifice and long for the fulfillment of a promise of a sacrifice that will give us true forgiveness. Instead, in Christ, our forgiveness has been achieved. Our hope is now in his return. So, right response is gratitude, faith, hope, and worship. Right application is a call to love the gospel and be sure to proclaim it.

R – Respond

Lord, I thank you for forgiveness in Christ. I know that I could never achieve anything that would earn me your favor. I know that I deserve death a million times over. That you would send your Son to be my salvation is glorious. I pray that you will make me faithful to you, to your worship, to your church, and to the spreading of your gospel for your glory.

God is Still Sovereign

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I thought I’d post this entry from my HEAR journal, as it gives me hope from a strange passage.

H – Highlight

1 Kings 19:35 – And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

E – Explain

During the days of Isaiah and Hezekiah, the Assyrian army threatened Jerusalem. This force was insurmountable. There was simply no way that Judah should have been able to survive. The northern kingdom had already fallen to this empire.

But, in the verse above, we see the supernatural hand of God at work. The Lord sent an angel and wiped out a massive force outside of Jerusalem.

A – Apply

God is able to change the world by his will and for his glory. There is no army he cannot defeat. There is no force that is great enough to stop his plan. For me this morning, I find comfort and hope in the fact that God is mighty enough to defeat armies and change the course of history. Obviously we are living in a strange and frightening political time. But knowing that the Lord is almighty and glorious reminds us that he is not going to be defeated. Our election, our laws, our national strength or weakness have nothing to do with the greatness or the glory of God.

R – Respond

Lord, I see in this text that the greatest of enemy armies and the mightiest of empires do not threaten you. You are the Lord over all. No king and no army, no president and no election, can change who you are. Help me, I pray, to remember your greatness and that my purpose is to glorify you. I do pray for your mercy on our nation. But I will not, or at least I should not, allow myself to fret over the plots of men. You are God, and that is the great and final truth.

My Way or God’s Way

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H – Highlight

1 Samuel 28:5-7 – 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

E – Explain

On the day before the death of Saul in a battle with the Philistines, the king is afraid and seeks God’s counsel. But God will not speak to him in any form, so Saul seeks guidance through forbidden means.

A – Apply

It is a temptation for people to seek things in God’s way so long as we get what we want. But, when we do not get what we want, it is often the case that people will turn from the ways of the Lord to try to accomplish things in whatever ways we can find. This is evil.

R – Respond

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that there is a temptation to do things in my way or in ways that dishonor you when I do not get what I want from you. I confess that this is sin. You are perfect, and your ways are best. I pray that you will help me trust you and to totally find my freedom from within the bounds of your perfect commands.

A Need for Margin

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H – Highlight

Leviticus 23:22 – “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

E – Explain

In Leviticus 23, we see God give instructions for the Sabbath and for the 3 major feasts of Israel. As God gives the direction for the feast of first fruits, also called Pentecost because it was held 50 days after Passover, he reminds the people of their requirement not to fully harvest their fields. The people were to leave the corners of the fields unharvested for the good of the poor. Note that they were not merely to give the poor a handout but were to make it possible for the poor to work to get food. At the same time, the owners were not to try to squeeze every last bit of profit out of their property. They were to leave a margin to be able to care for the needy.

A —Apply

First, I apply this by recognizing that God’s system for living is the best. That makes sense. God is wiser than man. His plan to govern a nation would be the best.

Second, I see that God reminds us that those with work ought not spend to the last penny. Instead, we are to leave margin for giving and caring for others. This would be true for those who should be sure they are able to give to the church.

I also think the idea of not harvesting the whole field would bring me a principle of scheduling too. I should not fill my time to a point that I cannot take a phone call or meet a need.

Finally, I see that it is good for the poor to work for their food instead of just receiving it. It is a trap to have a person handed food without labor. Of course, there are those incapable of work, and we want to care for them. But there are also those who could work, but who, in our system, understand that doing work would actually be less productive and provide less for their families.

R – Respond

Lord, I first thank you for showing us how things should be. I know that your system is better than any other. I pray that you will help me to live with enough margin in my life that I can care for others around me. I pray that I will not spend time or money until I have nothing left.

Bloody atonement

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H – Highlight

Leviticus 9:7 – Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.”

E – Explain

In Leviticus 8-9, we see the ordination of Aaron as high priest and the first offerings made for the people in this new priesthood.

A – Apply

I think what grabs my attention is not so much the verse that I have highlighted as the detail and bloodiness of the whole affair. The commands that Aaron needed to follow were meticulous. As Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, almost everything was purified with blood. This was a messy, ugly thing that had to be done so that the sins of people could be covered and so they could approach the Lord.

The application for me is one of awe and gratitude. My sin is such a thing that I should not be allowed to approach the Lord. But God has done what needed to be done. No bull, no goat, no birds can shed their blood for my sin. The spotless Son of god died to pay the price for my sin so that I can approach the Lord.

R – Respond

Lord, I thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus for my sins. I thank you for the picture, here in Leviticus, of the need for blood to cover my sin. I confess my failure and fallenness. I pray that you will help me live now to honor you, living forgiven. Help me to be changed to be more given to you in all things.

In Accord with the Design

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H – Highlight

Exodus 26:30 – Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.

E – Explain

This section includes the instructions that God gave to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle.

A – Apply

There are a couple of places in this instruction set where God reminds Moses that he will do all these things in accord with the design that God showed him on the mountain. Moses was to follow instructions. Moses was not to design a tabernacle. Moses was not to come up with a plan for how God would be worshipped. Moses certainly was not to design a plan for the people to gain forgiveness. He was to listen to and communicate God’s plan to the people.

We must not be silly enough to think that we design what the church does. We are to listen to God’s instruction and obey it. Nor do we need to defend the word of God to the world. God has told us his way. We do not owe anybody an explanation for God’s standards or his worship. God has said what we are to do. We obey.

R – Respond

Lord, I pray that you will help me to be faithful to your word. Help me not to try to make up anything you have not commanded. Help me hear your instructions and follow them. Help me trust you and rely fully on your word.

If You Will Indeed Obey

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H – Highlight

Exodus 19:5-6 – 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

E – Explain

As god prepares to meet with the people at Mount Sinai and to give the Ten Commandments, making his covenant with Israel, he makes a promise. If the nation will obey him, they will be his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. There is a very clear promise of ongoing blessing if Israel will obey God’s law.

A – Apply

The promise of god here reminds me of god’s relationship with Adam in the garden. Many who write about the garden suggest that Adam was part of a covenant of works with God. These suggest that, if Adam had obeyed God, he would have, at some point, been granted eternal life in paradise with no longer an opportunity to fail. In a similar way, it looks as though God is telling this nation that, if they will obey him as a nation, they will grow into the very kingdom that some Jews in the first century were expecting Jesus to bring.

I am not sure about the if side of the equation. I cannot say how long Adam would have had to obey in order to be granted eternal life. I cannot say what would have happened had Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and found a repentant nation and a proper temple. Instead, I know that neither Adam nor Israel obeyed.

What gets my attention here is not the speculative question. Instead, what gets my attention is the failure. Adam failed. Israel failed. And, if we were required to obey in order to have the favor of God, we would be fully incapable of success. This in capacity would be our own fault, not the fault of the Lord and his commands. We fail in small and we fail in large. Our sin would wreck our souls beyond repair.

This is a reason we praise Jesus with such gratitude. Jesus fulfilled perfect righteousness where we would fail. Jesus fully pleased his Father and, through his righteousness, earned eternal life for all who are his. The perfect life of Jesus is vital to our salvation as well as his sacrificial death and resurrection.

R – Respond

Lord, I understand that, were my eternal life based on my obedience, I would lose it. I am a sinner. I fail to obey. No obedience in part can ever make up for my disobedience. I thank you for your glorious plan of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. I thank you for Jesus and his perfection. I thank you for the imputation of righteousness. Please help me live in celebration of and gratitude for this salvation.

They Shall Know

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H – Highlight

Exodus 14:1-4 – 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

E – Explain

Here is the account of the parting of the Red Sea and the rescue of Israel. God told Israel where to go. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he and the Egyptian army would chase the people of God. The people feared and complained against Moses and the Lord. God protected Israel with the pillar of fire until the sea was parted and the people walked through. And God got glory as he destroyed the Egyptians.

A – Apply

Many things got my attention in this chapter which apply. First is the fact that God did what he did here for the sake of his own glory. God was intent on showing that he is greater than Egypt, its military might, and its false gods. And the Lord did display his glory. I must recall that God’s glory is the most important thing in the universe.

Second, I take note of the complaint of the people. In the paragraph of verses 10-14, the Israelites gripe and complain against Moses and the Lord. They assume that they would have been better off not obeying the Lord but simply staying in Egypt. This reminds me that, even as we strive to lead people toward the things of God, there will be times when doing the right thing will be met with negativity. Moses needed to trust in the Lord. I too need to trust god rather than be discouraged by the people or discouraged by the circumstance.

Third, I note the absolute sovereignty of God. Every step in this chapter is his crafting. He told Israel where to go, hardened Pharaoh’s heart, defended the people, parted the sea, and drown the army. God is almighty. God is in control. I should not let myself forget these things in a world that looks godless and out-of-control.

R – Respond

Lord, I praise you. Your glory is to be seen and magnified in this account. Your glory is in fact the most important thing, though I do not always remember it. I pray that you will show me your glory, show me your power, and keep me focused firmly on this as most important. I pray that you will keep me from complaining about my circumstances. I pray that you will keep me confident in you even when those around me wish to complain about the situation in which we live. And I pray that you will remind me of your great and sovereign power as we walk through this difficult world.