Month: March 2022

Throughout Scripture we find people being transformed and finding purpose by connecting with God through his Word. Let’s take a look at King Josiah to see what happened when he started reading God’s law. We will also use notes and features from the Life Application Study Bible to find out what can happen if, like Josiah, we read and apply God’s Word to our lives.

2 Chronicles 34:14-21, 31-33

While they were bringing out the money collected at the Lord’s Temple, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that was written by Moses. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord‘s Temple Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.

Shaphan took the scroll to the king and reported, “Your officials are doing everything they were assigned to do. The money that was collected at the Temple of the Lord has been turned over to the supervisors and workmen.” Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.

When the king heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the Lord‘s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the Lord. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do.”

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord‘s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. And he required everyone in Jerusalem and the people of Benjamin to make a similar pledge. The people of Jerusalem did so, renewing their covenant with God, the God of their ancestors.

So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the, Lord the God of their ancestors.

Notes from the Life Application Study Bible

“The Book of the Law of the Lord” found by Hilkiah was probably the book of Deuteronomy, which had been lost during the reigns of the evil kings. Now that it was found, Josiah realized that drastic changes had to be made in order to bring the nation back in line with God’s commands. This account is also recorded in 2 Kings 22:8-13.

It is human nature to treat sin lightly—to make excuses, blame somebody else, or minimize the harm done. Not so with Josiah. He was so appalled at the people’s neglect of the law that he tore his clothing to express his grief. True understanding of our sins should lead to “the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience” that “leads us away from sin” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Do you tend to excuse your sin, blame others for what you’ve done, or pretend your sin wasn’t so bad? God knows how sin harms us, and he does not take it lightly. He wants us to respond with true remorse as Josiah did.

When Josiah read the book that Hilkiah discovered (34:14), he responded with repentance and humility and promised to follow God’s commands as written in it. The Bible, God’s Word to us, is “alive and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12), but we cannot know what God wants us to do if we do not read it. And even reading God’s Word is not enough; we must be willing to do what it says. There is not much difference between the book hidden in the Temple and the Bible hidden on the bookshelf. An unread Bible is as useless as a lost one.

Learn more about the Life Application Study Bible

Read Naomi’s story of how reading the Bible has impacted her life.

by Molly Jo Nynam

Naomi was so excited about the Tyndale Bible she bought her husband, Andrew, that she wasn’t sure she could wait until Christmas to give it to him. At age 37, this would be his first study Bible and the first time he would have God’s Word in the New Living Translation—Naomi’s favorite.

“Reading the NLT makes reading the Bible real, regular, and more vivid. I don’t have to wonder about word meanings and definitions. It comes alive so you can connect with it,” Naomi said.

“And study Bibles are great because you have resources right there in your Bible. If you’re not sure about something, it’s explained right there. If you’re wondering how something applies to your life, you can find that too. And when you see how prophecies have been fulfilled, you have further proof that this is the Word of God.”

Her love of God’s Word is not just apparent, it’s attractive—like the warm, magnetic glow of a long-burning, consistently stoked fire.

Having grown up in a Christian home with a single mother and one brother, Naomi is thankful for a heritage that immersed her in the church and God’s Word.

“I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a Bible,” Naomi recalls. “I grew up dirt poor, but my mom always made sure we had Bibles. Beginner Bibles, Life Application youth Bibles—even if they cost a whole day’s wages. We would line the covers with contact paper to help preserve them and read them until the bindings fell apart.”

Naomi has had the joy of seeing Andrew grow exponentially in his faith since he’s been reading his new Bible. And though he also enjoys reading God’s Word digitally, she said, “There’s something about holding it in your hands. He definitely cherishes his new Bible.”

And what would Naomi say to people who don’t read the Bible or have given up on finding help in God’s Word?

“There are people who think the Bible isn’t applicable. I would encourage them to have a Bible that’s easy to read and to ask God to help show them what they are meant to see that day. And if you don’t have a hunger for reading the Bible, ask God to give you a hunger. You’ll be amazed at what happens if you pray!”

“Recently, I read an article about Christians and Jews in Ukraine praying and reading Psalms 31 and 27. They’re under attack by the Russian army and they’re reading Scripture while bunkered down in the subway. Why? Because they know whatever problem you face, whether it’s an attack on the battlefield, an illness, the loss of a family member, or maybe just struggling to find purpose, the Bible has an answer for that!

“If people are turning to the Bible while listening to air-raid sirens and hiding from actual missiles, surely it has something for you in your situation as well!

“I hear people say things like ‘I wish God would just speak to me’ or ‘I wish God would give me a word,’ but if you aren’t opening your Bible, you’re missing out on hearing His voice. The Bible isn’t just ‘a word’ it’s The Word. So if you want to hear from God, first pray, then open your Bible and start reading and listening to what He has to say.

“God is faithful. He never walks away from us. And if you are far away from God, it’s never too late to walk back.”

Looking for a Bible for yourself or to give as a gift? We can help! Check out our Bible Finder

What a joy to hear stories of people gaining a better understanding of God’s Word and growing in their relationship with Christ while using their Filament Bibles. We are excited to see the collection continue to grow and make God’s Word even more accessible. This spring, three new Filament lines are releasing, and this summer we are adding some amazing new covers to our full size and large print Thinline Reference Filament Bible lines. These are all in the New Living Translation and include free access to the Filament Bible app, which has study notes, devotionals, interactive graphics, videos, and more.

Filament Wide Margin Bibles

You wanted a journaling study Bible, and we made it happen! Filament Wide Margin Bibles feature single-column text and include 2.25” lightly ruled margins, making this Bible great for note-taking, journaling, and more. When used with the Filament Bible app, this Bible gives you access to incredible study notes, devotionals, and other amazing content without taking up valuable journaling space. It is available in brown, black, and ocean blue covers.

Filament Compact Giant Print

Filament Compact Giant Print Bibles bring you the best of portability and readability with a larger font in a smaller sized Bible. Like other compact editions of the New Living Translation, this Bible fits easily into a purse, backpack, briefcase, or suitcase. This Bible features the life-changing New Living Translation text in 10-point font with the words of Jesus in red. There are four different covers: rose gold, navy blue, brown cross, and peony teal.

Filament Super Giant Print

This Bible is amazing! Filament Super Giant Print Bibles have the largest font size in the line yet are still easy to carry with you. It’s an easy-to-read 16-point font Bible that isn’t as big as a door stop! This Bible truly is a marvel. It features the words of Jesus in red and is perfect for someone who needs that little extra help reading the text but still wants a portable Bible. It is available in brown, black, and peony teal.

Quick look at what’s coming this summer

More zipper covers!!!

This summer we are releasing three new covers in the Filament Large Print Thinline Reference line. One is a gorgeous green mountain LeatherLike. There will also be two new zipper covers—messenger brown and camel, and navy and pink floral.

Three new covers in the full size Filament Thinline Reference line also are releasing this summer. One is a messenger brown LeatherLike. There will also be two new zipper covers—sunset branches and atlas brown.

See all the Bibles in the Filament Bible Collection

Devotional from the DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible

“It’s an indescribable gift to be known and loved by you, exactly as I am. My heart is forever yours, Lord Jesus.”

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17, NLT.

No one on this earth knows you like you do. No one knows every memory you hold, every thought you think, every dream you tuck away. No one feels that painful lump in your throat when you’re fighting back tears, and no one knows exactly what it does to you when you hear a certain song or see a breathtaking sunset. No one on this earth knows.

But the One who made this earth knows you from the inside out . . .delights in your particular, quirky laugh . . . feels all the joy that moves through you . . . sits with you in silence when you have no words . . . and hears exactly what you’re saying with your heart.

Find peace in that today, dear one. Especially if you’re feeling disconnected, misunderstood, or underappreciated. You are known. Every little bit of you. And you are loved just exactly as you are.

by Shanna Noel and Paige Deruyscher,100 Days of Less Hustle, More Jesus

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible