EGW → Biblical Foundation
Select an Ellen White book from the sidebar to see each passage mapped to the Bible verses it amplifies, cites, or echoes.
Scripture Index
Ellen White & Bible Cross-Reference
Jeremiah 5:3
"O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return."
"“Why,” the Lord inquired, “is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?” Jeremiah 8:5 . In the language of the prophet it was because they had obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God and had refused to be corrected. See Jeremiah 5:3 . “Truth is perished,” he mourned, “and is cut off from their mouth.” “The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but My people know not the judgment of the Lord.” “Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord: shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” Jeremiah 7:28 ; 8:7 ; Jeremiah 9:9 . PK 414.3"
EGW directly references Jeremiah 5:3 and summarizes its content.
"The Jewish forces, pursuing after Cestius and his army, fell upon their rear with such fierceness as to threaten them with total destruction. It was with great difficulty that the Romans succeeded in making their retreat. The Jews escaped almost without loss, and with their spoils returned in triumph to Jerusalem. Yet this apparent success brought them only evil. It inspired them with that spirit of stubborn resistance to the Romans which speedily brought unutterable woe upon the doomed city. GC 31.1"
The EGW passage describes the Jews' stubborn resistance to correction, which is mirrored in Jeremiah 5:3. Both passages highlight a refusal to repent despite warnings.
"The second year of famine passed, and still the pitiless heavens gave no sign of rain. Drought and famine continued their devastation throughout the kingdom. Fathers and mothers, powerless to relieve the sufferings of their children, were forced to see them die. Yet still apostate Israel refused to humble their hearts before God and continued to murmur against the man by whose word these terrible judgments had been brought upon them. They seemed unable to discern in their suffering and distress a call to repentance, a divine interposition to save them from taking the fatal step beyond the boundary of Heaven's forgiveness. PK 127.1"
Both passages describe the people's refusal to repent despite being afflicted by God. Jeremiah 5:3 speaks of their hardened hearts, while the EGW passage describes their inability to see the famine as a call to repentance.
Jeremiah 5:9
"Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"
"The Lord says, “Shall I not visit for these things?” Jeremiah 5:9 . Because they failed of fulfilling God's purpose, the children of Israel were set aside, and God's call was extended to other peoples. If these too prove unfaithful, will they not in like manner be rejected? COL 304.2"
Ellen White directly references Jeremiah 5:9 in this passage.
Jeremiah 5:23
"But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone."
"But the dangers from without, overwhelming though they seemed, were not so serious as the dangers from within. It was the perversity of his people that brought to the Lord's servant the greatest perplexity and the deepest depression. By their apostasy and rebellion those who should have been standing as light bearers among the nations were inviting the judgments of God. Many of the evils which were hastening the swift destruction of the northern kingdom, and which had recently been denounced in unmistakable terms by Hosea and Amos, were fast corrupting the kingdom of Judah. PK 305.3"
Both passages describe the rebellious nature of the people. The EGW passage mentions apostasy and rebellion, while Jeremiah 5:23 speaks of a revolting and rebellious heart. The connection is valid and supports the overall theme.
Jeremiah 5:31
"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
"church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin- loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it. GC 606.2"
Both passages describe false prophets and priests who lead people astray, and the people's willingness to accept it. The EGW passage expands on the consequences and motivations, but the core theme of corrupted religious leadership is present in both.
"Chapter 27—Ahaz The accession of Ahaz to the throne brought Isaiah and his associates face to face with conditions more appalling than any that had hitherto existed in the realm of Judah. Many who had formerly withstood the seductive influence of idolatrous practices were now being persuaded to take part in the worship of heathen deities. Princes in Israel were proving untrue to their trust; false prophets were arising with messages to lead astray; even some of the priests were teaching for hire. Yet the leaders in apostasy still kept up the forms of divine worship and claimed to be numbered among the people of God. PK 322"
Both passages describe corrupt religious leaders (prophets and priests) leading the people astray. The EGW passage describes the situation during Ahaz's reign, while the Jeremiah verse is a general condemnation of such practices. The connection is thematic, focusing on the corruption of religious leadership.