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
Psalms 42:1
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
"heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” [ Psalm 42:1 ; 119:40, 174 ; Psalm 84:2 .] GW 257.2"
Ellen White directly references Psalms 42:1 in this passage.
In the Last Days The closing scenes of this earth's history are portrayed in the closing of the rich man's history. The rich man claimed to be a son of Abraham, but he was separated from Abraham by an impassable gulf—a character wrongly developed. Abraham served God, following His word in faith and obedience. But the rich man was unmindful of God and of the needs of suffering humanity. The great gulf fixed between him and Abraham was the gulf of disobedience. There are many today who are following the same course. Though church members, they are unconverted. They may take part in the church service, they may chant the psalm, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God” ( Psalm 42:1 ); but they testify to a falsehood. They are no more righteous in God's sight than is the veriest sinner. The soul that longs after the excitement of worldly pleasure, the mind that is full of love for display, cannot serve God. Like the rich man in the parable, such a o…
Ellen White directly references Psalms 42:1 in this passage.
"There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.” “I have longed after Thy precepts;” “I have longed for Thy salvation.” “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments.” This is the spirit of wrestling prayer, such as was possessed by the royal psalmist. 4T 534.2"
EGW directly quotes Psalm 42:1.
"How often in spiritual experience is this history repeated! how often by words of holy song are unsealed in the soul the springs of penitence and faith, of hope and love and joy! Ed 162.8"
Both passages deal with the soul's longing and finding solace, though the EGW passage is broader, encompassing penitence, faith, hope, love, and joy, while the Psalm focuses on longing for God. The connection is thematic but not a direct allusion.
Psalms 42:2
"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"
"With such a prospect as this before us, such a glorious hope, such a redemption that Christ has purchased for us by His own blood, shall we hold our peace? Shall we not praise God even with a loud voice, as did the disciples when Jesus rode into Jerusalem? Is not our prospect far more glorious than was theirs? Who dare then forbid us glorifying God, even with a loud voice, when we have such a hope, big with immortality, and full of glory? We have tasted of the powers of the world to come, and long for more. My whole being cries out after the living God, and I shall not be satisfied until I am filled with all His fullness. EW 110.2"
Both passages express a deep longing and thirst for God.
Psalms 42:5
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
"“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: For I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, And my God.” Ed 164.5"
The EGW passage directly quotes Psalm 42:5.
"It is not wise to gather together all the unpleasant recollections of a past life,—its iniquities and disappointments,—to talk over them and mourn over them until we are overwhelmed with discouragement. A discouraged soul is filled with darkness, shutting out the light of God from his own soul and casting a shadow upon the pathway of others. SC 117.3"
Both passages address discouragement and its impact on the soul. The Psalm directly questions the soul's downcast state, while EGW describes the effects of dwelling on negative thoughts, leading to discouragement. Both offer a solution: hope in God and avoiding dwelling on negativity, respectively.
"All these things weighed heavily upon my spirits, and in the confusion I was sometimes tempted to doubt my own experience. LS 89.2"
Both passages express feelings of being downcast and disquieted in spirit. While the specific circumstances differ, the shared emotional state creates a valid thematic parallel.
"Many times in those childhood days I was made to feel my misfortune keenly. My feelings were unusually sensitive and caused me great unhappiness. Often with wounded pride, mortified and wretched in spirit, I sought a lonely place and gloomily pondered over the trials I was doomed daily to bear. 1T 12.1"
Both passages deal with a downcast spirit and internal struggle. The EGW passage describes her feelings of unhappiness and the Psalms verse questions why the soul is cast down. While not a direct quote or allusion, the thematic overlap is clear.
None should go along shrinking and trembling, under continual doubt, sowing their path with complainings; but all should look up to God and see His goodness and rejoice in His love. Summon all your powers to look up, not down at your difficulties; then you will never faint by the way. You will soon see Jesus behind the cloud, reaching out His hand to help you; and all you have to do is to give Him your hand in simple faith and let Him lead you. As you become trustful you will, through faith in Jesus, become hopeful. The light shining from the cross of Calvary will reveal to you God's estimate of the soul, and, appreciating that estimate, you will seek to reflect the light to the world. A great name among men is as letters traced in sand, but a spotless character will endure to all eternity. God gives you intelligence and a reasoning mind, whereby you may grasp His promises; and Jesus is ready to help you in forming a strong, symmetrical character. Those who possess such a character nee…
Both passages address feelings of being downcast and encourage hope in God.
"Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour's presence, we shall have health and His blessing. MH 254.8"
Both passages address discouragement and suggest a remedy through praise/song and hope in God. While not a direct quote, the thematic parallel is clear and relevant.
"But while we do not accept their version of our case as the reason for our afflictions, while we maintain that God has appointed us to a more trying work than He has others, we acknowledge with humility of soul and with repentance that our faith and courage have been severely tried and that we have sometimes failed to trust wholly in Him who has appointed us our work. When we gather courage again, after sore disappointment and trials, we deeply regret that we ever distrusted God, gave way to human weaknesses, and permitted discouragement to cloud our faith and lessen our confidence in God. I have been shown that God's ancient servants suffered disappointments and discouragements as well as we poor mortals. We were in good company; nevertheless this did not excuse us. 3T 260.3"
Both passages deal with feelings of being downcast and the importance of maintaining hope in God despite difficulties. The EGW passage speaks of discouragement and loss of confidence, while Psalm 42:5 questions why the soul is cast down and encourages hope in God. The connection lies in the shared theme of overcoming despair through faith.
Psalms 42:7
"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me."
"In the voice of many waters—deep calling unto deep—the prophet heard the voice of the Creator. The sea, lashed to fury by the merciless winds, represented to him the wrath of an offended God. The mighty waves, in their most terrible commotion restrained within the limits appointed by an invisible hand, spoke to John of an infinite power controlling the deep. And in contrast he saw and felt the folly of feeble mortals, but worms of the dust, who glory in their wisdom and strength and set their hearts against the Ruler of the universe, as though God were altogether such a one as themselves. How blind and senseless is human pride! One hour of God's blessing in the sunshine and rain upon the earth will do more to change the face of nature than man with all his boasted knowledge and persevering efforts can accomplish during a lifetime. SL 73.2"
Both passages connect the sound and power of water with God's power and presence. The 'deep calling unto deep' phrase is central to the connection.
"breaking forth of the waters, brought vividly to his mind the terrors of that awful outpouring of God's wrath. In the voice of many waters—deep calling unto deep—the prophet heard the voice of the Creator. The sea, lashed to fury by the merciless winds, represented to him the wrath of an offended God. The mighty waves, in their terrible commotion, restrained within limits appointed by an invisible hand, spoke of the control of an infinite Power. And in contrast he realized the weakness and folly of mortals, who, though but worms of the dust, glory in their supposed wisdom and strength, and set their hearts against the Ruler of the universe, as if God were altogether such a one as themselves. By the rocks he was reminded of Christ, the Rock of his strength, in whose shelter he could hide without fear. From the exiled apostle on rocky Patmos there went up the most ardent longing of soul after God, the most fervent prayers. AA 572.1"
EGW directly references the concept of 'deep calling unto deep' and connects it to the 'voice of many waters,' which is a clear allusion to Psalm 42:7.
Psalms 42:11
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
"me. I knew that it was impossible for me to live long in this state, and I dared not die and meet the terrible fate of the sinner. With what envy did I regard those who realized their acceptance with God! How precious did the Christian's hope seem to my agonized soul! 1T 26.2"
Both passages describe a soul that is cast down and disquieted. The EGW passage describes her agonized soul, while the Psalm asks why the soul is cast down.