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 89:1
"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."
"goodness, And shall sing of Thy righteousness.... MH 435.3"
Both passages speak of singing praises to God and His righteousness/mercies. While not a direct quote, the theme is clearly echoed.
Psalms 89:3
"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,"
"“I have sworn unto David My servant ... with whom My hand shall be established: Mine arm also shall strengthen him.... My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto Me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him My first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forevermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.” Psalm 89:3-28 . PP 755.1"
EGW directly quotes Psalm 89:3 and references the surrounding verses, making this a clear explicit allusion.
Psalms 89:3-4
"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah."
"Glorious are the promises made to David and his house, promises that look forward to the eternal ages, and find their complete fulfillment in Christ. The Lord declared: PP 754.7"
Both passages refer to the covenant with David and the establishment of his throne forever. EGW's statement about the promises finding fulfillment in Christ aligns with the understanding of these promises in Christian theology.
Psalms 89:3-28
"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him."
"“I have sworn unto David My servant ... with whom My hand shall be established: Mine arm also shall strengthen him.... My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto Me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him My first-born, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forevermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him.” Psalm 89:3-28 . PP 755.1"
Ellen White directly references Psalms 89:3-28 in this passage.
Psalms 89:5-7
"And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him."
"The Majesty of God As John meditated upon the glory of God displayed in His works, he was overwhelmed with the greatness and majesty of the Creator. Should all the inhabitants of this little world refuse obedience to God, He would not be left without glory. He could sweep every mortal from the face of the earth in a moment, and create a new race to people it and glorify His name. God is not dependent on man for honor. He could marshal the starry hosts of heaven, the millions of worlds above, to raise a song of honor and praise and glory to their Creator. “The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” ( Psalm 89:5-7 ). SL 76"
Ellen White directly references Psalms 89:5-7 in this passage.
Psalms 89:7
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him."
"Another precious grace that should be carefully cherished is reverence. True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened. Ed 242.4"
Both passages connect reverence with the presence of God, particularly in the context of worship or assembly. Psalms 89:7 speaks of God being revered in the assembly of the saints, while EGW discusses teaching children to regard worship as sacred because God is there. This is a valid thematic parallel.
"Humility and reverence should characterize the deportment of all who come into the presence of God. In the name of Jesus we may come before Him with confidence, but we must not approach Him with the boldness of presumption, as though He were on a level with ourselves. There are those who address the great and all- powerful and holy God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, as they would address an equal, or even an inferior. There are those who conduct themselves in His house as they would not presume to do in the audience chamber of an earthly ruler. These should remember that they are in His sight whom seraphim adore, before whom angels veil their faces. God is greatly to be reverenced; all who truly realize His presence will bow in humility before Him, and, like Jacob beholding the vision of God, they will cry out, “How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” PP 252.1"
Both passages emphasize the reverence due to God. The EGW passage expands on this theme, providing examples of how people should conduct themselves in God's presence and referencing Jacob's experience at Bethel.
Psalms 89:13-18
"Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king."
"“Strong is Thy hand, and high is Thy right hand. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of Thy throne: Mercy and truth go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name do they rejoice all the day: And in Thy righteousness are they exalted. For Thou art the glory of their strength: ... For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah, And our king to the Holy One.” Psalm 89:13-18 , R.V. [Note: In this text and in some other Bible quotations used in this book the word “Jehovah” is employed instead of “Lord,” as rendered in the American Supplement to the Revised Version.] PP 33.3"
Ellen White directly references Psalms 89:13-18 in this passage.
Psalms 89:14
"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."
"The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By Him were all things created, ... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 . Angels are God's ministers, radiant with the light ever flowing from His presence and speeding on rapid wing to execute His will. But the Son, the anointed of God, the “express image of His person,” “the brightness of His glory,” “upholding all things by the word of His power,” holds supremacy over them all. Hebrews 1:3 . “A glorious high throne from the beginning,” was the place of His sanctuary ( Jeremiah 17:12 ); “a scepter of righteousness,” the scepter of His kingdom. Hebrews 1:8 . “Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalm 96:6 . Mercy and truth go before His face. Psalm 89:14 . PP 34.2"
Ellen White directly references Psalms 89:14 in this passage.
"To understand these things,—to understand that “righteousness exalteth a nation;” that “the throne is established by righteousness” and “upholden by mercy” ( Proverbs 14:34 ; 16:12 ; Proverbs 20:28 ); to recognize the outworking of these principles in the manifestation of His power who “removeth kings, and setteth up kings” ( Daniel 2:21 ),—this is to understand the philosophy of history. Ed 175.1"
EGW directly quotes Proverbs and alludes to Daniel, then connects these to the concept of understanding history. Psalms 89:14 shares the theme of justice, judgment, mercy, and truth being foundational to a throne, which aligns with the principles EGW discusses. The connection is strong and direct.
"Mercy and truth are promised to the humble and penitent, but judgments are prepared for the sinful and rebellious. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne.” A wicked and adulterous people will not escape the wrath of God and the punishment they have justly earned. Man has fallen; and it will be the work of a lifetime, be it longer or shorter, to recover from that fall, and regain, through Christ, the image of the divine, which he lost by sin and continued transgression. God requires a thorough transformation of soul, body, and spirit in order to regain the estate lost through Adam. The Lord mercifully sends rays of light to show man his true condition. If he will not walk in the light he manifests a pleasure in darkness. He will not come to the light lest his deeds shall be reproved. 2T 448.1"
EGW directly quotes Psalms 89:14, making it an explicit allusion. The surrounding text reinforces the themes of justice, mercy, and judgment.
"“Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating the justice of God. The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the divine justice from the divine benevolence, to sink benevolence into a sentiment rather than exalt it into a principle. The new theological prism puts asunder what God has joined together. Is the divine law a good or an evil? It is a good. Then justice is good; for it is a disposition to execute the law. From the habit of underrating the divine law and justice, the extent and demerit of human disobedience, men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the grace which has provided an atonement for sin.” Thus the gospel loses its value and importance in the minds of men, and soon they are ready practically to cast aside the Bible itself. GC 465.3"
The EGW passage discusses the separation of divine justice and benevolence. Psalm 89:14 states that justice and judgment are the habitation of God's throne, and mercy and truth go before His face. This is a strong thematic parallel, as both passages connect justice and mercy as essential attributes of God.
"“Then I further dwelt upon the supreme rulership of God above all earthly rulers. His law is to be the standard of action. Men are forbidden to pervert their senses by intemperance, or by yielding their minds to satanic influences; for this makes impossible the keeping of God's law. While the divine Ruler bears long with perversity, He is not deceived, and will not always keep silence. His supremacy, His authority as Ruler of the universe, must finally be acknowledged, and the just claims of His law vindicated. LS 408.3"
Both passages address God's rulership, justice, and the importance of His law. The EGW passage focuses on obedience to God's law and the consequences of disobedience, while Psalm 89:14 highlights justice and judgment as the foundation of God's throne.
Psalms 89:19
"Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people."
"There is no power in any man to remedy the defective character. Individually our hope and trust must be in One who is more than human. We need ever to remember that help has been laid on One who is mighty. The Lord has provided the needed help for every soul who will accept it. 9T 280.2"
The EGW passage directly alludes to the concept of 'help...laid on One who is mighty,' which is a clear reference to Psalm 89:19. The connection is strong and intentional.
Psalms 89:29
"His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven."
"“His seed also will I make to endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.” Psalm 89:29 . PP 755.2"
EGW directly quotes Psalm 89:29, making this an explicit allusion.
Psalms 89:31-33
"If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."
Had God permitted David to go on unrebuked in sin, and while transgressing the divine precepts, to remain in peace and prosperity upon his throne, the skeptic and infidel might have had some excuse for citing the history of David as a reproach to the religion of the Bible. But in the experience through which He caused David to pass, the Lord shows that He cannot tolerate or excuse sin. And David's history enables us to see also the great ends which God has in view in His dealings with sin; it enables us to trace, even through darkest judgments, the working out of His purposes of mercy and beneficence. He caused David to pass under the rod, but He did not destroy him; the furnace is to purify, but not to consume. The Lord says, “If they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.” Psalm 89:31-33 . …
Ellen White directly references Psalms 89:31-33 in this passage.
Psalms 89:33
"Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."
"***** For His own name's sake, God will not permit the froward and the independent to carry out their unsanctified plans. He will visit them for their perversity of action. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21 . But in His judgments the Lord will remember mercy. He declares: 8T 219.1"
Both passages deal with God's mercy even in judgment. While not a direct quote, the sentiment expressed in Psalms 89:33 aligns with EGW's statement that 'in His judgments the Lord will remember mercy'.
"But My loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, Neither shall My covenant of peace be removed, Saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10 , A.R.V. MH 72.4"
Both passages speak of God's lovingkindness not being taken away, but the wording is different enough that it's not a direct allusion.
Psalms 89:34
"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."
"God will not break His covenant, nor alter the thing that has gone out of His lips. His word will stand fast forever as unalterable as His throne. At the judgment this covenant will be brought forth, plainly written with the finger of God, and the world will be arraigned before the bar of Infinite Justice to receive sentence. PK 187.1 Today, as in the days of Elijah, the line of demarcation between God's commandment-keeping people and the worshipers of false gods is clearly drawn. “How long halt ye between two opinions?” Elijah cried; “if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21 . And the message for today is: “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.... Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:2, 4, 5 . PK 187.2"
EGW directly quotes and references Psalm 89:34, emphasizing the unchangeable nature of God's covenant.