"corrupting maxims and customs and excitements, they would come nearer to the heart of nature. God's presence would be more real to them. Many would learn the lesson of dependence upon Him. Through nature they would hear His voice speaking to their hearts of His peace and love, and mind and soul and body would respond to the healing, life-giving power. MH 192.1"
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
Both passages highlight the connection between nature and God. Psalm 19:1 states that the heavens declare God's glory. EGW suggests that being closer to nature allows people to hear God's voice and experience His peace and love, leading to healing and life-giving power. The connection is the idea that nature reveals God's presence and character.
"If they ever become industrious and self-supporting, very many must have assistance, encouragement, and instruction. There are multitudes of poor families for whom no better missionary work could be done than to assist them in settling on the land and in learning how to make it yield them a livelihood. MH 192.2"
"For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle of helping the poor as commanded in Deuteronomy 15:11, specifically by providing means for self-sufficiency.
"The need for such help and instruction is not confined to the cities. Even in the country, with all its possibilities for a better life, multitudes of the poor are in great need. Whole communities are devoid of education in industrial and sanitary lines. Families live in hovels, with scant furniture and clothing, without tools, without books, destitute both of comforts and conveniences and of means of culture. Imbruted souls, bodies weak and ill-formed, reveal the results of evil heredity and of wrong habits. These people must be educated from the very foundation. They have led shiftless, idle, corrupt lives, and they need to be trained to correct habits. MH 192.3"
"Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
The description of the poor and needy in both cities and the countryside, lacking basic necessities, echoes the call to care for the needy and provide for their basic needs in Isaiah 58:7.