"When men's hearts are softened and subdued by the constraining influence of the Holy Spirit, they will give heed to counsel; but when they turn from admonition until their hearts become hardened, the Lord permits them to be led by other influences. Refusing the truth, they accept falsehood, which becomes a snare to their own destruction. PK 425.1"
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
The EGW passage directly echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 29:1 regarding the consequences of hardening one's heart against reproof. The phrase 'hardened...destruction' is a clear parallel.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
Both passages discuss the consequences of rejecting God and being given over to negative influences. The EGW passage speaks of being led by 'other influences' and accepting 'falsehood,' while Romans 1:28 describes being 'given over to a reprobate mind.' The connection is thematic, focusing on the result of rejecting God's guidance.
"God had pleaded with Judah not to provoke Him to anger, but they had hearkened not. Finally sentence was pronounced against them. They were to be led away captive to Babylon. The Chaldeans were to be used as the instrument by which God would chastise His disobedient people. The sufferings of the men of Judah were to be in proportion to the light they had had and to the warnings they had despised and rejected. Long had God delayed His judgments, but now He would visit His displeasure upon them as a last effort to check them in their evil course. PK 425.2"
"And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;"
Both passages describe God's repeated warnings to Judah and their failure to listen, leading to judgment. Jeremiah 7:13 specifically mentions God speaking and the people not hearing, which aligns with EGW's statement that 'God had pleaded...but they had hearkened not.'
"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."
Both passages describe the consequences of Judah's rejection of God's messengers and warnings, leading to divine wrath and judgment. 2 Chronicles 36:16 explicitly mentions mocking the messengers and despising God's words, which is reflected in EGW's statement about Judah not hearkening and sentence being pronounced.
"Upon the house of the Rechabites was pronounced a continued blessing. The prophet declared, “Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before Me forever.” Verses 18, 19 . Thus God taught His people that faithfulness and obedience would be reflected back upon Judah in blessing, even as the Rechabites were blessed for obedience to their father's command. PK 425.3"
"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God."
The EGW passage directly references Jeremiah 35:18-19, highlighting the Rechabites' obedience and the resulting blessing. While Deuteronomy 28:2 speaks of blessings for obedience, the EGW passage uses the Rechabites as a specific example, making the connection more than just a general thematic parallel. The confidence is increased due to the direct reference to the Jeremiah passage.
"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"
While the EGW passage focuses on the Rechabites, it uses their example to illustrate the principle found in Deuteronomy 5:29: that obedience to God's commands leads to blessings for oneself and one's descendants. The connection is a direct application of the principle of obedience and its rewards.