4:7Deuteronomy 4:7

True greatness for a nation is to have God close at hand in everything asked of Him, together with righteous laws given directly from Him.COL 289.2–3+2 No other people possessed this ready access, for He is near and ready to answer whenever His people call upon Him.FE 478.1+2 That nearness belongs to those who listen, hold fast to Him and do their part as commanded, for obedience secures His presence.Ms 116, 1902, par. 21–27+2 Keeping those statutes without adding to or taking from them is wisdom and understanding before the nations, making His goodness, justice and love visible and showing the superiority of His government.COL 289.2–3+4 It remains the privilege of His people today on the same terms to fear, love and serve Him with all the heart and keep His commandments, that the world may testify He is near and is their understanding and strength.Ms 154, 1903, par. 33+2

National greatness is defined as having the living God near in everything called upon Him for, together with having statutes and judgments so righteous as the whole law set before Israel.COL 289.2–3+4 That close access distinguished Israel among the nations, for the Lord was near and answering whenever they called on Him.SG3 302.1–303.1+4 The nearness would be displayed when Israel kept and did those statutes and judgments in the land they went to possess and live in, and that keeping without adding to or diminishing from the word would be their wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, greater than all the wisdom of the Egyptians.COL 289.2–3+4 The nations hearing them would then recognize the superiority of those who served and worshiped the living God, regard their laws and discipline with admiration and wonder, and call them surely a wise and understanding great nation.COL 289.2–3+4 The laws given were noble, pure, just, wise, righteous and merciful, teaching how to love, fear and obey God, clearly portraying righteousness and foretelling the consequence of disloyalty, containing true science and not false science, and preserving harmony between person and person and between humanity and God.COL 289.2–3+3 They were to be hearkened to and done by cleaving unto the Lord, by taking heed and keeping the soul diligently, by not forgetting what was seen nor letting it depart from the heart, by keeping the Word as the man of counsel, and by teaching it to sons and sons' sons.COL 289.2–3+2 If Israel followed this instruction and cooperated with God in the culture of the soil, their land, cursed because of sin after Adam and Eve lost Eden, would be restored to fertility and beauty and made an object-lesson of spiritual truth.COL 289.2–3 As the earth in obedience to natural laws produced its treasures, so hearts in obedience to the moral law would reflect the attributes of His character, and Israel would prosper most when acknowledging Jehovah as King and honoring His laws.COL 289.2–3+1

The words were spoken by Moses in his last testimony before Israel possessed the land, not by his own authority but as statutes and judgments received directly from God through him.ST Mar 3, 1881 They belong to his instruction for entering and possessing the promised land, that obedience would make the nations recognize Israel as wise and understanding.Ms 92, 1899, par. 28–32+1 They recall how God spoke to Israel at Horeb and how the Lord came down on Mount Sinai before the mighty host, revealed His glory, communicated His will, gave His law, and made wonderful promises to be fulfilled if they would observe His commandments.ST May 13, 1886+2 No other nation was given rules of life so wise, righteous and merciful, and that giving was meant so Israel could make His principles known to every nation.ST Mar 3, 1881+1

During the wilderness journey Christ the Redeemer invisibly led Israel in the pillar of cloud, His presence enshrouded in cloud, giving directions first to Moses and then to Joshua so the people were led under heaven's direction and command.Ms 141, 1906, par. 29–30+2 That special presence and power displayed for Israel proved His nearness in manifesting His wishes unto them and in answering in all things called upon Him for in obedience.Ms 141, 1906, par. 29–30+2 He bore them through the wilderness for forty years to separate them from the idolatry of Egypt and other nations, providing so that shoes and garments did not wear out or wax old.Ms 146, 1906, par. 59–60 He taught them to obey God's law by both word and example, and willing obedience to His Word and commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath and righteousness in dealings with one another, would have brought great blessing and caused surrounding nations to look upon Israel as a great nation of wisdom.Ms 146, 1906, par. 59–60+1 Their life and prosperity depended on that obedience, for blessings asked in obedience will be granted, but God would not sustain them in transgression, and human rules displacing His commandments led them to disregard His requirements though the right way had been plainly revealed through the prophets and Christ.Ms 141, 1906, par. 29–30+1

The declaration stands with those surrounding nations in view and in contrast to them, for they had no faith in the true Redeemer and their worship was directed to idols and gods of their own choosing.ST Jun 17, 1880+2 Their superstition led to great extravagances such as human sacrifice to senseless idols to gain prosperity, like the idolatrous practices described among the Egyptians.ST Jun 17, 1880+1 Their laws were cruel in the extreme because made by men whose hearts were not softened by divine grace, passing over debasing crimes lightly while visiting small offenses with cruel punishment.ST Jun 17, 1880 By contrast God judges every case righteously and without partiality, and His righteous statutes and judgments with His nearness marked His government as superior to the governments of other nations.SG3 302.1–303.1+2 Keeping and doing what He commanded proves what nation is so great, exposes those who claim to speak for Christ while teaching people to break His holy law, and shows the value of His law.ST Jun 17, 1880+2

The greatness of the nation lies in this, that the Lord is nigh unto His people in all things that they call upon Him for, accessible and ready to answer whenever they call, and no other nation possesses such nearness and response.FE 478.1+4 This ready hearing when called upon is the distinguishing privilege set before the surrounding peoples, together with righteous law making Israel distinct and its witness as a wise people when it obeys.RH Aug 4, 1904+2 The nearness belongs to keeping His commands, for keeping is wisdom and understanding before the nations.Ms 66, 1902, par. 10–13+1

When those who need Him draw near to God, He draws near to them and His glory goes before them.Ms 15, 1903, par. 5+2 He waits to be called and then is a present help in every time of need, guiding prayer so that His people learn to ask for the things He has pledged to give.Ms 15, 1903, par. 5+2 He impresses minds and speaks through His servants to those who turn toward Him.Ms 83, 1910, par. 1+1 Closeness to Him is shown by relation to Him, not by pretensions or great claims, but by a humble and contrite heart willing to do His will, which brings courage and increased faith.Ms 83, 1910, par. 1+1

The promised access is for obedient children who hearken and cleave unto the Lord, fulfill their part as He commands, and remain separate, for obedience ensures His presence and gives influence among other peoples by showing an elevating and ennobling religion.Ms 116, 1902, par. 21–27+3 Having God nigh in all things called upon for was one of His promises to be fulfilled only on condition of obedience to His law, so that keeping the commandments enables His people to claim His assurance that He will answer when they call.Ms 116, 1902, par. 21–27+1 He is faithful to fulfill His part when they fulfill their part as commanded, and this is encouragement to keep thinking of Him and obeying Him.Lt 34, 1899, par. 34–38+1

He is nigh to keep and to bless, to grant the blessings asked in obedience, and to care for His people as healer of soul and body with health and prosperity and exaltation above other nations through living by heaven's principles.Ms 141, 1906, par. 29–30+2 During the wilderness journey their Redeemer was invisibly in the pillar of cloud, giving direction first through Moses and then through Joshua, leading under heaven's direction and command, bearing them forty years to separate them from idolatry and providing so that shoes and garments did not wear out.Ms 141, 1906, par. 29–30+1 Willing obedience to His word and commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath, would have brought great blessing and caused surrounding nations to regard Israel as a great nation of wisdom.Ms 146, 1906, par. 34–35+1 Had the law been kept, suffering and death, great loss of property, and calamity such as earthquake would not have come, for what He claims as His right is obedience, and in doing obedience His people may ask His blessing and He will give it.Ms 146, 1906, par. 34–35+1

The statutes and judgments set before Israel are noble, pure, just, wise, righteous and merciful, given directly from God and not by human authority, teaching how to love, fear and obey Him.CT 428.1+2 They clearly portray righteousness and foretell the consequence of disloyalty, they contain true science rather than false science, and they preserve harmony between person and person and between humanity and God.CT 428.1+2 Their justice was meant to show other nations the character of God, and their closeness to God whenever they called upon Him belonged together with this righteous law as the measure of national greatness.CT 428.1+2

Keeping and doing those statutes without adding to or diminishing from the word is Israel's wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, greater than all the wisdom of the Egyptians.RH Sep 5, 1907+2 This wisdom comes by hearkening, doing, cleaving unto the Lord, living and possessing the land given by God, keeping the commands and remaining separate from the world.RH Sep 5, 1907+2 When the surrounding nations hear these righteous laws they recognize Israel as specially blessed and say surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.CT 428.1+4 Nearness expressed in God's response to their appeals is thus joined to obedience that displays His wisdom and righteous law before other nations.Lt 95, 1899, par. 11–12+3

Living by that law makes His character, goodness, mercy, justice and love visible, shows religion as elevating and ennobling, and reveals the superiority of His government and of those who serve and worship Him.6T 12.1+3 As the earth in obedience to natural laws produces its treasures, so hearts in obedience to the moral law reflect the attributes of His character, and even the heathen then acknowledge Israel as a wise and understanding great nation.COL 289.2–3+1 Israel prospered most when it acknowledged Jehovah as King and honored His laws, and obedience would bring covenant mercy with love and blessing and increase and blessing above all people.ST May 7, 1902+1 Lifted from slavery to be a holy and peculiar treasure entrusted with priceless truth, Israel was by this obedience to preserve among men the knowledge of God and let the light of heaven shine into darkness.6T 12.1+1

The gift requires taking heed to self, keeping the soul diligently, not forgetting what was seen nor letting it depart from the heart, remembering what the eyes have seen, and teaching it to sons and sons' sons.CT 428.1+3 The Word is to be the man of counsel, studied as words of truth and righteousness and true science, kept in the heart and diligently passed to children and grandchildren.CT 428.1+2 Giving all attention to commercial business while leaving children untaught is contrary to that duty, for the teaching begins with personal faithfulness and serves the good of the soul through the time of Christ's return.5MR 78.4–80.1+1 With such special directions obedience is a cross that draws the line between loyal and disloyal, bearing testimony to allegiance to the Creator and to the truthfulness of the Sabbath.Lt 95, 1899, par. 11–12+1

Israel was lifted from slavery and brought out of Egyptian bondage to be claimed as a holy and peculiar treasure, highly favored and exalted above all peoples.ST May 7, 1902+2 God separated Israel from the customs, habits and practices of the world and brought the people near to Himself, setting them apart among the nations by His nearness when they called upon Him.PK 12.1+2 They were entrusted as depositaries of His law with priceless truth and a great and noble work of exalting His law and maintaining His authority, chosen to guard His law and share it with the world.PK 12.1+2 Their calling was to preserve among men the knowledge of Himself and His power and majesty as Creator and the only true God, letting the light of heaven shine into a world enshrouded in darkness.ST May 7, 1902+2 That light was to go out with a voice appealing to all peoples to turn from idolatry and idolatrous ways to serve the living God, remaining close to Him by obeying His statutes to receive His blessing and serve as a living witness.ST May 7, 1902+2

If Israel cooperated with God and kept and did His statutes and judgments in the land they went to possess, their greatness in having the living God near in everything called upon Him for would be displayed.COL 289.2–3+1 Their land, cursed because of sin after Adam and Eve lost Eden, would be restored to fertility and beauty under His instruction in the culture of the soil and made an object-lesson of spiritual truth.COL 289.2–3 As the earth in obedience to God's natural laws produced its treasures, so their hearts in obedience to His moral law would reflect the attributes of His character.COL 289.2–3 Obedience would bring covenant mercy with love and blessing and increase and blessing above all people, with care as healer of soul and body giving health and prosperity, with defense and exaltation above other nations.ST May 7, 1902+2 Keeping His commandments would bring an elevation of life and character that even the heathen world would recognize and commend, acknowledging Israel as a wise and understanding great nation and recognizing the superiority of those who served and worshiped the living God, fulfilling their high privilege as His representatives and His praise and glory.COL 289.2–3+2

Even the order and harmony of the camp and the holiness reflected in the tabernacle were intended to make God's majesty and purity visible, showing what He desired His people to be and revealing the character of the true God to surrounding nations.GW92 308.2 Israel had received God's commandments, statutes, judgments and oracles so that its faith would be shared with all peoples and God's glory revealed to the nations.Ms 128, 1899, par. 15 By beholding the goodness, mercy, justice and love of God revealed in His church, the world was to have a representation of His character, and when the law was thus exemplified in life even the world would recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people.STB 834.1

God remained faithful to Israel, pardoning transgressions and keeping them as His people, yet their distrust and disobedience hindered the display of His power and kept Him from bringing them into Canaan as a prosperous, holy and happy people honoring Him before the nations.ST Mar 3, 1881 His nearness, ready to hear and help whenever called upon, could have made the nation a witness to the surrounding peoples.ST Mar 3, 1881

He desired by that nearness to make them a praise and a glory, finding wisdom and understanding in obedience to His law, with an elevation of life and character that even the heathen world would recognize and commend as befitting His representatives.ST May 7, 1902 Israel did not fulfill this purpose but forgot God, and through disobedience developed a character exactly opposite to what obedience would have produced.ST May 7, 1902 While firm in allegiance His commandments were not grievous and the law was their delight, but when separated to serve evil and the prince of evil they became conscious of inability to execute heaven's holy enactments, and the law became an unendurable weight.ST May 7, 1902

Their greatness lay in having God nigh in all things called upon Him for, joined to statutes and judgments so righteous as no other nation had.ST Jan 6, 1888 Moses' question is a solemn charge to take heed, keep the soul diligently, not forget what the eyes had seen nor let it depart from the heart all the days of life, but teach it to sons and sons' sons.ST Jan 6, 1888 That charge comes to later believers with accumulated force and greater obligation and increased responsibility, because the record of Israel's experiences teaches avoidance of their errors and profit from their mistakes.ST Jan 6, 1888 Their departures, backslidings, murmurings and sins, with judgment in the destruction of the guilty, stand as warnings to escape the paths of transgression, while the rich rewards and blessings bestowed upon the obedient encourage following the way of the Lord and delighting in His testimonies.ST Jan 6, 1888 The commendation of the faithful shows how highly He values peculiarity of character in those who render perfect obedience to His holy laws, whose spiritual excellence appears in words and works as branches of the living vine and partakers of the divine nature.ST Jan 6, 1888

Entrusted to preserve the knowledge of God and His law and to reveal the superiority of His government, they would have been defended and exalted had they been faithful.ST Sep 30, 1886 Their unfaithfulness instead brought them into captivity, where they spread the knowledge of the true God among other nations.ST Sep 30, 1886 Walking according to the law promotes a people's reputation for wisdom and understanding, yet the truth may be refused because it requires sacrifice and sets its receivers apart from the world.Ms 58, 1900, par. 43–46 The requirements and commandments are His expressed will, to be obeyed, kept in remembrance, and even framed into song and sung in the congregations lest they be forgotten, and keeping them is tied to perfection of Christian character being attainable.18MR 353.1–4 Transgression brings the sure result of curse and disease upon the earth itself, upon cattle and upon all flesh, with human beings and beasts suffering from departing from the commandments.18MR 353.1–4 Led in the wilderness and taught by word and example to obey, Israel's life and prosperity depended on obedience to the statutes and judgments, including righteousness in dealings with one another, for God would not sustain them in transgression.Ms 127, 1899, par. 50–51 Human rules displacing His commandments led to disregard of His requirements, though the right way had been plainly revealed through the prophets and Christ.Ms 127, 1899, par. 50–51

What made Israel great still belongs to Christian churches today, for on the same terms of fearing, loving and serving God with all heart and soul and keeping His commandments they may receive every spiritual advantage He has promised.Ms 65, 1912, par. 33–36 The testimony He desires the world to give about His people now is that He is near them whenever they call, and that He is their understanding and strength.Ms 83, 1910, par. 2–4+1 That nearness goes with statutes and judgments so righteous as all His law, and keeping and doing them without forgetting what has been seen, but taking heed, keeping the soul diligently, and teaching them to sons and sons' sons, is wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations, so that beholders call them a wise and understanding great nation.Ms 154, 1903, par. 33+1 His purpose in bringing them out of bondage is still His purpose today, to separate them from the customs, habits and practices of the world and bring them nearer to Himself that He may make His will known to them, in order to manifest through them the principles of His kingdom in life and character.STB 834.1+1 By beholding the goodness, mercy, justice and love of God revealed in His church the world is to have a representation of His character, and when the law is thus exemplified in life even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people.STB 834.1+1 In every age that witness means obeying Him, using abilities and resources for His work, and letting the light of truth reach the world.Lt 237, 1904, par. 15–18

The chapter to which the verse belongs is urged for careful study by those who would be God's covenant-keeping people, as connected with observing the law proclaimed at Sinai, including His true Sabbath.Lt 6, 1909, par. 5 Its directions are sacred truth to be lived out in religious service toward God and one another, its specifications express His mind, remain in force, and are to be cherished and obeyed.Ms 40, 1891, par. 42–45 The Old Testament history to which it belongs shows Him blessing those who obey His statutes, judgments and commandments and declaring Himself near to His people when they call upon Him.Lt 116, 1906, par. 1 It describes a people who are to be obedient throughout history, including in the last days until Christ's return.Ms 187, 1907, par. 2 That obedience begins with personal faithfulness and serves the good of the soul, and it includes the duty of teaching children and grandchildren God's requirements by sacred repetition, so that giving all attention to commercial business while leaving children untaught is contrary to that duty.Ms 187, 1907, par. 3–4

The assurance that He is nigh in all things called upon Him for is meant to support a living faith and active service to God.Ms 131, 1907, par. 21–25 He is near and ready to help in every time of need, and when people turn toward Him He draws near, impresses their minds, and may speak to them through His servants.Ms 83, 1910, par. 2–4 Their nearness to Him becomes a witness to other nations, for obedience and relation to Him show that He is their understanding and strength, and this witness comes not from great claims but from a humble, contrite heart and a willingness to do His will, which relation brings courage and increased faith.Ms 83, 1910, par. 2–4 Coming in submission to God brings His converting power every day, and that wisdom of keeping and doing His commandments is the highest education human beings can obtain.Ms 84, 1910, par. 47–48 He gives wisdom to those willing to learn from Him and work with Him, and as they use what He gives they gain further wisdom and understanding and learn to overcome difficulties.Lt 41, 1899, par. 12–15 Because He is nigh His people are a wise and understanding people, fitted to stand upon the highest eminence and not to be regarded as inferior in scientific medical knowledge, for in the strength of Him who is the source of all wisdom and grace all defects and ignorance may be overcome.CT 476.2

That nearness with His Spirit and favor is given to those who will work, meaning walking in the light by joining faith with works.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11 It means doing the practical medical missionary service He has specified and educating workers to do service, which fulfills what He requires, while carelessly neglecting the light and failing to work leaves a wrong example.Lt 55, 1897, par. 9–11

With such special directions obedience is a cross to lift and draws the line of separation between the loyal and the disloyal, bearing testimony to allegiance to the Creator and Governor of the world and to the truthfulness of the Sabbath.5MR 78.4–80.1 Obedience to the Sabbath, including the seventh-day Sabbath sanctified and blessed by God, is a public sign of loyalty to Him even when keeping it brings sacrifice.5MR 78.4–80.1+1 Fathers cannot repeat these words of Moses while accompanying their children to the schoolroom or academy on the Sabbath or any part of it, or while consenting to their attending school on the Sabbath as on a common weekday.5MR 78.4–80.1 Willing obedience to His word and commandments would have brought great blessing and caused the surrounding nations to look upon Israel as a great nation of wisdom.Ms 146, 1906, par. 59–60 His bearing them through the wilderness for forty years to separate them from the idolatry of Egypt and other nations, providing so that shoes and garments did not wear out and leading them by His presence enshrouded in cloud, proves this nearness and care.Ms 146, 1906, par. 59–60 If the law had been kept, suffering and death, great loss of property, and calamity such as earthquake would not have come, for He is nigh to keep and to bless His people, and in doing obedience as searching out what He has said shows to be His right, people can ask Him for His blessing and He will give it.Ms 146, 1906, par. 34–35 Laboring for a first-day law forbidding work on the first day insults Jehovah.Ms 146, 1906, par. 34–35