40:26Isaiah 40:26

Lift up the eyes to the night sky to behold God as Maker, for He created the heavenly host and brings out the stars in their ordered multitude by number, calling each one by its name.ED 115.5+4 By the greatness of His might and strength of power He upholds and sustains them all, so that not one is missing or fails and none leaves its appointed course.ED 115.5+2 This complete and orderly host displays His supreme greatness and unfailing power, to whom none can be likened or made equal, and because He alone is Creator He alone deserves reverence and worship, and must not be worshiped through any creature or image.STGC 4.2–3+4 The Sabbath is appointed as the reminder, memorial and sign of that creative power.DA 282.2+2 His care and power over creation assure His people that their way is not hidden or forgotten, for He does not grow weary but gives strength to the faint and renews those who wait on Him.ED 115.5+4

The call is addressed to the cities of Judah in the message Behold your God, bidding people to lift up their eyes on high to behold God as Maker.Ms 2, 1899, par. 11+2 It is an invitation to quiet, awe-filled gazing at the dark, star-speckled night sky, to look at the heavens and recognize the Creator there.Ms 2, 1899, par. 11+2 The meaning is that God created the heavenly host and brings out the stars in their ordered multitude by number, calling each one by its name.ED 115.5+4 He orders the celestial host, knows each one by name, and brings them forth in order.8T 39.3+4

By the greatness of His might and strength of power He upholds and sustains them all, so that not one is missing or fails.ED 115.5+4 None leaves its appointed course, and their orderly march and continued place depend on His active care.ED 115.5+2 Their preservation is not by power inherent in the created mechanism, and the planets do not move by independent power, but by His great strength every one is sustained.ED 115.5+2 The ordered, complete host displays His supreme greatness, unfailing power, limitless might, knowledge and wisdom.STGC 4.2–3+4 He is the Holy One to whom none can be likened, made equal, or compared with anything or anyone.PK 315.2+2

Finite beings cannot comprehend God, and His creative power, wisdom, purposes, judgment and love are past finding out and unsearchable by finite minds.HL 293.3–295.1+4 His might and power are beyond human ability, and the vastness of creation shows the limits of human wisdom even in the common things of daily life and in the mechanism of the human body.ST May 12, 1909+2 Its inspired questions were asked not because people could answer them but to call attention to deep mysteries, to make known that human wisdom is limited, and to command faith, reverence and whole trust of the soul in Him.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13 God shrouds Himself in thick cloud of mystery and conceals more of Himself than He reveals so that He stands supreme as the infinite One.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13 If people could fully understand and explain His ways and works upon natural principles they would no longer believe, revere or fear Him.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13

Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub testifies of Him and teaches that nothing is beneath His notice and nothing too small for His attention.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13 People may be ever searching, ever inquiring and ever learning with ever-increasing light if they walk in its divine rays, but rejection of heaven's light brings dense, impenetrable darkness.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13 Doubting His existence and ascribing infinite power to nature because science cannot explain the Creator leaves souls neglected.Ms 4, 1882, par. 12–13 These words show the greatness of the Son of God, the royal Messenger.Ms 75, 1886, par. 16–18 Christ is identified as the Creator who numbers the stars and made the worlds, of which the earth is only a tiny part, yet He created the world and was rejected by it.Ms 75, 1886, par. 16–18+1

The verse belongs to the word of Isaiah 40 that gives the correct lesson of true higher education.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4 It comforts true believers amid afflicting providence in judgments coming upon the world near the close of this earth's history with earthquakes, storms on land and sea, and heavy calamities.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4 It is a declaration full of promise and assurance to be read for encouragement, certain to be fulfilled in the latter days by those who place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4

The creative power displayed in bringing out, numbering, naming, and sustaining the heavenly host is the reason God alone deserves reverence and worship.GC88 436.2+1 Because He is the Creator and all other beings owe their existence to Him, He stands without equal to the gods of the heathen, and this truth is the basis of worship.GC88 436.2+1 Since He has no equal and cannot be likened to anything made by hands, He must not be worshiped through any creature or image.Ms 126, 1901, par. 15–16

The Sabbath is appointed as a reminder, memorial, and sign of that creative power and of Him as Israel's God.DA 282.2+1 Nature is a continuing message of God's creative power, teaching the ordered heavens sustained by His great might so that none is missing or fails, and the Sabbath is appointed to keep that message in memory.DA 282.2+1 Creation also makes the Sabbath a memorial of God's work and a sign of Christ's love and power.DA 281.1–4

The verse commands turning from frivolous sports, amusements, and surrounding confusion and perplexity to look at the heavens and learn the Creator.13MR 264.1–265.1 It means more than merely gazing; it calls for thoughtful study of the infinite works of God in heaven and earth.Ms 96, 1899, par. 18–20+1 Those works were made for the benefit of people and teach lessons of His love, care, and power, leading to love, reverence, obedience, and trust.CT 456.3–457.1+2 Beholding creation brings the mind into communion with God and reveals His power and love, and the same word that created all things speaks life to the soul.DA 281.1–4

Contemplating the vastness and wonders of the heavenly bodies, which are worthy of contemplation, humbles human pride and the proud, foolish heart.CT 456.3–457.1+1 Such study shows people their dependence, smallness, and inferiority before God and gives a sense of His condescension, rather than glorying in wealth, talent, beauty, or human strength.CT 456.3–457.1+2 Failing to acknowledge God is terrible, and humbling oneself only after it is too late is sorrowful.CT 456.3–457.1 Such study brings angels beside the student to enlighten the mind and guard from Satan's deceptions that hold attention on diversion.13MR 264.1–265.1

The One who created the starry host, brings it out in its ordered number, calls each star by name, and upholds it by greatness of might and strength of power so that not one is missing or fails, thereby assures His people that their lives, troubles, cause, way, needs and claim for justice are not hidden from Him, overlooked or forgotten.ED 115.5+4 This question is addressed to those who fear their way is hidden and who wonder whether God has overlooked them and their claim for justice.Lt 189, 1902, par. 8+2 The Creator who knows every star is not unable to see, remember and help them.ED 115.5+2 The Creator of the heavens does not grow weary and does not overlook His people.Lt 82, 1909, par. 9–11+1

His creative might establishes that no power can overthrow Him and that He is able to strengthen those who are faint and weary.STGC 4.2–3+2 He does not grow tired, but gives strength to the faint, renews strength in those who wait on Him, and helps and upholds those who trust Him.STGC 4.2–3+3 Their orderly, unfailing course teaches courage and steadfastness when people face discouragement, temptation and obstacles.ED 115.4

The verse is the reason His people should trust Him alone rather than rely on human beings.Ms 200, 1903, par. 7 The God who calls the host of heaven by name and holds the stars in place also keeps each person in His care, has each person's individuality in His keeping, and His knowledge and power extend to every person's life and every movement, so plans should be committed to Him in trust.SPBC 132.3–133.1+1 Because human wisdom is not sufficient for planning and devising, those who spread every plan before God with fasting and humbling of soul and commit their ways to Him receive the sure promise that He will direct their paths.Lt 45, 1893, par. 25–28

The God who brings forth the stars by number and marshals them in the heavens is the same God who balanced the everlasting mountains and placed the hills in position.Ms 12, 1895, par. 13–14 He never sends a trial without suffering it Himself.Ms 12, 1895, par. 13–14 He has control of every mind given to Him, and for those under Him provides sufficiency, power and grace to walk through the fiery trials the enemy prepares.Ms 12, 1895, par. 13–14