40:9Isaiah 40:9

Those given the good news are to take a high and public stand and lift their voices with strength and without fear to set their God before the surrounding cities.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4+2 The God to be seen is the incomparable Creator who keeps every star by His power, who comes with strong hand to rule and reward, and who at the same time feeds His flock like a tender shepherd gathering lambs to His heart.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+4 He is fully revealed in Christ, whose every act and word shows the Father's infinite love and pardoning mercy, and keeping the eyes fixed on Him changes the beholder into His likeness.PK 696.3+2 That announcement was fulfilled in the Messiah's earthly ministry and in the loud praise at His entry into Jerusalem, and it is to be repeated in preparing a people for His second coming as near, even at the door.PK 696.3+4 Bringing the tidings now means a fearless public witness in the Spirit's power, making known God's goodness, mercy, truth and love in Christ as hope, forgiveness and peace, and calling the wicked to return for abundant pardon.Ms 201, 1898, par. 6–7+4

O Zion and O Jerusalem are named as bearers of good tidings who must take a high, public place and lift the voice with strength, courage and earnestness in open, bold, fearless proclamation.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4+4 From that elevated place the announcement is to go with a certain sound to the cities of Judah in the words Behold your God, setting God and His presence before them.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4+4 The following verses unfold the One thus announced as the Lord coming with strong hand, power and authority to rule, with His reward with Him and His work before Him, and at the same time as a tender shepherd who feeds, gathers, carries and gently leads His flock.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+2

The verse stands within words of comfort, promise and assurance to true believers amid judgments, calamities and discouragement.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4+2 Its promises give faith, hope, confidence, light, blessing and victory by trust that the Lord will fulfill His word, for His word is certain to be fulfilled.Ms 198, 1907, par. 3–4+2 The good tidings are joined with pardon, mercy, forgiveness and the sure mercies and grace and glory of God, leading distressed and sinful people to accept mercy and pardon so that they praise and honor Him, and spoken with courage in discouragement they gain precious victories through faith in God.ST Nov 20, 1901+2

Its setting joins the leveling of valleys and mountains with the straightening of the crooked and the smoothing of the rough, unto the revealing of divine glory so that all flesh sees it together, while all human glory withers like grass and the word of God stands forever.Ms 112, 1901, par. 16–17 The God announced is the incomparable Creator who never fails, whose power and understanding do not fail, who gives strength to the weary and renewed strength to those who wait upon Him.Ms 112, 1901, par. 16–17+1 No one can instruct or counsel the Lord, whose greatness surpasses the nations and all creation, exposing the folly of human pride and self-exaltation, so the Lord alone is to be trusted and men are not to trust in men or make flesh their arm.Ms 96, 1898, par. 21–25+1 Therefore the chapter calls for diligent work for repentance with most earnest effort, warning that the Lord will not be trifled with while promising strength to His own people, and it is to be studied with Isaiah 42 and Second Peter as instruction about Christ's work and God's teaching, to be carried forward in deeply spiritual lines as a thorough reformatory work requiring prepared hearts, clear understanding, no haphazard work, and Spirit-led leaders.Lt 48, 1910, par. 8–9+2

The God to be held up before the cities is to be exalted as Creator of all, and to behold Him is to know Him as the One who made all things.PK 315.2+1 He created the heavens and stretched them out, spread forth the earth and what comes from it, and by hands that stretched out the heavens commanded all their host.RH Mar 25, 1915 He forms light and creates darkness, made the earth and created humanity upon it, brings out the stars by number and calls them all by name, and by great might and strong power keeps every one.RH Mar 25, 1915

He comes with strong hand, power and authority to rule as an omnipotent King, with His reward with Him and His work before Him.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+4 Whenever He comes He brings that reward to people, giving confidence, light and blessing each day.Ms 116, 1902, par. 29–34 He comes quickly to give every person according to deeds.Lt 287, 1905, par. 31–32 The announcement presents this coming Lord as Jesus Christ, whose dying love proves willingness to save and whose resurrection and ascension prove power to save to the uttermost all who commit to Him and conform the will to Him.Lt 69, 1899, par. 11–13

The same mighty and sovereign Ruler is a patient, tender shepherd who feeds His flock, gathers the lambs with His arm, carries them in His bosom, and gently leads those that are with young.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+4 His tender care is for His people and for needy souls, joined with comfort and pardon and with coming in power and authority.ST Nov 20, 1901+1 His infinite power and wisdom expose the folly of human pride and self-exaltation, for no one can instruct or counsel the Lord, whose greatness surpasses the nations and all creation.Ms 96, 1898, par. 21–25 He continues to plead with sinners despite their resistance and rejection.Ms 75, 1886, par. 13–14 The good news reveals God's character in Christ by presenting Christ as the living Lord and great Teacher whose authority is supreme and whose power is invincible.6T 20.1–3+1

In Christ the announced God is revealed in an attractive, heart-moving way, for in word and deed, by every act of His life, every word spoken and every miracle wrought, He revealed to fallen humanity the glory of God the Father and the infinite love of God.PK 696.3 His goodness, mercy, truth and love are to shine into spiritual darkness, and those waiting for His coming are to make His character known and reveal His glory through grace-shaped lives, good works, truthful words and holy deeds.COL 415.3–416.1 He is the sin-pardoning Saviour who pardons all sins, and the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, to be taught to the young in plain words, spoken of by the aged and by teachers, believed in and manifested to the world by word and life with the invitation to take the water of life freely.Lt 384, 1907, par. 4–6+1 He is to be revealed as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, in the last message of mercy calling men and women as never before to behold Christ and come to Him.Lt 416, 1907, par. 11–12 Beholding God means keeping the eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and by beholding Him the beholder is changed into His likeness.Lt 179, 1904, par. 3–4

The announcement is fulfilled in the earthly ministry of the Messiah, the great Teacher whose authority is supreme and whose power is invincible, sent from heaven when darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people.PK 696.3+2 In word and in deed, by every act of His life, every word spoken, and every miracle wrought, He revealed to fallen humanity the glory of God the Father and infinite love.PK 696.3+1 He redeems by the power of the cross and feeds His flock like a shepherd, gathering the lambs with His arm, carrying them in His bosom, and gently leading those that are with young.Ms 94, 1902, par. 5–6+2

The same announcement points to the Lord's coming and His care for His flock and applies to the proclamation by John and by Christ that people should repent because the kingdom of heaven is near.Ms 36, 1898, par. 1–4+1 The good tidings are Christ's invitation to come just as they are, to repent of sins, to have sins forgiven and washed away in His blood, to look to Him and believe in Him as personal Saviour, and to receive power to become sons of God.Ms 36, 1898, par. 1–4+1 His dying love proves His willingness to save, and His resurrection and ascension prove His power to save to the uttermost all who commit their souls to Him and conform their will to Him.Lt 69, 1899, par. 11–13

The command to get up into the high mountain and to lift up the voice with strength and without fear was foretold and fulfilled in the loud praise at the descent of the Mount of Olives and the entry into Jerusalem.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+2 There the rejoicing multitude praised God with a loud voice for His mighty works and blessed the King who comes in the name of the Lord, fulfilling the call to say without fear to the cities of Judah that God has come.Ms 151, 1899, par. 5+2 Priests, rulers, and elders could not rob Him of that adoration, because prophecy must be fulfilled, and if His people had been silent God would have put a voice in the stones so that the proclamation would still be made in His behalf.Ms 36, 1897, par. 9–11+1

The message describes work to be done before both the first advent and the second coming, when history is to be repeated in preparing a people for Christ's second appearing.Ms 112, 1901, par. 16–17+1 Churches everywhere are to hear it, inviting people to share in Christ's divine life and work beginning with the new birth, in connection with leveling valleys and mountains, straightening the crooked and smoothing the rough places, revealing the glory of the Lord so that all flesh sees it together, while all human glory withers like grass and the word of God stands forever.Ms 112, 1901, par. 16–17+1 It is now the bold proclamation of the last message of mercy to the world, with Christ placed in it as the first and the last, the I AM, the bright and morning star bringing hope, mercy, forgiveness, and peace into the heart, and as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.Ms 201, 1898, par. 6–7+1 It announces that the second coming is near, even at the door, when the Lord God will come with strong hand with His arm ruling for Him, with His reward with Him and His work before Him, coming quickly to give every person according as his work shall be.Ms 36, 1897, par. 12–14+3 That coming calls for decided changes, with proud self-willed hearts humbled, with seeking the Lord while He may be found, and with conversion in which the wicked forsakes his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and returns to the Lord for mercy and abundant pardon.Ms 36, 1897, par. 12–14+1

Bringing good tidings now means getting up into the high place and lifting the voice with strength, courage and earnestness in a strong, fearless, public announcement with a certain sound, sounded by human lips in every city and by voices everywhere.Ms 201, 1898, par. 6–7+3 This charge to get up and lift up the voice without fear to set God before the people belongs to churches and assemblies everywhere, including the assemblies at Battle Creek, and belongs in church papers.Ms 201, 1898, par. 6–7+2 It is to be spoken earnestly and strongly in the last days even when the witness is dismissed as fanaticism or enthusiasm.Ms 8, 1898, par. 2+1 Those who hear it are invited to share in divine life and work beginning with the new birth.Ms 201, 1898, par. 6–7

The work requires the Holy Spirit's guidance and a deep moving of the Spirit so the trumpet gives a certain sound, with the mind stayed on God and filled with His Spirit and with the Lord as strength and counselor.Lt 54, 1906, par. 2–3+1 It is done by presenting the truth in its power as it is in Jesus, affirmatively and on the platform of eternal truth, without accusing and without anything to arouse enmity and strife.Lt 54, 1906, par. 2–3+1 The message is to reveal God in an attractive, heart-moving way in love and mercy as the compassionate Shepherd who feeds His flock, gathers the lambs and carries them tenderly, rather than merely repeating doctrines.DA 826.2–3+1 Beholding God means keeping the eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and by beholding Him the beholder is changed into His likeness.Lt 179, 1904, par. 3–4 It is to be exemplified in daily life through grace-shaped lives, good works, truthful words and holy deeds by young and elderly disciples, who by word and action repeat the invitation to take the water of life freely, with the gospel taught to the young in plain words, spoken of by the aged and by teachers, believed in and manifested to the world.COL 415.3–416.1+1

The content to be made known is God's character in Christ, His goodness, mercy, truth and love shining into spiritual darkness, and Christ as hope, mercy, forgiveness, peace and sin-pardoning Saviour who pardons all sins, as the first and the last, the I AM, the bright and morning star brought into the heart, and the Lamb that takes away sin.Ms 36, 1897, par. 12–14+2 It is the last message of mercy to the world, giving a true representation of God in Jesus at a time when the churches are fast losing the knowledge of God and His character is misunderstood and misinterpreted, and announcing that the second coming is near, even at the door.Ms 36, 1897, par. 12–14 It is the saving gospel message to be presented clearly rather than obscured by falsehood, by repetition of falsehoods, by spiritualistic theories, and by erroneous ideas about God and His personality.Lt 179, 1904, par. 3–4+1 By it distressed and sinful people are led to accept promises of mercy and pardon so they praise and honor Him.Ms 116, 1902, par. 40–44

The call accompanies thorough reformatory work in deeply spiritual lines, requiring prepared hearts, clear understanding, no haphazard work, and Spirit-led leaders to lead out in thorough reformation, with the daily representation of Christ.Lt 48, 1910, par. 8–9+1 The proclamation requires decided changes in which proud self-willed hearts are humbled, people seek the Lord while He may be found, and the wicked forsake ways and thoughts and return for mercy and abundant pardon.Lt 152, 1901, par. 23–25 The God thus announced comes quickly to give every person according to deeds, coming with strong hand and ruling arm with reward and work, yet feeding the flock like a shepherd, gathering lambs with His arm, carrying them in His bosom and gently leading those that are with young.Ms 36, 1897, par. 12–14+2