48:18Isaiah 48:18

God teaches His people for their own good the way they should go and longs for them to hearken to His commandments.Ms 14, 1901, par. 25–28+2 Had they hearkened, their peace would have been abundant, continual, steady and enduring like a river, and their righteousness plentiful, vast and continuous like the waves of the sea.Ms 27, 1902, par. 27+2 Hearkening to His commandments brings that peace and righteousness, for surrendering wholly to Him in simple faith and walking in the way of His commandments is walking in company with Christ, where the heart is at rest.GC 285.2–3+3 True freedom and true happiness are found within the bounds of His law in wholehearted obedience and devotion, while disobedience cuts off blessing and transgression brings discord, misery and desolation.GC 285.2–3+4 This peace flows to the soul when gospel principles are practiced and Christ's image is reflected, and then flows from such a person to others.Lt 106, 1908, par. 15

The chapter sets forth the true condition of those who have had truth line upon line, precept upon precept, yet have refused to hear and receive the warnings given, have hindered the work and cause of God with misrepresentation, falsehood and heresy, and have said of the voice of the Spirit that it is nothing.RH Nov 3, 1904 It is spoken to a backsliding people whose responsible men cherish covetousness, selfishness, self-exaltation and childish faults and, after years of experience, are deficient in love, grace and purity.17MR 287.3–288.2 God has borne long with such waywardness and self-exalting course, deferring His anger and carrying forward His work of redemption in hearts, not for their goodness, devotion, righteousness or obedience, but for the glory of His own name.RH Nov 3, 1904+1

If they repent and turn decidedly from evil ways and make straight paths for their feet, it is not too late to make right what was wrong, and God will have mercy upon them and make them monuments of His almighty power and abounding grace and witnesses for the truth.RH Nov 3, 1904+1 The chapter is to stir souls and to be kept in mind, leading to seeking the Lord and doing the essential works to be done, instead of agitating non-vital questions that give enemies occasion to furnish questioning doubts about the work the Lord is doing, for the commandments are the great subject for the present.Ms 129, 1908, par. 5 God teaches His people for their good the way they should go and leads them in the right way, and He longs for them to obey.Ms 14, 1901, par. 25–28+3

Peace as a river means abundant, continual, steady, flowing and enduring peace, and righteousness as the waves of the sea means plentiful, abundant, vast, continuous and rolling righteousness.Ms 27, 1902, par. 27+4 The same images show that hearkening would have brought Israel peace and righteousness in abundance, with peace flowing continually like a river.Ms 27, 1902, par. 27+2 The verse distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient, teaching that peace and righteousness are linked with heeding God.Lt 85, 1899, par. 9–13+1 Prosperity depends on humility, meekness, wholehearted obedience and devotion to Him, and trusting God and allowing Him to lead brings salvation.Ms 14, 1901, par. 25–28+1

Hearkening to the commandments brings peace and righteousness, overflowing and abundant.GC 285.2–3+4 Surrendering wholly to God in simple faith brings peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea.GW92 466.1 Walking in the way of the commandments is walking in company with Christ, and in His love the heart is at rest and life's burden is made light.DA 331.1+1

Wearing Christ's yoke means living in love toward God and toward neighbor, bringing deep and continuing peace and full righteousness, received by taking right hold and wrestling for victory.21MR 279.2+1 Peace like a river flows to the soul when gospel principles are practiced, victory over sin is gained, Christ's image is reflected and He is represented in words and disposition, and that peace then flows from such a person to others.Lt 106, 1908, par. 15 Parents begin this obedience at home by teaching children to respect and help their mother and then bringing them to church to respect its authority, and this brings peace and represents Christ's righteousness.Ms 159, 1904, par. 23–24

Disobedience cuts people off from blessings, for the Lord's way is the only way of peace and happiness, and obedience lets people go forward in His strength.Ms 80, 1900, par. 14 Obedience to God's law is the way to true happiness and inner harmony, while transgression brings discord, misery and desolation.HSFM 187.2

Heeding God's commandments brings peace and righteousness, abundant and steady like a river and abundant like the waves of the sea.GC 285.2–3+3 True freedom is found within the limits and bounds of God's law.GC 285.2–3+2 Obedience to God is bound up with human well-being, and the history of nations shows that well-being depends on obedience to His statutes.GC 285.2–3+1

Rejecting His law leads to misery and ruin, even when the consequences are delayed.GC 285.4–286.1+1 That rejection opens the way to lawlessness, and society comes to suffer the fruits of rebellion against God.GC 285.4–286.1+2

France publicly set aside the law of God, and the upheaval that followed illustrates the cost of disobedience.GC 285.2–3+2 The Reign of Terror that came afterward made the consequences of transgression plain.GC 285.4–286.1+1 The misery and lawlessness there show the woe and misery that follow when a people reject that law.GC 285.2–3+4

Peace as a river and righteousness as waves of the sea are the uplift and comfort that come when Christ draws very near in great weakness and feebleness, encircling in His arms and carrying every burden.20MR 311.6+1 Willingly and gladly binding oneself to Jesus brings peace that is abundant and constant like a river.ST Mar 17, 1887+2 That peace is assurance and rest flowing into the soul through God's presence and the preciousness of Christ's love, while righteousness extends vast and continuous like the waves of the sea.Lt 11, 1877, par. 4+1 At baptism this peace is like a river as the ordinance is accepted as solemn commitment and the person rises to newness of life.1T 19.5–20.1 At immersion the inner peace remained even when the waves were high, with a powerful sense of God's presence, of death to the world, and of sins washed away.SG2 13.1+1 Even amid doubts about conversion, taking the cross of immersion brought deep peace.LS 145.2–146.2

God's peace rules in the heart amid sickness, trials and sleeplessness while trust remains unshaken, abundant and continual like a river.4T 283.4 This continuing peace remains amid discouragement in connection with God's protection and blessing and following the light He gives.Lt 311, 1906, par. 1 Peace flows steadily and fills the soul when Christ's strength is taken hold of in united prayer, bringing rest of heart in gospel hope and faith.18MR 125.1–3 That peace gives perfect security and grateful trust in Christ as hope, Redeemer, life and crown of rejoicing, with a felt sense of His love, protection, sympathy and nearness, and comfort in repeating Scripture promises during pain in wakeful night hours, even when suffering and sickness are not healed.18MR 125.1–3 This peace is known in sacred nearness to God and sweet communion with Him, with the heart burning with love and magnifying Him for tender kindness, even amid trials and distress, and it belongs to a life of heeding God in trust in Jesus.4MR 324.1+2

Such peace came through earnest prayer during nights of caring for a sick husband, when the Lord quieted him and strengthened the one who prayed, who trusted the requests were heard and not in vain, joined to drinking from the fountain of living waters.Ms 1, 1867, par. 25–28 Deep peace felt through God's mercy during illness and healing leads to gratitude, thanks, trust in God for healing, and desire to dedicate anew to God.LS 317.1+1 Deep peace is found in the Lord's care and protection even while bearing a heavy burden.Lt 19, 1902, par. 10 Peace in Christ echoes the river image even amid suffering without implying that suffering has ended.Ms 220, 1902, par. 3–4 This peace is calm trust in Christ and praise to God even amid severe sickness, hardship, poor sleep and uncertain outcome, resting in trust and love for Jesus with love for Him, gratitude and harmony with Scripture.Ms 21, 1887, par. 8+2 The Holy Spirit plants truth in the heart to shape the life and be shared, and the Lord comforts with His Spirit and grace when health is poor and the outcome uncertain.Ms 2, 1892, par. 9–10+1

Peace like a river is present in meetings marked by confession, humility, prayer and seeking God.Lt 23, 1885, par. 57–58 It is given when the Lord is sought unitedly with earnest intercession, humiliation of soul, hearty confession and strong faith claiming grace and strength, when Jesus draws very near full of light and love to impart blessing and strength for the day.15MR 369.1–370.2 Peace received through the Lord's blessing is abundant and enduring like a river, known in weeks of peace and spiritual refreshment.Lt 2, 1854, par. 1–4+1 Submitting to God, drawing near to Him and submitting the will to do His will brings deep peace.RH May 18, 1876 The soul's peace when God removes its burden after anguish and prayer comes suddenly.Lt 57, 1894, par. 31–34 Peace and righteousness flow in upon the soul like a river and like sea waves as uninterrupted peace and rest with light, grace, joy and gladness of heart when promises are claimed in united prayer and His near, healing presence is received, giving assurance worth more than riches, gold, honor or worldly glory and continual praise in heart and lips even through the night.5MR 241.1–242.1 This peace is like a river as God's providence is accepted and His guidance about duty is sought.Lt 23, 1876, par. 3–6