Psalms104

The psalm opens with a call to bless the Lord, acknowledging His immense majesty and power as the Creator. It describes God's establishment of the heavens, earth, and waters, and His ongoing provision for all living creatures, from the smallest to the great Leviathan. The psalmist marvels at God's wisdom in ordering all things, from the cycles of day and night to the sustenance of life, concluding with a personal vow of praise and a desire for the wicked to vanish.

God's Transcendent Majesty

1
Bless the LORD, my soul. The LORD, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. ​
2
He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain. ​
3
He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind. ​
4
He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire. ​

Establishing the Earth and Setting Boundaries

5
He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. ​
6
You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains. ​
7
At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.
9
You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don’t turn again to cover the earth. ​

Providing Water and Sustaining Life on Land

10
He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11
They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12
The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
13
He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works. ​
14
He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth: ​
15
wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart. ​
16
The LORD’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17
where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees.
18
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

The Order of Day and Night

19
He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set. ​
20
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. ​
22
The sun rises, and they steal away, and lay down in their dens.
23
Man goes out to his work, to his labor until the evening.

Wisdom in the Greatness of Creation

24
The LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches. ​
25
There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
26
There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. ​

God the Universal Sustainer

27
These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
28
You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29
You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust. ​
30
You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground. ​

A Vow of Everlasting Praise

31
Let the LORD’s glory endure forever. Let the LORD rejoice in his works. ​
32
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34
Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in the LORD.
35
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD! ​

Study Notes for Psalms 104

Verse 1

This psalm is a majestic hymn praising God as the Creator and Sustainer, often paralleled with the Egyptian Hymn to Aten, yet thoroughly monotheistic. The opening verse establishes God's overwhelming greatness and royal splendor.

Verse 2

God uses light as His clothing, equating Him with the source of being and visibility. Stretching out the heavens 'like a curtain' emphasizes the ease and instantaneous nature of cosmic creation.

Verse 3

This verse uses ancient cosmic imagery, depicting God as laying the foundations of His celestial palace ('chambers') in the upper waters, using clouds as His chariot, demonstrating absolute control over nature's forces.

Verse 4

This statement highlights God’s power to utilize elemental forces (wind/spirits, fire) as His agents and servants (ministers), emphasizing their created status and functional obedience.

Verse 5

The 'foundations' refer to the stability and permanence of the earth’s structure, which God established amidst the primordial waters, ensuring the world is habitable.

Verse 6

This refers to the pre-creation state (Genesis 1:2) where the deep ('tehom') covered the nascent earth, a chaotic state that God immediately brought under control.

Verse 9

God sets clear, non-negotiable boundaries for the sea. This assurance not only regulates the tides but also serves as a promise that the earth will not be permanently covered again (cf. Genesis 9:11).

Verse 13

The watering of the high hills, seemingly beyond the reach of rivers, demonstrates God’s transcendent provision, satisfying the earth with the necessary resources for growth.

Verse 14

God provides both for necessary sustenance (cattle) and for the specialized needs of humanity ('service of man'), showing a deliberate design for mutual flourishing.

Verse 15

This verse praises the gifts of civilization (wine, oil, bread) which provide not only strength but also joy and vitality, demonstrating God's provision extends beyond mere survival.

Verse 19

The celestial bodies are appointed by God to govern time and seasons. They are not deities (as in pagan cultures) but obedient servants that regulate the rhythm of life on earth.

Verse 21

Even the wild predators, like the lions, are shown to rely directly on God for their food. This emphasizes that all life, regardless of its place in the food chain, is sustained by divine providence.

Verse 24

This verse serves as a doxology, shifting focus from the specific acts of creation to the profound wisdom and intelligence underlying the entire complex system. 'Manifold' speaks to the sheer diversity of God's works.

Verse 26

Leviathan, a mythical creature often symbolizing chaos or the unconquered deep, is here depicted as a mere creature made by God to 'play' in the sea, underscoring God's absolute mastery over all forces.

Verse 29

Life is contingent entirely upon God's presence. When He 'hides His face' (withdraws favor and life-breath), mortality instantly occurs, illustrating the absolute dependency of creation on the Creator.

Verse 30

The 'spirit' (*ruach*) is the breath of life; when God sends it forth, creation occurs. This verse encapsulates the ongoing process of creation and renewal, necessary to overcome the effects of death and decay.

Verse 31

The psalm concludes by affirming that God's glory is enduring and that the Creator finds joy ('rejoice') in the perfect functionality and beauty of the world He has made.

Verse 35

The psalm ends with a call for the removal of those who oppose God’s righteous order, contrasting the eternal stability of creation with the temporary nature of wickedness. The final phrase, 'Praise ye the LORD' (Hallelujah), forms an inclusio with the opening blessing.

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