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Commentary on Psalms 104 verses 10–18
Having given glory to God as the powerful protector of this earth, in saving it from being deluged, here he comes to acknowledge him as its bountiful benefactor, who provides conveniences for all the creatures.
I. He provides fresh water for their drink: He sends the springs into the valleys, Psa 104:10. There is water enough indeed in the sea, that is, enough to drown us, but not one drop to refresh us, be we ever so thirsty - it is all so salt; and therefore God has graciously provided water fit to drink. Naturalists dispute about the origin of fountains; but, whatever are their second causes, here is their first cause; it is God that sends the springs into the brooks, which walk by easy steps between the hills, and receive increase from the rain-water that descends from them. These give drink, not only to man, and those creatures that are immediately useful to him, but to every beast of the field (Psa 104:11); for where God has given life he provides a livelihood and takes care of all the creatures. Even the wild asses, though untameable and therefore of no use to man, are welcome to quench their thirst; and we have no reason to grudge it them, for we are better provided for, though born like the wild ass's colt. We have reason to thank God for the plenty of fair water with which he has provided the habitable part of his earth, which otherwise would not be habitable. That ought to be reckoned a great mercy the want of which would be a great affliction; and the more common it is the greater mercy it is. Usus communis aquarum - water is common for all.
II. He provides food convenient for them, both for man and beast: The heavens drop fatness; they hear the earth, but God hears them, Hos 2:21. He waters the hills from his chambers (Psa 104:13), from those chambers spoken of (Psa 104:3), the beams of which he lays in the waters, those store-chambers, the clouds that distil fruitful showers. The hills that are not watered by the rivers, as Egypt was by the Nile, are watered by the rain from heaven, which is called the river of God (Psa 65:9), as Canaan was, Deu 11:11, Deu 11:12. Thus the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works, either with the rain it drinks in (the earth knows when it has enough; it is a pity that any man should not) or with the products it brings forth. It is a satisfaction to the earth to bear the fruit of God's works for the benefit of man, for thus it answers the end of its creation. The food which God brings forth out of the earth (Psa 104:14) is the fruit of his works, which the earth is satisfied with. Observe how various and how valuable its products are.
1.For the cattle there is grass, and the beasts of prey, that live not on grass, feed on those that do; for man there is herb, a better sort of grass (and a dinner of herbs and roots is not to be despised); nay, he is furnished with wine, and oil, and bread, Psa 104:15. We may observe here, concerning our food, that which will help to make us both humble and thankful. (1.) To make us humble let us consider that we have a necessary dependence upon God for all the supports of this life (we live upon alms; we are at his finding, for our own hands are not sufficient for us), - that our food comes all out of the earth, to remind us whence we ourselves were taken and whither we must return, - and that therefore we must not think to live by bread alone, for that will feed the body only, but must look into the word of God for the meat that endures to eternal life. Let us also consider that we are in this respect fellow-commoners with the beasts; the same earth, the same spot of ground, that brings grass for the cattle, brings corn for man. (2.) To make us thankful let us consider, [1.] That God not only provides for us, but for our servants. The cattle that are of use to man are particularly taken care of; grass is made to grow in great abundance for them, when the young lions, that are not for the service of man, often lack and suffer hunger. [2.] That our food is nigh us, and ready to us. Having our habitation on the earth, there we have our storehouse, and depend not on the merchant-ships that bring food from afar, Pro 31:14. [3.] That we have even from the products of the earth, not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight, so good a Master do we serve. First, Does nature call for something to support it, and repair its daily decays? Here is bread, which strengthens man's heart, and is therefore called the staff of life; let none who have that complain of want. Secondly, Does nature go further, and covet something pleasant? Here is wine, that makes glad the heart, refreshes the spirits, and exhilarates them, when it is soberly and moderately used, that we may not only go through our business, but go through it cheerfully. It is a pity that that should be abused to overcharge the heart, and unfit men for their duty, which was given to revive their heart and quicken them in their duty. Thirdly, Is nature yet more humoursome, and does it crave something for ornament too? Here is that also out of the earth - oil to make the face to shine, that the countenance may not only be cheerful but beautiful, and we may be the more acceptable to one another.
2.Nay, the divine providence not only furnishes animals with their proper food, but vegetables also with theirs (Psa 104:16): The trees of the Lord are full of sap, not only men's trees, which they take care of and have an eye to, in their orchards, and parks, and other enclosures, but God's trees, which grow in the wildernesses, and are taken care of only by his providence; they are full of sap and want no nourishment. Even the cedars of Lebanon, an open forest, though they are high and bulky, and require a great deal of sap to feed them, have enough from the earth; they are trees which he has planted, and which therefore he will protect and provide for. We may apply this to the trees of righteousness, which are the planting of the Lord, planted in his vineyard; these are full of sap, for what God plants he will water, and those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God, Psa 92:13.
III. He takes care that they shall have suitable habitations to dwell in. To men God has given discretion to build for themselves and for the cattle that are serviceable to them; but there are some creatures which God more immediately provides a settlement for. 1. The birds. Some birds, by instinct, make their nests in the bushes near rivers (Psa 104:12): By the springs that run among the hills some of the fowls of heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. They sing, according to their capacity, to the honour of their Creator and benefactor, and their singing may shame our silence. Our heavenly Father feeds them (Mat 6:26), and therefore they are easy and cheerful, and take no thought for the morrow. The birds being made to fly above the earth (as we find, Gen 1:20), they make their nests on high, in the tops of trees (Psa 104:17); it should seem as if nature had an eye to this in planting the cedars of Lebanon, that they might be receptacles for the birds. Those that fly heavenward shall not want resting-places. The stork is particularly mentioned; the fir-trees, which are very high, are her house, her castle. 2. The smaller sort of beasts (Psa 104:18): The wild goats, having neither strength nor swiftness to secure themselves, are guided by instinct to the high hills, which are a refuge to them; and the rabbits, which are also helpless animals, find shelter in the rocks, where they can set the beasts of prey at defiance. Does God provide thus for the inferior creatures; and will he not himself be a refuge and dwelling-place to his own people?
Let Celsus then say distinctly that the great diversity among the products of the earth is not the work of Providence but that a certain fortuitous concurrence of atoms gave birth to qualities so diverse, and that it was owing to chance that so many kinds of plants and trees and herbs resemble one another, and that no disposing reason gave existence to them, and that they do not derive their origin from an understanding that is beyond all admiration. We Christians, however, who are devoted to the worship of the only God, who created these things, feel grateful for them to him who made them, because not only for us but also (on our account) for the animals that are subject to us, he has prepared such a home, seeing “he causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of humans, that they may bring forth food out of the earth and wine that makes glad the heart of people, and oil to make their faces to shine, and bread that strengthens humans’ hearts.” But that he should have provided food even for the most savage animals is not a matter of surprise, for these very animals are said by some who have philosophized [on the subject] to have been created for the purpose of affording exercise to the rational creature. And one of our own wise men says somewhere, “Do not say, What is this? or Wherefore is that? for all things have been made for their uses. And do not say, What is this? or Wherefore is that? for everything shall be sought out in its season.”
Having learned these things and been fully assured that what seems to be bread is not bread, though sensible to taste, but the body of Christ; and that what seems to be wine is not wine, though the taste will affirm that it is so, but the blood of Christ; and that of this David sang long ago, saying, “And bread strengthens a person’s heart, to make his face to shine with oil,” “strengthen you your heart,” by partaking of it as spiritual, and “make the face of your soul to shine.” And so having it unveiled with a pure conscience, may you “reflect as a mirror the glory of the Lord” and proceed from glory to glory, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be honor and might and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
[Daniel 10:2-3] "In those days I, Daniel, mourned for the days of three weeks; I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh or wine entered into my mouth; neither was I anointed with ointment until the days of three weeks were accomplished." By this example we are taught to abstain from the pleasanter types of food (I think that the term "desirable bread" is that inclusive) during a period of fasting, and that we neither eat flesh nor drink wine, and especially that we desire no anointing with ointments. This custom is maintained among the Persians and Indians even to this day, that they use ointment as a substitute for baths. Also, Daniel afflicted his soul for three consecutive weeks, so that his intercession might not appear cursory or casual. By inference, indeed, we ought to make the observation that a person in mourning who bemourns the absence of one betrothed partakes of no desirable bread though it comes down from heaven itself; neither does he touch solid food, which is to be understood in the sense of meat, nor does he drink any wine, which gladdens the heart of man, or make his face cheerful with oil (as we read in the Psalms: "That he may make the face cheerful with oil" Psalm 104:15). By means of such a fast as this the betrothed girl sheds tears which will be convincing, when her fiance has been taken from her. Daniel also did well to supplicate the Lord with boldness, inasmuch as in the first year of Cyrus's reign the captivity of the Jews had already been somewhat relaxed in its severity.
"And wine makes glad the heart of man" [Psalm 104:15]. Let no man prepare himself for intoxication; nay, let every man prepare him for intoxication. "How excellent is Your cup which makes inebriate!" We choose not to say, Let no man be drunk. Be inebriated; yet beware, from what source. If the excellent cup of the Lord does saturate you, your ebriety shall be seen in your works, it shall be seen in the holy love of righteousness, it shall, lastly, be seen in the estrangement of your mind, but from things earthly to heavenly. "To make him a cheerful countenance with oil."...What is the making the countenance cheerful with oil? The grace of God; a sort of shining for manifestation; as the Apostle says, "The Spirit is given to every man for manifestation." [1 Corinthians 12:7] A certain grace which men can clearly see in men, to conciliate holy love, is termed oil, for its divine splendour; and since it appeared most excellent in Christ, the whole world loves Him; who though while here He was scorned, is now worshipped by every nation: "For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He shall be Governor among the people." For such is His grace, that many, who do not believe in Him, praise Him, and declare that they are unwilling to believe in Him, because no man can fulfil what He does command. They who with reproaches once raged against Him, are hindered by His very praises. Yet by all is He loved, by all is He preached; because He is excellently anointed, therefore He is Christ: for He is called Christ from the Chrism or anointing which He had. Messiah in the Hebrew, Christ in the Greek, Unctus in the Latin: but He anoints over His whole Body. All therefore who come, receive grace, that their countenances may be made glad with oil.
People of true and good sense, who have intellectually gathered that knowledge that gives life, are never jaded by the sacred sciences. Indeed it is written that “humankind shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The word of God is food for the mind and a spiritual “bread that strengthens the heart of humankind,” as the book of Psalms sings.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 104:15 serves as a profound declaration of God's bountiful and holistic provision for humanity, celebrating the divine gifts of wine, oil, and bread. Situated within a magnificent hymn of creation, this verse illuminates how the Creator meticulously sustains life not merely at a subsistence level, but also with elements that bring joy, well-being, and vitality, enriching the human experience in body, mind, and spirit as a testament to His generous design.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 104:15 masterfully employs several effective Literary Devices to convey its profound message of divine provision and generosity. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically a triadic structure, where three distinct but related provisions—wine, oil, and bread—are presented in a balanced and rhythmic fashion, each with its specific beneficial effect on humanity: bringing gladness, making the face shine, and strengthening the heart. This enumerative pattern emphasizes the comprehensive and multifaceted nature of God's care. Symbolism is also heavily at play, with each item transcending its literal form: wine symbolizes joy, celebration, and spiritual comfort; oil signifies health, honor, blessing, and well-being; and bread represents fundamental sustenance, strength, and life itself. Furthermore, Metonymy is present in the phrases "heart of man" and "man's heart," where "heart" serves as a stand-in for the entire inner being, encompassing emotional, physical, and even spiritual vitality, rather than merely the physical organ. Similarly, the "face" represents one's outward appearance and overall state of being. These devices collectively paint a vivid and rich picture of God's purposeful and abundant provision for His creation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully encapsulates the biblical truth of God's benevolent sovereignty over creation, revealing Him not as a distant, detached deity but as a loving Father who meticulously provides for His children. It underscores the inherent goodness of creation and the gifts within it, which are intended for human enjoyment and flourishing. The provision of wine, oil, and bread speaks to a God who cares for our physical needs, our emotional well-being, and even our outward presentation, demonstrating a holistic concern for humanity. This generosity is not just about survival, but about enabling a life of joy, health, and strength, reflecting God's abundant nature and His desire for His people to thrive. It reminds us to receive these daily blessings with profound gratitude and to recognize the Creator's hand in every aspect of our lives, acknowledging that all good things flow from Him.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 104:15 calls us to cultivate a profound posture of gratitude for the everyday provisions that God so graciously bestows upon us. It challenges us to look beyond the mundane and recognize the divine hand in the simple yet profound blessings of our lives—the food on our tables, the moments of genuine joy and laughter, and the pervasive sense of physical and emotional well-being. This verse reminds us that God's care extends far beyond mere survival, encompassing elements that bring delight, comfort, and vitality, enriching our existence. It encourages us to appreciate the gifts of creation responsibly, understanding that they are given for our good and ultimately for His glory. In a world often preoccupied with scarcity or consumed by excess, this passage invites a balanced and grateful perspective: to thankfully receive essential sustenance, to enjoy moments of gladness with temperance, and to care for our bodies as sacred temples of the Holy Spirit, all as tangible expressions of God's abundant and holistic love.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of wine, oil, and bread in this verse?
Answer: In Psalms 104:15, wine, oil, and bread collectively represent God's comprehensive and benevolent provision for humanity. Bread is the fundamental staple, symbolizing essential physical sustenance and strength, the very staff of life. Oil, particularly olive oil, signifies health, well-being, honor, and a refreshed appearance, used for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes, and often for anointing. Wine symbolizes joy, celebration, and the gladness of heart, often consumed in social and festive contexts. Together, these three elements illustrate that God's care extends beyond mere basic needs to include provisions that bring joy, comfort, and vitality to human life, demonstrating His desire for our holistic flourishing. These were also the primary agricultural products and economic mainstays of ancient Israel, making them powerful symbols of God's blessing on the land and its people.
Does this verse endorse excessive consumption of wine?
Answer: No, this verse does not endorse excessive consumption of wine. The phrase "maketh glad the heart of man" refers to the legitimate, temperate, and appropriate use of wine, which in biblical times was often diluted and consumed as part of meals and celebrations. The Bible consistently warns against drunkenness and its negative consequences, highlighting the dangers of excess (e.g., Proverbs 20:1 and Ephesians 5:18). Here, wine is presented as a gift from God intended to bring joy and cheer in a responsible manner, contributing to a sense of well-being and festivity, not to intoxication or debauchery. It underscores God's provision for our emotional and social enjoyment within proper, God-honoring bounds.
How does this verse relate to God's provision in the New Testament?
Answer: Psalms 104:15, with its focus on God's provision of physical sustenance, joy, and well-being through creation, beautifully foreshadows and finds deeper fulfillment in the New Testament's revelation of God's ultimate provision through Jesus Christ. While God continues to provide physical bread, oil, and wine in the natural world, the New Testament emphasizes the infinitely richer spiritual dimensions of these gifts. Jesus declares Himself the "Bread of Life" who gives eternal strength and sustenance to those who believe in Him. The "wine" of the New Covenant, symbolized by Christ's shed blood, brings ultimate spiritual joy, forgiveness of sins, and new life (Luke 22:20). The "oil" of anointing finds its ultimate expression in the Holy Spirit, whom Christ pours out upon believers, bringing spiritual health, comfort, empowerment for service, and a radiant inner witness (Luke 4:18). Thus, the physical provisions of the Old Testament serve as tangible pointers to the infinitely richer and eternal spiritual provisions made available in and through Jesus Christ.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The rich provisions of wine, oil, and bread celebrated in Psalms 104:15, while acknowledging God's natural sustenance for humanity, find their ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as wine gladdens the heart, Christ offers a joy that surpasses all earthly pleasures, a spiritual gladness rooted in His abiding presence and the promise of eternal life, powerfully demonstrated by His first miracle at Cana where He provided abundant and superior wine. The oil that makes the face shine and signifies health, honor, and blessing points directly to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which Christ pours out upon His followers, bringing spiritual vitality, inner healing, and empowering them to bear a radiant witness to the world (Luke 4:18; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Most significantly, the bread that strengthens man's heart is supremely fulfilled in Christ Himself, who declared, "I am the Bread of Life" and "I am the living bread that came down from heaven". He provides ultimate spiritual nourishment, satisfying the deepest hunger of the soul and strengthening believers for eternal life and obedient service. Thus, the physical blessings of creation in Psalm 104:15 serve as tangible pointers to the spiritual abundance and holistic, eternal provision found perfectly and completely in Christ, our Creator and Redeemer.