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Commentary on Psalms 104 verses 1–9
When we are addressing ourselves to any religious service we must stir up ourselves to take hold on God in it (Isa 64:7); so David does here. "Come, my soul, where art thou? What art thou thinking of? Here is work to be done, good work, angels' work; set about it in good earnest; let all the powers and faculties be engaged and employed in it: Bless the Lord, O my soul!" In these verses,
I. The psalmist looks up to the divine glory shining in the upper world, of which, though it is one of the things not seen, faith is the evidence. With what reverence and holy awe does he begin his meditation with that acknowledgment: O Lord my God! thou art very great! It is the joy of the saints that he who is their God is a great God. The grandeur of the prince is the pride and pleasure of all his good subjects. The majesty of God is here set forth by various instances, alluding to the figure which great princes in their public appearances covet to make. Their equipage, compared with his (even of the eastern kings, who most affected pomp), is but as the light of a glow-worm compared with that of the sun, when he goes forth in his strength. Princes appear great, 1. In their robes; and what are God's robes? Thou art clothed with honour and majesty, Psa 104:1. God is seen in his works, and these proclaim him infinitely wise and good, and all that is great. Thou coverest thyself with light as with a garment, Psa 104:2. God is light (Jo1 1:5), the Father of lights (Jam 1:17); he dwells in light (Ti1 6:16); he clothes himself with it. The residence of his glory is in the highest heaven, that light which was created the first day, Gen 1:3. Of all visible beings light comes nearest to the nature of a spirit, and therefore with that God is pleased to cover himself, that is, to reveal himself under that similitude, as men are seen in the clothes with which they cover themselves; and so only, for his face cannot be seen. 2. In their palaces or pavilions, when they take the field; and what is God's palace and his pavilion? He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, Psa 104:2. So he did at first, when he made the firmament, which in the Hebrew has its name from its being expanded, or stretched out, Gen 1:7. He made it to divide the waters as a curtain divides between two apartments. So he does still: he now stretches out the heavens like a curtain, keeps them upon the stretch, and they continue to this day according to his ordinance. The regions of the air are stretched out about the earth, like a curtain about a bed, to keep it warm, and drawn between us and the upper world, to break its dazzling light; for, though God covers himself with light, yet, in compassion to us, he makes darkness his pavilion. Thick clouds are a covering to him. The vastness of this pavilion may lead us to consider how great, how very great, he is that fills heaven and earth. He has his chambers, his upper rooms (so the word signifies), the beams whereof he lays in the waters, the waters that are above the firmament (Psa 104:3), as he has founded the earth upon the seas and floods, the waters beneath the firmament. Though air and water are fluid bodies, yet, by the divine power, they are kept as tight and as firm in the place assigned them as a chamber is with beams and rafters. How great a God is he whose presence-chamber is thus reared, thus fixed! 3. In their coaches of state, with their stately horses, which add much to the magnificence of their entries; but God makes the clouds his chariots, in which he rides strongly, swiftly, and far above out of the reach of opposition, when at any time he will act by uncommon providences in the government of this world. He descended in a cloud, as in a chariot, to Mount Sinai, to give the law, and to Mount Tabor, to proclaim the gospel (Mat 17:5), and he walks (a gentle pace indeed, yet stately) upon the wings of the wind. See Psa 18:10, Psa 18:11. He commands the winds, directs them as he pleases, and serves his own purposes by them. 4. In their retinue or train of attendants; and here also God is very great, for (Psa 104:4) he makes his angels spirits. This is quoted by the apostle (Heb 1:7) to prove the pre-eminence of Christ above the angels. The angels are here said to be his angels and his ministers, for they are under his dominion and at his disposal; they are winds, and a flame of fire, that is, they appeared in wind and fire (so some), or they are as swift as winds, and pure as flames; or he makes them spirits, so the apostle quotes it. They are spiritual beings; and, whatever vehicles they may have proper to their nature, it is certain they have not bodies as we have. Being spirits, they are so much the further removed from the encumbrances of the human nature and so much the nearer allied to the glories of the divine nature. And they are bright, and quick, and ascending, as fire, as a flame of fire. In Ezekiel's vision they ran and returned like a flash of lightning, Eze 1:14. Thence they are called seraphim - burners. Whatever they are, they are what God made them, what he still makes them; they derive their being from him, having the being he gave them, are held in being by him, and he makes what use he pleases of them.
II. He looks down, and looks about, to the power of God shining in this lower world. He is not so taken up with the glories of his court as to neglect even the remotest of his territories; no, not the sea and dry land.
1.He has founded the earth, Psa 104:5. Though he has hung it upon nothing (Job 26:2), ponderibus librata suis - balanced by its own weight, yet it is as immovable as if it had been laid upon the surest foundations. He has built the earth upon her basis, so that though it has received a dangerous shock by the sin of man, and the malice of hell strikes at it, yet it shall not be removed for ever, that is, not till the end of time, when it must give way to the new earth. Dr. Hammond's paraphrase of this is worth noting: "God has fixed so strange a place for the earth, that, being a heavy body, one would think it should fall every minute; and yet, which way soever we would imagine it to stir, it must, contrary to the nature of such a body, fall upwards, and so can have no possible ruin but by tumbling into heaven."
2.He has set bounds to the sea; for that also is his. (1.) He brought it within bounds in the creation. At first the earth, which, being the more ponderous body, would subside of course, was covered with the deep (Psa 104:6): The waters were above the mountains; and so it was unfit to be, as it was designed, a habitation for man; and therefore, on the third day, God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered to one place, and let the dry land appear, Gen 1:9. This command of God is here called his rebuke, as if he gave it because he was displeased that the earth was thus covered with water and not fit for man to dwell on. Power went along with this word, and therefore it is also called here the voice of his thunder, which is a mighty voice and produces strange effects, Psa 104:7. At thy rebuke, as if they were made sensible that they were out of their place, they fled; they hasted away (they called, and not in vain, to the rocks and mountains to cover them), as it is said on another occasion (Psa 77:16), The waters saw thee, O God! the waters saw thee; they were afraid. Even those fluid bodies received the impression of God's terror. But was the Lord displeased against the rivers? No; it was for the salvation of his people, Hab 3:8, Hab 3:13. So here; God rebuked the waters for man's sake, to prepare room for him; for men must not be made as the fishes of the sea (Hab 1:14); they must have air to breathe in. Immediately therefore, with all speed, the waters retired, Psa 104:8. They go over hill and dale (as we say), go up by the mountains and down by the valleys; they will neither stop at the former nor lodge in the latter, but make the best of their way to the place which thou hast founded for them, and there they make their bed. Let the obsequiousness even of the unstable waters teach us obedience to the word and will of God; for shall man alone of all the creatures be obstinate? Let their retiring to and resting in the place assigned them teach us to acquiesce in the disposals of that wise providence which appoints us the bounds of our habitation. (2.) He keeps it within bounds, Psa 104:9. The waters are forbidden to pass over the limits set them; they may not, and therefore they do not, turn again to cover the earth. Once they did, in Noah's flood, because God bade them, but never since, because he forbids them, having promised not to drown the world again. God himself glorifies in this instance of his power (Job 38:8, etc.) and uses it as an argument with us to fear him, Jer 5:22. This, if duly considered, would keep the world in awe of the Lord and his goodness, That the waters of the sea would soon cover the earth if God did not restrain them.
This is the way, dear friends, in which we found out salvation, namely Jesus Christ, the high priest of our offerings, the guardian and helper of our weakness. Through him let us look steadily into the heights of heaven; through him we see as in a mirror his faultless and transcendent face; through him the eyes of our hearts have been opened; through him our foolish and darkened mind springs up into the light; through him the Master has willed that we should taste immortal knowledge, for “he, being the radiance of his majesty, is as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent.” For so it is written: “He makes his angels winds and his ministers flames of fire.” But of his Son the Master spoke thus: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the Gentiles for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.” And again he says to him, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Who, then, are these enemies? Those who are wicked and resist his will.
And, therefore, about this one [Jesus Christ] it is rightly said, "He has perfect hands to put on the holy things." For this one is truly he who "put on holy things," not those who were "bad examples" but these that are truly "holy." But if you want to hear about his more lofty garments, take the prophetic words, "Clothed with light as a garment, the abyss as a garment is his clothing." This is the appearance of my great high priest who is declared clothed with the depths of knowledge and the light of wisdom that truly are "holy" garments.
What we proclaim is not one single coming of Christ but a second as well, much fairer than the first. For the first presented a demonstration of long-suffering, but the second wears the crown of the kingdom of God. Most things about our Lord Jesus Christ are twofold. His birth is twofold, once of God before the ages and once of the Virgin in the end of the ages. Twice he comes down, once all unseen like dew on a fleece and a second time still future and manifest. When first he came, he was swaddled in a manger. When next he comes he will “clothe himself with light as with a garment.” At his first coming “he endured the cross, despising the shame”; at his second, he comes surrounded with glory and escorted by hosts of angels. We do not therefore simply rest on Christ’s first coming, by itself, but let us look forward also to his second; and as we say of his former coming, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord,” so also we will say the same words again at his second coming, that we may meet our Master in company with angels and say, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” as we worship him. The Savior comes again, but not to be judged again, for he will pass judgment on those who passed judgment on him, and he who before kept silence as they judged him now reminds those lawless people who did their outrageous deeds to him on the cross and says, “These things you have done, and I kept silence.” He adapted himself when he came then and taught people by persuasion, but this time it is they who will be forced to bow to his rule, whether they want to or not.
"Clothed with light as a garment." Clothed with His Church, because she is made "light" in Him, who before was darkness in herself, as the apostle says: "You were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord." [Ephesians 5:8] "Stretching out the heaven like a skin:" either as easily as thou dost a skin, if it be "as easily," so that you may take it after the letter; or let us understand the authority of the Scriptures, spread out over the whole world, under the name of a skin; because mortality is signified in a skin, but all the authority of the Divine Scriptures was dispensed unto us through mortal men, whose fame is still spreading abroad now they are dead.
The sky that you behold, O man [a listener who is a sensible person], made completely of air, carries many waters and is not itself supported by anything else, since a mere command hung it up and the sole force of a precept supports it. The divine revelation states, “Who stretches out the heaven like a pavilion, who covers the higher rooms thereof with water.” The great weight and burden of the mountains rests on the earth, which is made solid by its own mass; and that earth floats on a foundation of liquid, as the prophet testifies: “Who established the earth above the waters.” Consequently, the fact that it stands arises from a commandment, not from nature. “He spoke, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.” Therefore, the fact that the world holds together is a matter of divine operation, not of human understanding. The sea rolls along with the high crest of its own waves and is raised aloft toward the clouds. Yet, light sands hem it in. Hence we see that its great might yields not to the sand but to a precept. All the beings in the sky and earth and sea move and live after they have been made by one sole command. The prophet affirms that they will be dissolved again by a mere command when he says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They shall perish, but you remain; and all of them shall all grow old like a garment, and as a garment shall you change them, and they shall be changed.” How? In such a way that their great age may fail through time but not that creation will perish before the eyes of its Creator.
That through visible things the world might learn who is its Lord
And what Moses omitted from his account, and what was not written,
David expressed in the book of his psalm.
“He made his angels and his ministers of fire and wind.”
Thus David caused to be written in his excellent book of Psalms
So that the world might learn that angels too were created works
And with the created things they come to birth from the Creator.
For what the great Moses did not write about concerning the angels
David wrote down, but single is the spirit of their revelations.
And the world learned through Moses as well as through David
That he is one who created all creatures with his gesture.
And David showed on what day the angels came into being
For their creation was made plain to the world, when and how
In that gesture with which heaven and earth were created.
In it all the hosts of heavenly beings arose.
Through the word of the Lord heaven was made, David showed.
And together with it [his word] were the hosts made through the Spirit from his mouth.
Moses demonstrated that the Lord created the heaven and the earth
And David demonstrated how the hosts came into being. Isaiah, too, through that revelation of his prophecy, brought to the world an account of that power of the seraphim.
[God] is the maker and creator of the angels. He brought into being and made them after his own image into a bodiless nature, some sort of spirit, as it were, and immaterial fire—as the divine David says: “Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a burning fire.” And he determined their lightness, fieriness, heat, extreme acuity, their keenness in their desire for God and his service and their being raised up and removed from every material consideration.
Others [unspecified pagan philosophers], however, have imagined the heavens to have the form of a hemisphere, because the inspired David says, “Who stretches out the heaven like a pavilion” which means a tent; and the blessed Isaiah: “He that establishes the heavens like a vault”; and because the sun, the moon and the stars, when they set, go round the earth from west to north and return again to the east. However, whichever way it may be, all things have been made and established by the command of God and have their foundation in the divine will and desire. “For he spoke, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created. He has established them for ever, and for ages of ages; he has made a decree, and it shall not pass away.”
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SUMMARY
Psalm 104:2 offers a breathtaking portrayal of God's majestic glory and omnipotent creative power, depicting Him as the transcendent architect of the cosmos. This verse, serving as a foundational declaration in a grand hymn of creation, vividly illustrates divine attributes through the very fabric of the universe, emphasizing God's inherent radiance and effortless sovereignty over all things.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn of praise, widely recognized as a poetic meditation on the creation narrative, echoing themes found in Genesis 1. Unlike Genesis, which provides a chronological account, Psalm 104 offers a worshipful reflection on God's ongoing work as both Creator and Sustainer of the world. Verse 2 immediately follows the opening declaration of God's immense greatness and majesty in verse 1, setting the cosmic stage for the detailed exploration of His creative acts that follow. The psalm systematically unfolds God's handiwork, moving from the celestial realms (vv. 2-4) to the earth's foundations (vv. 5-9), its water sources (vv. 10-13), diverse vegetation and animal life (vv. 14-18), the celestial bodies and their functions (vv. 19-23), and finally, the vastness of the sea and its creatures (vv. 24-26). It culminates in a profound reflection on God's providential care for all living things (vv. 27-30) and a concluding doxology (vv. 31-35). Therefore, verse 2 establishes the grand, cosmic scale of God's glory before the psalm delves into the specifics of His creation.
Historical & Cultural Context: The imagery employed in Psalm 104:2 draws from ancient Near Eastern cosmological understandings while simultaneously elevating the God of Israel far above any pagan deities. The concept of a deity "covering" themselves with light resonates with the ancient idea of divine radiance and effulgence, a common motif in various cultures. However, here it uniquely emphasizes the God of Israel's intrinsic, unapproachable, and self-existent glory, rather than merely an emanation. The powerful phrase "stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" evokes the familiar and everyday experience of pitching a tent or unfurling a canopy. In ancient Israel, nomadic life and tent-dwelling were common, making the act of spreading a curtain or tent fabric a universally understood domestic activity. Applying this seemingly mundane image to the immense vastness of the heavens profoundly underscores God's effortless power, sovereignty, and meticulous design over the cosmic dome, starkly contrasting with the laborious and often chaotic creation myths of surrounding cultures. This imagery also subtly points to the heavens as a divine dwelling or a protective canopy over creation, a theme echoed in other biblical texts like Isaiah 40:22.
Key Themes: This verse introduces and powerfully reinforces several foundational themes that permeate not only Psalm 104 but also the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Radiance and Glory, portraying God as inherently light and glorious. He is not merely a possessor of these attributes but their very source and embodiment. This resonates deeply with New Testament declarations, such as 1 John 1:5, which unequivocally states, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Secondly, the verse powerfully conveys God's Sovereign Creator status. It depicts Him as the ultimate architect who effortlessly brings the vast cosmos into being, emphasizing His omnipotence and intentionality. The image of stretching out the heavens like a curtain underscores His absolute control and purposeful design, dispelling any notion of accidental or struggling creation. Finally, the verse subtly introduces the theme of Transcendence and Immanence. While God is depicted as transcendent, dwelling in unapproachable light and distinct from His creation, the very act of "stretching out" implies His active engagement and intimate involvement in shaping the world, preparing it for life, and continually sustaining it—a theme beautifully developed throughout the remainder of the psalm.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 104:2 is exceptionally rich in Simile, employing "as [with] a garment" and "like a curtain" to draw vivid comparisons that make God's transcendent actions relatable to human experience. These similes enable the psalmist to describe the indescribable: God's inherent, unapproachable glory and His effortless, sovereign creation of the cosmos. The verse also utilizes Anthropomorphism, attributing human-like actions (covering oneself, stretching out) to God. This is not intended to diminish God but rather to help human understanding grasp His immense power, personal involvement, and intentionality in creation. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a powerful Metaphor for God's ultimate sovereignty, majesty, and creative genius, portraying Him as the cosmic tailor who effortlessly adorns Himself with light and the divine architect who unfurls the heavens. The combined imagery creates an awe-inspiring and deeply worshipful picture of divine power and splendor.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly establishes God's ultimate sovereignty and inherent glory as the Creator. It asserts that God is not merely powerful, but His very essence is light and splendor, from which all creation emanates. The effortless act of "stretching out the heavens" speaks to His absolute control and intentionality in cosmic design, emphasizing that the universe is not a product of chance or struggle, but of divine will, wisdom, and meticulous artistry. This understanding fosters a deep sense of awe and worship, reminding humanity of their humble yet privileged place before an infinitely majestic God who not only brought all things into being but also sustains them by His power.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 104:2 calls us to a profound posture of worship, wonder, and humility before our Creator. When we gaze upon the vastness of the night sky, or simply contemplate the miracle of light that illuminates our world, this verse reminds us that we are beholding the magnificent handiwork of a God whose glory is so immense that He is intrinsically clothed in light, and whose power is so effortless that He unfurled the heavens like a simple curtain. This perspective should humble us, reminding us of our smallness within the grand cosmic design, yet also of the incredible privilege of being known and cared for by such a magnificent Being. It invites us to trust implicitly in His providential care, knowing that the God who orchestrates galaxies with such ease is intimately involved in the intricate details of our personal lives. This verse encourages us to live with a heightened sense of awe, gratitude, and reverence, allowing the sheer majesty of God's creation to continually draw us into deeper worship, dependence, and obedience to Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean that God "covers Himself with light as a garment"?
Answer: This vivid imagery signifies God's inherent, unapproachable glory and brilliance. It's a poetic and powerful way of saying that light is not something God acquires or puts on externally, but rather it is an intrinsic part of His very being and essence. Just as a garment is inseparable from the one wearing it, so too is light inseparable from God. It symbolizes His purity, holiness, truth, and self-existent radiance, making Him utterly distinct and transcendent from His creation. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as 1 Timothy 6:16, which speaks of God dwelling in "unapproachable light." It highlights His divine nature as the source of all light and life.
How does the "curtain" imagery for the heavens relate to ancient understanding or other biblical texts?
Answer: The imagery of God stretching out the heavens "like a curtain" or a tent fabric draws from the common ancient Near Eastern experience of pitching tents or spreading canopies. It emphasizes the ease and deliberateness with which God, as the divine architect, established the vast cosmic dome. This is not a struggle but an effortless, majestic act of creation, highlighting God's omnipotence and sovereign control. In biblical thought, the heavens are often depicted as a "tent" or "tabernacle" spread out by God, serving as His dwelling place or a protective canopy over the earth. This idea is also found in Isaiah 40:22, where it says, "He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." It underscores God's meticulous design of the universe and His continuous presence within it.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalm 104:2 directly extols the Creator God of the Old Testament, its profound imagery of divine light and cosmic creation finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus, who is the visible manifestation of the invisible God and the very agent through whom all things were made. The "light" with which God is clothed in this psalm powerfully foreshadows Jesus, who is declared to be the "light of the world" (John 8:12) and the "true light that gives light to everyone" (John 1:9). Furthermore, the One "who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" is revealed in the New Testament to be none other than Christ Himself. Colossians 1:16 explicitly states, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things have been created through him and for him." Similarly, Hebrews 1:2 declares that God "appointed him heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Thus, the majestic power, inherent glory, and effortless creative sovereignty celebrated in Psalm 104:2 are perfectly embodied, revealed, and brought to completion in Jesus, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, and through whom all things came into being (John 1:1-3). He is the divine architect and the radiant glory made manifest in human flesh, the very effulgence of God's being.