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.
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God's Transcendent Majesty

1
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. ​
2
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: ​
3
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: ​
4
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: ​

Establishing the Earth and Setting Boundaries

5
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. ​
6
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. ​
7
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. ​

Providing Water and Sustaining Life on Land

10
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. ​
14
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; ​
15
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. ​
16
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

The Order of Day and Night

19
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. ​
20
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. ​
22
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

Wisdom in the Greatness of Creation

24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. ​
25
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. ​

God the Universal Sustainer

27
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. ​
30
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. ​

A Vow of Everlasting Praise

31
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. ​
32
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye 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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