Psalm 104:1-35
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Summary
- God described as maker and sustainer; his providence is seen throughout creation.
Details and/or Comments
- There are many references to the events of creation (Genesis 1). But the poetic imagery is not intended to give technical details about those events.
Scripture
Psalm 104:1-35
- This whole chapter is a reflection on the way God providentially interacts with creation.
- A variety of plants and animals are mentioned in this chapter.
Introduction
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:1 Bless Yahweh, my soul. | |
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Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty. |
God's glory in the heavens
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:2 He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
Psa 104:3 He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind. Psa 104:4 He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire. |
God's realm in the heavens is hidden by what we can see. But the glory of what we can see is a picture of God's surpassing greatness.
The poetic imagery in these verses are a reference to the first two days of creation. The waters mentioned in v. 3 are a reference to the waters that are in/above the sky. The wind and lightning ("fire") - elements of a thunderstorm - are described as heavenly messengers. Hebrews 1:7 connects this verse with "angels" - a word that also means "messengers." (However, this passage is not intended as an explanation about when heavenly creatures, such as angels, were created.) |
The earth's foundations and boundaries
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:5 He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. | He established the earth - that is, the dry land (as opposed to the sea and sky). |
| Psa 104:6 You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
Psa 104:7 At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away. Psa 104:8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them. |
Poetic imagery describing the separation of the dry land from the sea, on Day 3. |
| Psa 104:9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don't turn again to cover the earth. | This was written many centuries after the Flood that occurred in Noah's day. At the end of the Flood, God promised that the waters would never again cover the earth (Genesis 9:11). This is why the psalmist can say what he said, and know that it is true. |
God's provisions to a world teeming with life
In the rest of the psalm, mention is made to each of the categories of creatures that were made on Day 3 of Creation (plant life), as well as Day 5 (sea and air life) and Day 6 (land animals and humans).
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:10 He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
Psa 104:11 They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. Psa 104:12 The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches. |
Springs of refreshing water, flowing into the valleys, satisfying the animals. |
| Psa 104:13 He waters the mountains from his chambers. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
Psa 104:14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth: Psa 104:15 wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart. |
Rain for the hills and mountains, provision for crops and herds; the people rejoice in the abundance.
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| Psa 104:16 Yahweh's trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
Psa 104:17 where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees. Psa 104:18 The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers. |
At that time, the mountains of Lebanon were a prime example of God's provision, and the life that thrived, because of it. |
Cycles of life, governed by the sun and moon
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
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Psa 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set. Psa 104:20 You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl. Psa 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. Psa 104:22 The sun rises, and they steal away, and lay down in their dens. |
This is a reference to the fourth day of creation, when the sun, moon and stars were made to "rule" over the day and night, and to influence the cycles of life. This passage illustrates how they were intended to rule.
1) They rule and have influence over the daily/nightly activities of the animals.
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| Psa 104:23 Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening. | 2) The sun/moon also have influence over the daily activities of the humans.
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God's wonders in the waters
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:24 Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches. | God's wonderful works – evident throughout the earth. |
| Psa 104:25 There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
Psa 104:26 There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there. |
The seas are teeming with life; even humans go there (in ships). |
God provides; all are dependent on him
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:27 These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
Psa 104:28 You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good. |
All creatures are dependent on God for their very existence. God will use the "laws of nature" (which he created) to accomplish it. This is providence in action. |
| Psa 104:29 You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
Psa 104:30 You send forth your Spirit: they are created. You renew the face of the ground. |
In a world influenced by human sin, death must be a part of the life cycle. And so we read here about a cycle of death (corresponding to God "hiding his face") and life/birth/renewal (corresponding to God "sending forth is Spirit" and "renewing the face of the ground"). See:
It is quite fitting that the concept of life/birth/renewal comes second in these two verses. The "death" aspect is only temporary, due to human sin, and will come to a permanent end. The whole focus in this psalm is the goodness and providential blessings of God. And even in this matter, the final outcome reflects God's goodness and blessings. When Jesus Christ returns and purifies the world at the Day of Judgment (or Justice), this cycle will cease. In the meantime, we must recognize our total dependence on God. (If we ignore or deny it, it's still an unchangeable reality in life.) |
Conclusion
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:31 Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
Psa 104:32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke. |
The glory, greatness and goodness of creation is a reflection of God's character; and God can rejoice in it - because creation is glorious, great and good!
How should we respond to the greatness and goodness of God, and the greatness and goodness of his creation? We, too, can rejoice. But we should also respond with reverent fear, awe and humility. Even creation responds in a way that is analogous to this, as illustrated in these verses. |
Epilogue
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Psa 104:33 I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
Psa 104:34 Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh. Psa 104:35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. |
I will rejoice in God; may the wicked be judged. It is only fitting that everything contrary to the glory, greatness and goodness of God and creation be removed from it!
Unless the Word of God influences our thinking, we may find it difficult to understand why the wicked need judged. We may even fail to realize that "the wicked" includes all who have not bowed in submission to the God who created all things, who alone deserves our utmost praise, adoration and worship - who's name is Yahweh! |
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Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah! |
Scripture Passages
(Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.)
Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy • Joshua • Judges • Ruth • 1 Samuel • 2 Samuel • 1 Kings • 2 Kings • 1 Chronicles • 2 Chronicles • Ezra • Nehemiah • Esther • Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel • Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation |
—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
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The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
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Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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