Psalms 104

Ps 104:1-35.

The Psalmist celebrates God's glory in His works of creation and

providence, teaching the dependence of all living creatures; and

contrasting the happiness of those who praise Him with the awful end of

the wicked.

1. God's essential glory, and also that displayed by His mighty

works, afford ground for praise.

2. light--is a figurative representation of the glory of the invisible

God

(Mt 17:2;

1Ti 6:16).

Its use in this connection may refer to the first work of creation

(Ge 1:3).

stretchest out the heavens--the visible heavens or sky which cover the

earth as a curtain

(Isa 40:12).

3. in the waters--or, it may be "with"; using this fluid for the beams,

or frames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for

chariots, and wind as a means of conveyance.

walketh--or, "moveth" (compare

Ps 18:10, 11;

Am 9:6).

4. This is quoted by Paul

(Heb 1:7)

to denote the subordinate position of angels; that is, they are only

messengers as other and material agencies.

spirits--literally, "winds."

flaming fire--

(Ps 105:32)

being here so called.

5. The earth is firmly fixed by His power.

6-9. These verses rather describe the wonders of the flood than the

creation

(Ge 7:19, 20;

2Pe 3:5, 6).

God's method of arresting the flood and making its waters subside is

poetically called a "rebuke"

(Ps 76:6;

Isa 50:2),

and the process of the flood's subsiding by undulations among the hills

and valleys is vividly described.

10-13. Once destructive, these waters are subjected to the service

of God's creatures. In rain and dew from His chambers (compare

Ps 104:3),

and fountains and streams, they give drink to thirsting animals and

fertilize the soil. Trees thus nourished supply homes to singing birds,

and the earth teems with the productions of God's wise agencies,

14, 15. so that men and beasts are abundantly provided with food.

for the service--literally, "for the culture," &c., by which he

secures the results.

oil . . . shine--literally, "makes his face to shine more than oil,"

that is, so cheers and invigorates him, that outwardly he appears better

than if anointed.

strengtheneth . . . heart--gives vigor to man (compare

Jud 19:5).

16-19. God's care of even wild animals and uncultivated parts of the

earth.

20-23. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed times and

seasons.

24-26. From a view of the earth thus full of God's blessings, the

writer passes to the sea, which, in its immensity, and as a scene and

means of man's activity in commerce, and the home of countless

multitudes of creatures, also displays divine power and beneficence.

The mention of

26. leviathan--

(Job 40:20)

heightens the estimate of the sea's greatness, and of His power who

gives such a place for sport to one of His creatures.

27-30. The entire dependence of this immense family on God is set

forth. With Him, to kill or make alive is equally easy. To hide His face

is to withdraw favor

(Ps 13:1).

constant providence which repairs the wastes of time and disease.

31-34. While God could equally glorify His power in destruction, that

He does it in preservation is of His rich goodness and mercy, so that we

may well spend our lives in grateful praise, honoring to Him, and

delightful to pious hearts

(Ps 147:1).

35. Those who refuse such a protector and withhold such a service

mar the beauty of His works, and must perish from His presence.

Praise ye the Lord--The Psalm closes with an invocation of praise, the

translation of a Hebrew phrase, which is used as an English word,

"Hallelujah," and may have served the purpose of a chorus, as often in

our psalmody, or to give fuller expression to the writer's emotions. It

is peculiar to Psalms composed after the captivity, as "Selah" is to

those of an earlier date.