Bible Commentaries
Psalms 104

Verses 1-35

Psalms 104

Praise to the Creator and sustainer

Scripture v. 1-35:

Verse 1 calls on David to bless the Lord deep down in his soul. He vows that his soul should do this because He was so great, as his and Israel’s God, who had clothed Himself in honor and majesty, with royal apparel, from the dawn of creation, Psalms 19:1-4.

Verse 2 adds that He covers himself daily, continually, perpetually by the sustaining light of the sun, as His physical glory-garment, Genesis 1:3. He continually, perpetually, spreads out or stretches out the heavens like a curtain, as the covering of a tent, as the tabernacle was covered. This he first did on the second day of creation, by the word of His power, Genesis 1:6-8; Isaiah 54:2; Isaiah 40:22.

Verse 3 attributes to the royal-robed Creator the beam-laying of his upper chambers with waters, the upper expanse, Genesis 1:7; ft is an upper expanse, a firm citadel palace, "strong as molten glass," Job 37:18; Amos 9:6. From those chambers He waters the hills with rain, v. 13. He makes the clouds to be His chariots, driving them to do His will, to deliver rain, at His bidding, as a king drives a chariot. He walks or goes forth upon the fleet wings of the wind to do His pleasure, Isaiah 19:1; Psalms 18:10.

Verse 4 relates that He "makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire." The idea is that wherever He rides, at His royal, majestic pleasure, on the wind and on the clouds, His lightning like angelic ministers go before and accompany Him to do His service, as expressed Hebrews 1:7; Deuteronomy 33:2; Daniel 7:10; Judges 13:20; Psalms 103:20-21.

Verses 5, 6 assert that He too laid the foundations of the earth so securely that it could not be disturbed from its support for ever. As the heaven’s were in God’s upper chambers v. 2, 3, firmly held like molten glass, so that they are well supported; So the earth is the lower part of His creation, firmly supported by His own power of omnipotence, called gravity by men today. Thus Job in ancient times wrote, "He hangeth (continually supports) the earth upon nothing," nothing visible; just the power of His own will, Job 26:7-8; Job 38:4-6.
Verse 6 adds that He covered the foundation of the earth with the deep, the flood-waters, so that they stood above the mountains, until the flood brought back the earth to its former state, Genesis 7:19-20.

Verses 7, 8 relate that the majestic Creator’s rebuke of the waters, at His thunder-like order, they retreated or receded to their own place, going up by the mountains (in vapor, till today) and "down by the valleys," as fallen rain. They do His bidding, even as the winds and waves obeyed our Lord’s bidding, Mark 4:39. They (the waters) go down unto the place, valleys and streams and the sea God assigned them, Genesis 1:9; Psalms 102:25; Psalms 107:26.

Verse 9 certifies that God set, fixed, or placed a bound that the waters might not pass over, that they may no more flood the earth, Genesis 9:11; Genesis 9:15; Job 26:10; Job 38:8; Job 38:11; Jeremiah 5:22.

Verses 10, 11 declare that He sends the springs into the valleys, that cut their way among the hills, giving drink to every domestic beast of the field and even quenching the thirst of the wild ass, satisfying also the thirst of the wild beasts, and "causing it to rain on the just and the unjust," since the flood days, Job 5:10; Matthew 5:45.

Verses 12-15 attribute to God the gracious provision that through His waters the fowls of the heaven sing with a sound of joy among the branches of their habitations; The earth is satisfied with the waters that come forth from his chambers upon the hills, as the fruit of His works. For He is the cause that makes: a) grass to grow for cattle; b) herbs for the service of man; and c) food to grow forth out of the earth, as set forth Genesis 1:29-30; Psalms 147:8; Job 28:5; Matthew 6:26.
Verse 15 adds that as a result of the rain and water from earth’s fountains He causes men to have glad hearts with an abundance of wine, their faces to shine because of bread and oil, and their hearts to be strengthened because of bread aplenty, Judges 9:13; Psalms 23:5; Job 28:5; Proverbs 31:6-7; Genesis 18:5.

Verses 16, 17 describe the large trees of the Lord as full of sap even the cedars of Lebanon, which He has planted (not man) Numbers 24:6; Psalms 36:6. For it is asserted that there in those high cedars of Lebanon, the birds make their nests, with the stork making her residence in the fir trees instead of the cedars.

Verse 18 adds that the "high hills are. (exist as) a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies as described Deuteronomy 14:17 .

Verses 19-28 relate that God appointed the moon for season regulations, Genesis 1:14; even before the sun, Deuteronomy 4:19; Job 31:21; Job 38:12; and the sun "knows its going down," Job 38:12. He continually causes the darkness and its night, by which all the beasts of the forests do creep forth, prowl, and secure their food, Isaiah 45:7. It is then that the "young lions roar after this prey, and seek their meat from God’s gracious provision, Job 38:39; Joel 1:10. They then go to their dens, to stay near their prey, at sunrise.

Verses 23, 24 add that man goes forth to his work and to his labor "until the evening," in the light of the sun, not the dimness of the moon, by God’s direction, Genesis 3:19. God cares for man, above that of the wild creatures of the night. Verse 24 extols "O Lord, how manifold (innumerable) are thy works!" adding that "in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches," thy wealth of creation, Genesis 1:20-22; Deuteronomy 33:14-16; Proverbs 3:19; See also Psalms 50:12;1 Corinthians 10:26.

Verses 25, 26 describe God’s wisdom and devotion in creation and sustaining the great, wide sea, with innumerable creeping, crawling things, both small and great beast-creatures, as related Genesis 1:21; Psalms 69:34. There in and upon the great, wide, deep sea sail and glide the ships; and there in her depths leviathan, the King of sea-beasts plays, where He provided her a play-ground; Genesis 49:13. The whale, the porpoise, and the manatee are sea beasts.

Verses 27-29 describe the Lord as daily caring for these living creatures on land and on sea. They wait upon (trust) Him, that He may give them food, before it is too late, Romans 11:36; Psalms 145:15; Ecclesiastes 3:1. He feeds animals of land and sea, daily, as surely as He fed Israel with manna and quail in the wilderness, with an open hand, with plenty to satisfy their needs, Deuteronomy 8:3.
Verse 29 declares that when God hides His face, turns His back they are troubled; Their breath departs; they die, man and beast, La 3:22, 23; Acts 17:28. See also Job 34:14-15; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 17:25; Genesis 3:19; See too Psalms 90:7; Numbers 16:22.

Verse 30 explains that God sends His spirit to create or quicken to life all creatures; and by His mercy and grace He renews, sustains the whole face of the earth, Job 26:13; Isaiah 32:15; Ezekiel 37:9; Ephesians 2:1; Titus 3:5.

Verses 31, 32 assert that the Lord’s glory shall exist forever, as He shall rejoice in His works, even that of all redeemed men, and His church, as He receives glory in and Through them 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 19:5-9; Psalms 19:1. ft is added that at a stern look from God, or His mandating voice, the earth trembles, and at the touch of His hand the hills smoke, as at Sinai, for fear, Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:22; Judges 5:5; Psalms 78:8; Psalms 144:5; Habakkuk 3:5; Habakkuk 3:10.

Verses 33, 34 recount David’s resolve to sing praise to the Lord as long as he lived, had his existence, both because of who God is in His power, character, and deeds. His meditation on the Lord (nourishment) in Him would be sweet, as he would live with gladness in the Lord, always, before death, Psalms 63:4; Psalms 88:10.