Psalm 104:1-24
The LORD's Care for His Creation
1041 Bless, O my soul, Jehovah! Jehovah, my God, Thou hast been very great, Honour and majesty Thou hast put on. 2 Covering himself 'with' light as a garment, Stretching out the heavens as a curtain, 3 Who is laying the beam of His upper chambers in the waters, Who is making thick clouds His chariot, Who is walking on wings of wind, 4 Making His messengers—the winds, His ministers—the flaming fire. 5 He hath founded earth on its bases, It is not moved to the age and for ever. 6 The abyss! as with clothing Thou hast covered it, Above hills do waters stand. 7 From Thy rebuke they flee, From the voice of Thy thunder haste away. 8 They go up hills—they go down valleys, Unto a place Thou hast founded for them. 9 A border Thou hast set, they pass not over, They turn not back to cover the earth.
10 Who is sending forth fountains in valleys, Between hills they go on. 11 They water every beast of the field, Wild asses break their thirst. 12 By them the fowl of the heavens doth dwell, From between the branches They give forth the voice. 13 Watering hills from His upper chambers, From the fruit of Thy works is the earth satisfied. 14 Causing grass to spring up for cattle, And herb for the service of man, To bring forth bread from the earth, 15 And wine—it rejoiceth the heart of man, To cause the face to shine from oil, And bread—the heart of man it supporteth. 16 Satisfied 'are' the trees of Jehovah, Cedars of Lebanon that He hath planted, 17 Where birds do make nests, The stork—the firs 'are' her house. 18 The high hills 'are' for wild goats, Rocks 'are' a refuge for conies,
19 He made the moon for seasons, The sun hath known his place of entrance. 20 Thou settest darkness, and it is night, In it doth every beast of the forest creep. 21 The young lions are roaring for prey, And to seek from God their food. 22 The sun riseth, they are gathered, And in their dens they crouch. 23 Man goeth forth to his work, And to his service—till evening. 24 How many have been Thy works, O Jehovah, All of them in wisdom Thou hast made, Full is the earth of thy possessions.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 104:1-24
Commentary on Psalm 104:1-9
(Read Psalm 104:1-9)
Every object we behold calls on us to bless and praise the Lord, who is great. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly shown by the things which he hath made. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The Lord Jesus, the Son of his love, is the Light of the world.
Commentary on Psalm 104:10-18
(Read Psalm 104:10-18)
When we reflect upon the provision made for all creatures, we should also notice the natural worship they render to God. Yet man, forgetful ungrateful man, enjoys the largest measure of his Creator's kindness. the earth, varying in different lands. Nor let us forget spiritual blessings; the fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of gladness. Does God provide for the inferior creatures, and will he not be a refuge to his people?
Commentary on Psalm 104:19-30
(Read Psalm 104:19-30)
We are to praise and magnify God for the constant succession of day and night. And see how those are like to the wild beasts, who wait for the twilight, and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Does God listen to the language of mere nature, even in ravenous creatures, and shall he not much more interpret favourably the language of grace in his own people, though weak and broken groanings which cannot be uttered? There is the work of every day, which is to be done in its day, which man must apply to every morning, and which he must continue in till evening; it will be time enough to rest when the night comes, in which no man can work. The psalmist wonders at the works of God. The works of art, the more closely they are looked upon, the more rough they appear; the works of nature appear more fine and exact. They are all made in wisdom, for they all answer the end they were designed to serve. Every spring is an emblem of the resurrection, when a new world rises, as it were, out of the ruins of the old one. But man alone lives beyond death. When the Lord takes away his breath, his soul enters on another state, and his body will be raised, either to glory or to misery. May the Lord send forth his Spirit, and new-create our souls to holiness.