Psalms 104: A Song of Creation's Splendor
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
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;
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
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.
Psalms 103 and Psalms 104 share a common opening phrase, yet they explore distinct facets of God's character. While the former celebrates God's loyal love for His people, Psalms 104 directs our gaze to the Lord as the magnificent Creator. It stands out among the psalms as the most detailed and overt in its depiction of God's creative work, echoing themes found in Genesis 1—2, though not directly mirroring the creation account. Several other psalms touch upon creation (Psalms 8; 19; 24; 65; 95; 102; 121; 147), but none with such comprehensive detail.
The Lord Clothed in Majesty (Psalms 104:1-4)
The psalmist begins by exhorting himself to bless the Lord, recognizing His inherent majesty and splendor. God is mighty, majestic, and wonderful – these traits are so obvious that the psalmist describes Him as "clothed" in them. The elements of nature become metaphors for God's power and presence. He is depicted as being clothed with light, stretching out the heavens like a tent, and laying the beams of His upper chambers on the waters. The clouds are His chariot, and He moves upon the wings of the wind. Even the winds and fire are His messengers, highlighting that all of creation is under His control, serving His purposes. Hebrews 1:7 even cites Psalms 104:4 in reference to God's messengers, often understood as angels. This verse uses the Hebrew term mal'āk, translated into Greek as angelos, emphasizing the divine authority and power vested in these beings.
This psalm also contains the first occurrence of the Hebrew word hallelujah, a powerful expression of praise comprised of two words joined together. Many translations interpret it as "praise the LORD," while others transliterate it, preserving its original sound and spirit. It is a term predominantly found in the latter portion of Psalms and in Revelation 19, signifying profound adoration.
Establishing Boundaries and Providing Water (Psalms 104:5-18)
Part of God's creative role involved establishing boundaries. The Lord set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved (Psalms 104:5). The earth that He established cannot be shaken. He chose to place mountains, valleys, and seas in specific locations, and none of these can be moved apart from His will. The psalmist echoes concepts seen in Genesis chapter 1 but does not repeat the exact creation account. Though floodwaters once covered the earth, He restored the mountains and valleys to their rightful prominence (Psalms 104:6-8), and the waters will never cover the earth again (Psalms 104:9).
The Lord also provides water to sustain life on earth. He makes springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills (Psalms 104:10). These waters give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst (Psalms 104:11). He enables the growth of plants that feed animals and allow men to grow food. The earth is filled with everything necessary to sustain life. The trees are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon that he planted provide homes for the stork. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers (Psalms 104:16-18).
Sovereignty Over Heaven and Earth (Psalms 104:19-30)
God's sovereignty isn't confined to earth; it extends to the heavens. He created the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting (Psalms 104:19), establishing day and night, seasons and years, providing times and rhythms for man (Psalms 104:23) and beast to function within.
The psalmist marvels at the greatness of God's creation, which reflects His unsurpassed wisdom (Psalms 104:24). O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures (Psalms 104:24). He designed fabulous creatures, both large and small, that depend on His provision. He is sovereign over their lives and deaths. Everything in creation depends on God. Without His provision, all life would die. Only He provides the breath of life; this comes from the Hebrew word ru'ach. As with the Greek term pneuma, this can mean "life," "breath," "spirit," or even a reference to the Holy Spirit. When the breath of life is gone, living things once again become dirt (Psalms 104:27-30).
A Call to Praise and a Plea for Righteousness (Psalms 104:31-35)
Having contemplated God’s marvelous works, the psalmist bursts forth in exaltation of God’s glory (Psalms 104:31). He sings God’s praises and prays that this meditation would be pleasing to Him (Psalms 104:34). I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being (Psalms 104:33).
The psalm concludes with a wish that sinners would vanish from the earth (Psalms 104:35). Whether through the judgment of God or through faith in Jesus Christ, one day this will be so. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (Psalms 104:35). The psalmist is committed to seeking the Lord with their praise as well as their thoughts. In that mindset, the psalmist prays that God would remove evil people from the world.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
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;
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
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.
Psalms 103 and Psalms 104 share a common opening phrase, yet they explore distinct facets of God's character. While the former celebrates God's loyal love for His people, Psalms 104 directs our gaze to the Lord as the magnificent Creator. It stands out among the psalms as the most detailed and overt in its depiction of God's creative work, echoing themes found in Genesis 1—2, though not directly mirroring the creation account. Several other psalms touch upon creation (Psalms 8; 19; 24; 65; 95; 102; 121; 147), but none with such comprehensive detail.
The Lord Clothed in Majesty (Psalms 104:1-4)
The psalmist begins by exhorting himself to bless the Lord, recognizing His inherent majesty and splendor. God is mighty, majestic, and wonderful – these traits are so obvious that the psalmist describes Him as "clothed" in them. The elements of nature become metaphors for God's power and presence. He is depicted as being clothed with light, stretching out the heavens like a tent, and laying the beams of His upper chambers on the waters. The clouds are His chariot, and He moves upon the wings of the wind. Even the winds and fire are His messengers, highlighting that all of creation is under His control, serving His purposes. Hebrews 1:7 even cites Psalms 104:4 in reference to God's messengers, often understood as angels. This verse uses the Hebrew term mal'āk, translated into Greek as angelos, emphasizing the divine authority and power vested in these beings.
This psalm also contains the first occurrence of the Hebrew word hallelujah, a powerful expression of praise comprised of two words joined together. Many translations interpret it as "praise the LORD," while others transliterate it, preserving its original sound and spirit. It is a term predominantly found in the latter portion of Psalms and in Revelation 19, signifying profound adoration.
Establishing Boundaries and Providing Water (Psalms 104:5-18)
Part of God's creative role involved establishing boundaries. The Lord set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved (Psalms 104:5). The earth that He established cannot be shaken. He chose to place mountains, valleys, and seas in specific locations, and none of these can be moved apart from His will. The psalmist echoes concepts seen in Genesis chapter 1 but does not repeat the exact creation account. Though floodwaters once covered the earth, He restored the mountains and valleys to their rightful prominence (Psalms 104:6-8), and the waters will never cover the earth again (Psalms 104:9).
The Lord also provides water to sustain life on earth. He makes springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills (Psalms 104:10). These waters give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst (Psalms 104:11). He enables the growth of plants that feed animals and allow men to grow food. The earth is filled with everything necessary to sustain life. The trees are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon that he planted provide homes for the stork. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers (Psalms 104:16-18).
Sovereignty Over Heaven and Earth (Psalms 104:19-30)
God's sovereignty isn't confined to earth; it extends to the heavens. He created the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting (Psalms 104:19), establishing day and night, seasons and years, providing times and rhythms for man (Psalms 104:23) and beast to function within.
The psalmist marvels at the greatness of God's creation, which reflects His unsurpassed wisdom (Psalms 104:24). O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures (Psalms 104:24). He designed fabulous creatures, both large and small, that depend on His provision. He is sovereign over their lives and deaths. Everything in creation depends on God. Without His provision, all life would die. Only He provides the breath of life; this comes from the Hebrew word ru'ach. As with the Greek term pneuma, this can mean "life," "breath," "spirit," or even a reference to the Holy Spirit. When the breath of life is gone, living things once again become dirt (Psalms 104:27-30).
A Call to Praise and a Plea for Righteousness (Psalms 104:31-35)
Having contemplated God’s marvelous works, the psalmist bursts forth in exaltation of God’s glory (Psalms 104:31). He sings God’s praises and prays that this meditation would be pleasing to Him (Psalms 104:34). I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being (Psalms 104:33).
The psalm concludes with a wish that sinners would vanish from the earth (Psalms 104:35). Whether through the judgment of God or through faith in Jesus Christ, one day this will be so. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD! (Psalms 104:35). The psalmist is committed to seeking the Lord with their praise as well as their thoughts. In that mindset, the psalmist prays that God would remove evil people from the world.