Psalms 104
Psalm 104 is a song praising God for His creation world and its sustaining care, as well as His mercy. It celebrates the beauty and order of nature, and the work of God present throughout all things. The psalmist mentions the creation of the universe and confesses that all creation—from the heavens and the earth, to water, plants, animals, and human beings—exists and lives because of God.
Overall, much like Genesis 1, the psalmist refers to the various elements of nature one by one, revealing God’s greatness and careful detail.
1verseBless the LORD, my soul. The LORD, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
2verseHe covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
3verseHe lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
4verseHe makes his messengers winds, and his servants flames of fire.
5verseHe laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.
6verseYou covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
7verseAt your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8verseThe mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.
9verseYou have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they don’t turn again to cover the earth.
10verseHe sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11verseThey give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12verseThe birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
13verseHe waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14verseHe causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth:
15versewine that makes the heart of man glad, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
16verseThe LORD’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,
17versewhere the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.
18verseThe high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19verseHe appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
20verseYou make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21verseThe young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
22verseThe sun rises, and they steal away, and lie down in their dens.
23verseMan goes out to his work, to his labor until the evening.
24verseLORD, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
25verseThere is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
26verseThere the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
27verseThese all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
28verseYou give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29verseYou hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
30verseYou send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
31verseLet the LORD’s glory endure forever. Let the LORD rejoice in his works.
32verseHe looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33verseI will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34verseLet my meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in the LORD.
35verseLet sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD!
Main Flow and Development of the Text
- Opening (Verses 1–4): Praises the One who is clothed in glory and splendor. It sings that the majesty of the LORD is spread across the heavens.
- Foundation of creation (Verses 5–9): Describes that God created the world and established order. He laid the foundations of the earth and set limits for the waters.
- Cycles of nature (Verses 10–18): The psalmist sings of the harmony and provision of the ecosystem, such as springs, rivers, plants, and animals, praising that God gives food to all life.
- Sun, moon, and human life (Verses 19–23): Says that God made the sun and the moon, setting seasons and time, and that all creation lives within a predetermined order.
- The mystery and provision of creation (Verses 24–30): The psalmist marvels at the multitude and variety of everything God has made, and offers deep thanks for His wisdom and provision.
- Conclusion and praise (Verses 31–35): Honors the glory of God who sustains the world of creation. The psalmist resolves to praise God throughout life and brings the passage to a close.
The Overall Meaning and Message
Psalm 104 confesses that God’s presence is found within the order and beauty of nature. Everything in the universe lives through God’s careful care and sustaining power, and it explains that every created being has been called to its own place. It helps us realize that even the large and small parts of life, and even natural phenomena that seem very ordinary, all fall under God’s love and wise plan.
Points for Meditation
- We reflect on whether we can discover God’s leading and careful consideration in nature’s wonders and in everyday life.
- We remember once again that the source of our life and of everything is in God, and we develop a grateful heart.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When you express gratitude and awe for the small moments of daily life and for the natural world around you, you can come to recognize God more deeply.
- You also become aware that you are part of God’s created world, and you adopt an attitude of seeking to live in ways that respect yourself, others, and nature.
