Psalms 104:1-18
(cf. Gen. 1:1–31)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.
5 You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke they fled;
At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
8 They went up over the mountains;
They went down into the valleys,
To the place which You founded for them.
9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
That they may not return to cover the earth.
10 He sends the springs into the valleys;
They flow among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 By them the birds of the heavens have their home;
They sing among the branches.
13 He waters the hills from His upper chambers;
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth,
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man,
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man's heart.
16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
17 Where the birds make their nests;
The stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high hills are for the wild goats;
The cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.
This song of God’s working elicits praise from His people as we consider the works of His hands. Bless the LORD! Bless Him because He is great and greatly to be praised. Bless Him because the clothing of His character is honor and majesty adorning the Sovereign King. Even creation’s light itself which God spoke into existence on the first day of creation clothes Him, and the heavens above with all the stars are a curtain of His holy sanctuary where He rules from, founded as it were on poles stretching down to the waters dividing from the land He made by separation according to His word on the second day. He figuratively walks on the clouds high above us as riding a chariot blown along by the wind of His Spirit. His angels created before us and yet under us (not being made in His image) serve Him as flaming spirits unseen to our eyes unless revealed (2 Kings 6:17). This same God over all fashioned the world’s foundation on solid rock, immovable except at His word and will, just like the seas. Those seas obeyed His word when the deluge covered the mountains, and likewise retreated back to their determined place at His command afterwards. He set a boundary for them to spare sinful mankind from destruction by water again, though the second time of reckoning will be at the end at the final judgment by fire (2 Peter 3:10). God also wonderfully provides for the smallest sparrow and the beasts of the field in his lovingkindness of grace. They have enough to eat and drink and are satisfied; we should likewise find godliness in contentment from His providence and provision (1 Timothy 6:6). He provides all we need in sustenance and shelter to give us happiness, inner and outer strength, and contentment of soul. The fruit of God’s works are enough for us to be thankful for, so why do we constantly crave more? Looking around, we observe the world of nature in His hands, with place to provide for the birds, fish, and all animals He created for us, even giving them places to shelter for protection. We must also live in His provision and providence by grace, thankful and content in knowing He loves us even more than these (Matthew 6:26, 31-33) and meets all our needs. Praise God for His creation, might, providence, and provision!
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