This creation hymn (see also Pss 8, 33, 145) exalts God’s goodness and majesty. The psalmist reflects on the present world, the original creation, and a future new creation. He sees both creations as marvelously and wisely made (cp. 139:14), as the work of the Lord’s Spirit (104:30; Gen 1:2; 2 Cor 3:6).
1Blessthe LORD, O my soul!O LORDmy God, You are very great;You are clothed with splendor and majesty.ⓘThe psalmist interacts with two of the days...
The psalmist interacts with two of the days of creation (see Gen 1:1–8), when God created the heavens and light.
2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment;He stretches out the heavens like a tent,3laying the beams of His chambersin the waters above,making the clouds His chariot,walking on the wings of the wind.4NTHe makes the winds His messengers,flames of fire His servants.†5He set the earth on its foundations,never to be moved.6You covered it with the deep like a garment;the waters stood above the mountains.7At Your rebuke the waters fled;at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away—8the mountains rose and the valleys sankto the place You assigned for them—ⓘThe Lord reigns over all bodies of water,...
The Lord reigns over all bodies of water, including those on land. He replaced chaotic waters with order and abundance, and the earth became a splendid place for animals and humans, with water refreshing the ground, the birds, and the animals.
9You set a boundary they cannot cross,that they may never again cover the earth.10He sends forth springs in the valleys;they flow between the mountains.ⓘThe psalmist celebrates animal, plant, and human life,...
The psalmist celebrates animal, plant, and human life, as well as the Lord’s abundant provision for all of it (Gen 1:9–30).
11They give drink to every beast of the field;the wild donkeys quench their thirst.12The birds of the air nest beside the springs;they sing among the branches.13He waters the mountains from His chambers;the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works.14He makes the grass grow for the livestockand provides crops for man to cultivate,bringing forth food from the earth:15wine that gladdens the heart of man,oil that makes his face to shine,and bread that sustains his heart.16The trees of the LORD have their fill,the cedarsof Lebanon that He planted,ⓘThe storks migrated from northern Europe and resided...
The storks migrated from northern Europe and resided in Palestine during the winter.
hyraxes: These animals are about the size of a rabbit and live in rocky places.
17where the birds build their nests;the stork makesher home inthe cypresses.†18The high mountains are for the wild goats,the cliffs a refugefor the rock badgers.†ⓘThe psalmist rejoices in the order of night...
The psalmist rejoices in the order of night and day, marking day four of creation (Gen 1:14–19). This cycle gives all creatures an opportunity to live.
19He made the moon to mark the seasons;the sun knows when to set.ⓘCycles of darkness and dawn mark the days...
Cycles of darkness and dawn mark the days on earth.
20You bring darkness, and it becomes night,when all the beasts of the forest prowl.21The young lions roar for their preyand seek their food from God.22The sun rises, and they withdraw;they lie down in their dens.23Man goes forth to his workand to his labor until evening.ⓘThe Lord’s works testify to his wisdom. All...
The Lord’s works testify to his wisdom. All parts fit together—land and sea, night and day, land creatures and sea creatures. The Lord’s wisdom makes life orderly and wonderful.
24How many are Your works, O LORD!In wisdom You have made them all;the earth is full of Your creatures.25Here is the sea, vast and wide,teeming with creatures beyond number,living things both great and small.26There the ships pass,and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.ⓘAll life depends on the gracious sustenance of...
All life depends on the gracious sustenance of the Lord of life and death (cp. Matt 6:11).
27All creatures look to Youto give them their food in due season.28When You give it to them,they gather it up;when You open Your hand,they are satisfied with good things.ⓘWhen you give them your breath: Life on...
When you give them your breath: Life on earth is only possible as the Lord’s gift, symbolized by his breath (Hebrew ruakh, “breath, wind, spirit”). The Lord’s Spirit is the agent of renewal (Isa 32:15–20).
29When You hide Your face,they are terrified;when You take away their breath,they die and return to dust.30When You send Your Spirit,†they are created,and You renewthe face of the earth.ⓘThe psalmist moves from describing the known creation...
The psalmist moves from describing the known creation to anticipating the new creation, when the Lord will renew the created order into a world without sinners.
31May thegloryof the LORD endure forever;may the LORD rejoice in His works.32He looks on the earth,and it trembles;He touches the mountains,and they smolder.33I will sing to the LORD all my life;I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.34May my meditation be pleasing to Him,for I rejoice in the LORD.35May sinnersvanish from the earthand the wicked be no more.Blessthe LORD, O my soul.Hallelujah!†
Commentary
Psalms 104:1
Let all that I am praise the Lord: Pss 103 and 104 each open and close with this commitment to praise (103:1–2, 22; 104:1, 35).
how great you are! This acclamation expresses praise for rescue (see also 35:27; 40:16; 70:4).
Commentary
Psalms 104:3
This poetic portrayal envisions the clouds as beams that support heaven.
The Lord created dry ground on day three of creation (Gen 1:9–13).
Commentary
Psalms 104:8
The earth originates in God’s will.
Commentary
Psalms 104:9
The Lord set a firm boundary for the seas to protect the land. God’s sovereignty over sea and land was an argument against the existence of Baal, whom the Canaanites celebrated as victorious over the waters (see Ps 29).
Commentary
Psalms 104:14
people to use: People are the managers of the created order, and they receive nourishment from the work of their hands.
Commentary
Psalms 104:15
While both can be misused (cp. Prov 21:17), the Lord provides wine and olive oil as gifts to enhance life. Life is sustained by basic food, represented by bread.
Commentary
Psalms 104:19
the moon to mark the seasons: Ancient Israel based its calendar on the cycles of the moon.
the sun knows when to set: This is a poetic description from the perspective of normal observation. The sun goes down at a regular time every evening.
The Lord reveals his presence in the created order (see 8:1; 19:1–4; 24:7) and takes pleasure in his new creation (see Isa 65:19).
Commentary
Psalms 104:32
The trembling earth and the smoking mountains represent the Lord’s coming in judgment against sinners and salvation for his faithful people (see 18:7–15).
Commentary
Psalms 104:35
The Lord will remove all forms of evil that defile his creation.