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Psalm 104

Psalm 104 is a poetic celebration of God’s creation and providence, praising His wisdom and power in the natural world. The psalm reflects how God sustains every part of His creation, from the heavens to the earth and the sea. It emphasizes God's role as the Creator who brings order to nature and provides for all creatures, highlighting the intricate beauty of the created world and the dependency of all life on God’s provision.

Psalm 104:1-10 (NKJV)
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.

The psalm begins with the psalmist praising God for His greatness, emphasizing His majesty and light, symbolizing His purity and holiness. God’s act of creation is portrayed through vivid imagery, showing Him as stretching out the heavens and establishing the earth's foundations. The floodwaters, which once covered the earth, retreated at God's command, demonstrating His power to control nature. The waters are assigned boundaries, ensuring the stability of creation. The psalmist also highlights how God’s provision through springs sustains the earth, creating rivers and streams to nourish life.

Psalm 104:11-23 (NKJV)
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.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knows its going down.
20 You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they gather together And lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work And to his labor until the evening.

This section celebrates the harmony of creation, describing how God provides water for animals and trees for birds to nest. God’s care ensures that every creature receives what it needs. Even the rhythms of day and night are ordained by God. The psalmist highlights how different animals operate according to this divine order—lions hunt at night and rest during the day, while humans work during the day and rest at night. This rhythm reflects the beauty and balance of God’s design for life.

Psalm 104:24-30 (NKJV)
24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—
25 This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great.
26 There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan Which You have made to play there.
27 These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season.
28 What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
29 You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.

The psalmist marvels at the diversity of God's creation, pointing out the vastness of the sea and the creatures within it, including the mysterious Leviathan. All creatures depend on God's provision, gathering the food He gives them. The psalm also highlights the cycle of life and death—when God withdraws His Spirit, creatures die, but through His Spirit, new life is created, reflecting God's continual renewal of creation.

Psalm 104:31-35 (NKJV)
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.
35 May sinners be consumed from the earth, And the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!

The psalm concludes with a declaration of God’s glory, expressing the desire that God finds joy in His creation. The psalmist commits to praising God throughout his life, finding joy and satisfaction in his relationship with God. There is also a longing for the removal of wickedness from the earth, reflecting the hope for a world fully aligned with God's will. The psalm ends as it began, with a heartfelt call to bless the Lord.

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