26 There go the ships; [there] that leviathan, which thou hast formed to play therein.
*Thou* didst break in pieces the heads of leviathan, thou gavest him to be meat to those that people the desert.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters,
Zebulun will dwell at the shore of the seas; Yea, he will be at the shore of the ships, And his side [toucheth] upon Sidon.
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse Leviathan;
Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord? Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike? Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants? Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears? Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, -- do no more! Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him? None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me? Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine. I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure. Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws? Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal. One is so near to another that no air can come between them; They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered. His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out: Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved. His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone]. When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation. If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon. He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood. The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin. His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment; He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 104
Commentary on Psalms 104 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 104
Ps 104:1-35. The Psalmist celebrates God's glory in His works of creation and providence, teaching the dependence of all living creatures; and contrasting the happiness of those who praise Him with the awful end of the wicked.
1. God's essential glory, and also that displayed by His mighty works, afford ground for praise.
2. light—is a figurative representation of the glory of the invisible God (Mt 17:2; 1Ti 6:16). Its use in this connection may refer to the first work of creation (Ge 1:3).
stretchest out the heavens—the visible heavens or sky which cover the earth as a curtain (Isa 40:12).
3. in the waters—or, it may be "with"; using this fluid for the beams, or frames, of His residence accords with the figure of clouds for chariots, and wind as a means of conveyance.
walketh—or, "moveth" (compare Ps 18:10, 11; Am 9:6).
4. This is quoted by Paul (Heb 1:7) to denote the subordinate position of angels; that is, they are only messengers as other and material agencies.
spirits—literally, "winds."
flaming fire—(Ps 105:32) being here so called.
5. The earth is firmly fixed by His power.
6-9. These verses rather describe the wonders of the flood than the creation (Ge 7:19, 20; 2Pe 3:5, 6). God's method of arresting the flood and making its waters subside is poetically called a "rebuke" (Ps 76:6; Isa 50:2), and the process of the flood's subsiding by undulations among the hills and valleys is vividly described.
10-13. Once destructive, these waters are subjected to the service of God's creatures. In rain and dew from His chambers (compare Ps 104:3), and fountains and streams, they give drink to thirsting animals and fertilize the soil. Trees thus nourished supply homes to singing birds, and the earth teems with the productions of God's wise agencies,
14, 15. so that men and beasts are abundantly provided with food.
for the service—literally, "for the culture," &c., by which he secures the results.
oil … shine—literally, "makes his face to shine more than oil," that is, so cheers and invigorates him, that outwardly he appears better than if anointed.
strengtheneth … heart—gives vigor to man (compare Jud 19:5).
16-19. God's care of even wild animals and uncultivated parts of the earth.
20-23. He provides and adapts to man's wants the appointed times and seasons.
24-26. From a view of the earth thus full of God's blessings, the writer passes to the sea, which, in its immensity, and as a scene and means of man's activity in commerce, and the home of countless multitudes of creatures, also displays divine power and beneficence. The mention of
26. leviathan—(Job 40:20) heightens the estimate of the sea's greatness, and of His power who gives such a place for sport to one of His creatures.
27-30. The entire dependence of this immense family on God is set forth. With Him, to kill or make alive is equally easy. To hide His face is to withdraw favor (Ps 13:1). By His spirit, or breath, or mere word, He gives life. It is His constant providence which repairs the wastes of time and disease.
31-34. While God could equally glorify His power in destruction, that He does it in preservation is of His rich goodness and mercy, so that we may well spend our lives in grateful praise, honoring to Him, and delightful to pious hearts (Ps 147:1).
35. Those who refuse such a protector and withhold such a service mar the beauty of His works, and must perish from His presence.
Praise ye the Lord—The Psalm closes with an invocation of praise, the translation of a Hebrew phrase, which is used as an English word, "Hallelujah," and may have served the purpose of a chorus, as often in our psalmody, or to give fuller expression to the writer's emotions. It is peculiar to Psalms composed after the captivity, as "Selah" is to those of an earlier date.