24 O LORD, H3068 how manifold H7231 are thy works! H4639 in wisdom H2451 hast thou made H6213 them all: the earth H776 is full H4390 of thy riches. H7075
The LORD H3068 possessed H7069 me in the beginning H7225 of his way, H1870 before H6924 his works H4659 of old. I was set up H5258 from everlasting, H5769 from the beginning, H7218 or ever H6924 the earth H776 was. When there were no depths, H8415 I was brought forth; H2342 when there were no fountains H4599 abounding H3513 with water. H4325 Before the mountains H2022 were settled, H2883 before H6440 the hills H1389 was I brought forth: H2342 While as yet he had not made H6213 the earth, H776 nor the fields, H2351 nor the highest part H7218 of the dust H6083 of the world. H8398 When he prepared H3559 the heavens, H8064 I was there: when he set H2710 a compass H2329 upon the face H6440 of the depth: H8415 When he established H553 the clouds H7834 above: H4605 when he strengthened H5810 the fountains H5869 of the deep: H8415 When he gave H7760 to the sea H3220 his decree, H2706 that the waters H4325 should not pass H5674 his commandment: H6310 when he appointed H2710 the foundations H4144 of the earth: H776 Then I was by him, H681 as one brought up H525 with him: and I was daily H3117 H3117 his delight, H8191 rejoicing H7832 always H6256 before H6440 him; Rejoicing H7832 in the habitable part H8398 of his earth; H776 and my delights H8191 were with the sons H1121 of men. H120 Now therefore hearken H8085 unto me, O ye children: H1121 for blessed H835 are they that keep H8104 my ways. H1870 Hear H8085 instruction, H4148 and be wise, H2449 and refuse H6544 it not. Blessed H835 is the man H120 that heareth H8085 me, watching H8245 daily H3117 H3117 at my gates, H1817 waiting H8104 at the posts H4201 of my doors. H6607 For whoso findeth H4672 me findeth H4672 H4672 life, H2416 and shall obtain H6329 favour H7522 of the LORD. H3068 But he that sinneth H2398 against me wrongeth H2554 his own soul: H5315 all they that hate H8130 me love H157 death. H4194
For every beast H2416 of the forest H3293 is mine, and the cattle H929 upon a thousand H505 hills. H2042 I know H3045 all the fowls H5775 of the mountains: H2022 and the wild beasts H2123 of the field H7704 are mine. H5978 If I were hungry, H7456 I would not tell H559 thee: for the world H8398 is mine, and the fulness H4393 thereof.
And God H430 said, H559 Let the earth H776 bring forth H1876 grass, H1877 the herb H6212 yielding H2232 seed, H2233 and the fruit H6529 tree H6086 yielding H6213 fruit H6529 after his kind, H4327 whose H834 seed H2233 is in itself, upon the earth: H776 and it was so. And the earth H776 brought forth H3318 grass, H1877 and herb H6212 yielding H2232 seed H2233 after his kind, H4327 and the tree H6086 yielding H6213 fruit, H6529 whose seed H2233 was in itself, after his kind: H4327 and God H430 saw H7200 that it was good. H2896
The LORD H3068 by wisdom H2451 hath founded H3245 the earth; H776 by understanding H8394 hath he established H3559 the heavens. H8064 By his knowledge H1847 the depths H8415 are broken up, H1234 and the clouds H7834 drop down H7491 the dew. H2919
And God H430 said, H559 Let the earth H776 bring forth H3318 the living H2416 creature H5315 after his kind, H4327 cattle, H929 and creeping thing, H7431 and beast H2416 of the earth H776 after his kind: H4327 and it was so. And God H430 made H6213 the beast H2416 of the earth H776 after his kind, H4327 and cattle H929 after their kind, H4327 and every thing that creepeth H7431 upon the earth H127 after his kind: H4327 and God H430 saw H7200 that it was good. H2896
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.