26 There do ships go: leviathan, That Thou hast formed to play in it.
Thou hast broken the heads of leviathan, Thou makest him food, For the people of the dry places.
Those going down `to' the sea in ships, Doing business in many waters,
Zebulun at a haven of the seas doth dwell, And he `is' for a haven of ships; And his side `is' unto Zidon.
Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.
Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down -- his tongue? Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw? Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things? Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during? Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels? (Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!) Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head? Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle -- do not add! Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down? None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who `is' he before Me stationeth himself? Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it `is' mine. I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement. Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter? The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth `are' terrible. A pride -- strong ones of shields, Shut up -- a close seal. One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them. One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated. His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes `are' as the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape. Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds. His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth. In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult. The flakes of his flesh have adhered -- Firm upon him -- it is not moved. His heart `is' firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece. From his rising are the mighty afraid, From breakings they keep themselves free. The sword of his overtaker standeth not, Spear -- dart -- and lance. He reckoneth iron as straw, brass as rotten wood. The son of the bow doth not cause him to flee, Turned by him into stubble are stones of the sling. As stubble have darts been reckoned, And he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin. Under him `are' sharp points of clay, He spreadeth gold on the mire. He causeth to boil as a pot the deep, The sea he maketh as a pot of ointment. After him he causeth a path to shine, One thinketh the deep to be hoary. There is not on the earth his like, That is made without terror. Every high thing he doth see, He `is' king over all sons of pride.
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.